Posted by Adam Sax on Tue, Feb 14, 2012 @ 03:33 PM
Reposted By: Jesse Montgomery, from The Costa Rica News
Update: Looks like Feb 20-27 is also available. Reading week isn’t it?
Not a bad Valentine’s gift! Here’s how to find it…
1. http://www.flightnetwork.com/
2. Search for a flight from Toronto to Liberia, Costa Rica
Departing: Feb 11
Returning: Feb 18
OR
Departing: Feb 13
Returning: Feb 20
(For the Feb 13-20 one, pick the second result, the one that’s $299)
3. Confirmed price screenshot:
Yes, that does say $0.00 taxes, and no it’s not a mistake fare. Thomas Cook did the same thing last year, with those crazy prices to Jamaica.
Hit Like if you like this deal! Click Share to show your friends on Facebook.
Chris Myden is Canada’s #1 travel deal enthusiast with over 250,000 followers on Facebook & Twitter.
You can check out his latest travel deal finds for Toronto at YYZdeals.com
or follow him on Twitter @YYZdeals
Posted by Adam Sax on Tue, Feb 07, 2012 @ 03:15 PM
Reposted By: Jesse Montgomery, from Inside Costa Rica
The Cámara Nacional de Turismo (CANATUR) and the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) are happy campers with the news on Monday revealing some 2.2 million foreign tourist visits for 2011. The official number of foreign visitors for 2011 was 2.195.960.
The number represents and increase of 93.131 more visitors than in 2010.
CANATUR (the national tourism chamber), as well as the ICT (national institute of tourism), expressed on Monday their satisfaction on the results.
However, both institutions point out the need to continue their efforts to attract more visitors and must compete for tourism attractions in Central America, Brazil, Russia, China and India.
The head of the ICT, Allan Flores, said that their promotion in foreign markets and presence at international tourism fairs have paid off, but will continue their efforts to attract more South American and European visitors.
The CANATUR and the ICT are expecting more visitors this year with the opening of the new Daniel Oduber (Liberia) airport terminal, which will allow more airlines and tour operators to include Costa Rica in their offers to travellers.
The new terminal in Guanacaste is one of the main entry doors to Costa Rica’s north Pacific coast beaches and the La Fortuna and Arenal areas and increasing airline capacity and the handling of more visitors at one time.
Posted by Adam Sax on Fri, Jan 20, 2012 @ 03:15 PM
Reposted By: Jesse Montgomery, from Boomers Abroad
Future Brand, a British company, publishes the The Country Brand Index on an annual basis, and uses its own methodology to determine the value of many countries as a brand. The values are based on a wide number of factors including natural features, culture, business environment, quality of life of its residents, and others. The current index was revealed on November 12, 2011.
This past year, Costa Rica improved in the world rankings, to 24th best overall. This placed it highest of all Latin American countries on the global list. Best known for its "No Artificial Ingredients" campaign, Costa Rica has had a national priority to promote the country's image as a protector of its natural wealth.
Costa Rica’s tourism brand is ranked above that of countries such as Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. The report states, "A strong country brand is more than the sum of its attributes; it must make people's lives better from the progressive policies, to freedom of expression and openness. It must call people around the world to visit that country, to do business, and make a living there.”
To provide the basis for the study’s conclusions over 3500 interviews were conducted between July and September, 2011, involving tourists from more than 14 regions of the world. The study has published the country brand evaluations since 2004.
Globally, Costa Rica is ranked 24th, out of 113 surveyed countries. In Latin America, it is followed by Brazil (31st), Argentina (32nd), Chile (34th), Peru (44th), Mexico (47th) and Uruguay (50th).
The full analysis and a downloadable pdf is available at Future Brand.
Posted by Adam Sax on Thu, Jan 19, 2012 @ 03:13 PM
Reposted By: Jesse Montgomery, from Info Costa Rica
"Paradise. The climate and nature are beautiful.
It's also cheaper living and the people are friendly."
Ray and Margaret Aberle
"I came down here partly because of the economic aspect. In the
United States utility bills are unbelievable; in Florida air conditioning
is necessary but expensive. Nature is nice and I prefer the
weather because I'm a hot weather person. C.R. is centrally located
so you can travel to other countries in the region."
Robert Stevens
These comments by United States citizens living in Costa Rica illustrate the common reasons for retiring in this country. Pension money goes a much longer way than back home, the climate and nature of the country is very appealing, the American and foreign community is large and the country may prove to be an exotic adventure and an exciting change of lifestyle.
Whatever the reasons are for retiring in Costa Rica, the tourist must consider some social implications of their move. Culture shock is almost certain. Lack of efficiency and of punctuality are the two main complaints about Costa Rican lifestyle. If a person is moving to another country he/she must realize that customs are going to be completely different, and that's actually part of the reason for moving there. With time, a foreigner will be able to decide if these differences are bearable or if they justify leaving the country.
Legal considerations must be analyzed well when retiring in Costa Rica or in any other country There are different legal statuses that you may consider while living here. In order to qualify for the "pensionado" (retired) status you must receive a minimum of $600 a month; the "rentista" status requires you to earn a minimum of $1000 a month for at least five years. In both cases, cards have to be renewed every two years at an expense of $100. Also both can own work at their business but in order to work some place else, they must acquire a permit. Finally, foreign residents, regardless of their status, will not be taxed on income that's earned outside of the country.
There are plenty of investment opportunities in Costa Rica, all of which are backed up by the economical and political stability of the country. The main sources for investment are: agriculture and ornamental plants and flowers, livestock, tourism, real estate and the stock market. Small businesses may be extremely succesful if they offer a unique and unexplored product for which there's a lot of demand.
Apart from investing, the retired foreigner can enjoy several cultural and entertainment activities. Costa Rica offers a great amount of ecological tours (cheaper for residents including retired foreigners) and trips to national parks as well as beaches and volcanoes. There are also special interest activities like bird-watching, scuba-diving and horse-back riding tours. For the not so sporty retired person, there are plenty of cultural events like concerts, plays and art exhibits. Last but not least, movie theaters and excellent restaurants abound, especially in San José.
Whether you come to Costa Rica to invest, play or rest, there's plenty of opportunities for you to do what you want to do. However, before making that important decision, you should live in the country for at least a six-month trial period. Don't make any final arrangements back home before testing the waters in Costa Rica and being certain that the negative aspects are insignificant when compared to the positive ones.
Posted by Adam Sax on Wed, Jan 18, 2012 @ 04:47 PM
If you are sitting at work thinking how wonderful it would be to live in a beautiful place with a moderate climate, but cannot afford to leave your job, then you should definitely at least be searching for a job in that location. Before dismissing the idea, consider the following: It has become a recent trend to go job hunting in a foreign country via the internet, especially in a tropical paradise such as Costa Rica for example.
Moving to a warm climate for a job in a country such as Costa Rica would be one of the happiest moments in the lives of many people. However, before you start packing your bags, it is ideal to first research the job market availability.
Finding a job in another country is usually not that easy, and it is very dependant on the unemployment rate therein. It is possible to make the task easier by looking for a job in the industry sector you are currently in or may previously have worked in. By researching Costa Rica information on jobs available, it will help narrow your focus and concentrate your attention on your job search. An example of this would be, a banker looking for a job in the Costa Rican banking industry, or a real estate agent applying to a Cost Rica real estate company for any job vacancies. By starting your search in your current industry sector, the task of finding a job is made easier.
However, if looking for job opportunities in Costa Rica has convinced you to start fresh in a new industry sector, then Costa Rica is also the place for you. With an active hotel and tourism industry, jobs opportunities in tourism are usually the most plentiful. These jobs can include being a tour guide for one of many tour companies, or serving as a front desk attendant at a luxury hotel. Other than the tourism and hotel industry, one of this country's needs that remains constant is the job market for English teachers.
With the lower cost of living, it is possible to live more affordably in Costa Rica as long as you can budget your money, because, of course, the wages you will receive are also considerably less then you are accustomed to. When deciding to move to Costa Rica permanently, one of the greatest benefits of relocation is the ability to own Costa Rica land as a foreign resident. If you decide to purchase Costa Rica property while working there, you are able to benefit because you will possess the same property ownership rights as Costa Rican citizens.
However, you will find that before being hired, the company must sponsor you for a work permit, or you can elect to apply for residency in Costa Rica. Most foreigners are granted an annual work permit that must be renewed every year they are employed in Costa Rica.
There are a large number of job sites that post job opportunities available in many Latin American countries. But with the economy on the upswing and tourism constantly increasing, Costa Rica remains the destination of choice for many wanting to rediscover themselves in a foreign land.
Posted by Adam Sax on Tue, Jan 17, 2012 @ 02:57 PM
By: Ben Vaughn, Costa Rica Real Estate
I was excited to find the Poll functionality on LinkedIn a couple of weeks ago. The question I came up with “What is the top reason to buy land in Costa Rica’s central / southern Pacific zone?” seemed like a good jumping off point for this regular feature on the blog. Although the sample size was small, the responses were revealing.
Low Property Tax
Costa Rica’s property tax rate is .25% on registered value. That means if you buy a $400,000 house in Uvita, you will pay $1,000 in property tax, plus another $1,000 (or .25%) for the new Luxury Tax passed in 2010. Your total annual property tax bill will be $2,000 which is a third of what you will pay in Houston, Texas.
Investment Value
If we can agree that people want safe, beautiful, and affordable environments to live in, then the central/southern Pacific zone of Costa Rica has to make that list. Clearly, “affordable” is a relative term. Some clients have $50,000 for a house, some have $1.5 million; however, this market has dipped according to the simple dynamics of Supply and Demand. An ocean view property (only 8 minutes from Uvita) listed for $30,000 was unheard of five years ago, yet now we have it (Sunny Josecito). In fact, we have access to just about every type of investment in every property category.
Growth Potential
I can’t tell you how many times per week people ask me when the International Airport will be completed in Palmar. Given the fact that construction has not started, it is a difficult question to answer. Eventually, it will be constructed (for better or for worse), and the area and property values will grow as a result. I state this with a fair degree of conviction because I’ve seen what paving the Costanera (Coastal Highway) and re-paving the road between San Isidro and Dominical has done for the area. I believe if it weren’t for those two improvements, the downturn would have hit our area much harder.
Weather and Beaches
Today (Sept. 29th, 2011) marks the middle of the rainy season, yet we had sun with its accompanying ocean breeze all day long. The evenings are typically cool, especially if your house is strategically located facing the Pacific Ocean and its beaches. Speaking of beaches, The Zone has something for every sun lover. You want to surf or watch surfing, go to Dominical. You want a good dog-walking beach, go to Playa Hermosa. You want to do some cave exploring, go to Playa Ventanas. I’ve spent more time on the ocean the past 4 years than in my entire life in California, because the water is warm, dare I say perfect, year round.
Relaxing Lifestyle
According to our voters, this is the top reason to buy land in Costa Rica. You don’t realize how stressful life is in the progressive Western world, until you move here. Both Ben and I came from Santa Cruz and Aspen, gorgeous towns in California and Colorado, respectively. We lived the typical cycle of working hard and playing hard, and then right back to working hard again. We were surrounded by friends, family and neighbors who were stressed by this same cycle and material pressures. It all added up to a simple yet consistent desire for change. Without question, Costa Rica presents an opportunity to slooooow down and simplify. Sometimes I surf in the morning, sometimes I walk a big farm. There’s no rushing to Starbucks on the way to pick up the dry cleaning. Here, we sit down and enjoy our coffee. We wear shorts and flip flops. If anything, life in The Zone is indeed relaxing.
So, yes there are many reasons to buy land in Costa Rica. Whether as an investment, as a relocation destination, or simply as a place to visit and unplug for a couple of weeks in the winter… The Zone will not disappoint.
Posted by Adam Sax on Mon, Jan 16, 2012 @ 02:44 PM
By: Rosemary Rein, Expat Interviews
American expat Rosemary Rein, Ph.D, author of Go Wild! Survival Skills for Business and Life and Blueprint for Success, describes what for her are the pros and cons of living in Costa Rica. Learn about what attracted her to Costa Rica in the first place, and read on for her tips about moving to and adjusting to life in Costa Rica.
- Where were you born?
United States
- In which country and city are you living now?
Costa Rica
- Are you living alone or with your family?
Family
- How long have you been living in Costa Rica?
12 years
- What is your age?
48
- When did you come up with the idea of living in Costa Rica?
I read a book about living and retiring in Costa Rica and felt the country magically called to me. I began my research with a few vacations and developed a list of questions to ask those who had already made the choice...much like this interview series! I explored the Costa Rica Residents Association and connected with others who had gone through the process of relocation and residency. I also subscribed to the local English-speaking Newspaper "The Tico Times" for about 1 year before the move to catch the headlines. Today, there's also "AM Costa Rica" and "Inside Costa Rica" (daily on-line newspapers).
Most importantly, I just did not review the single option of Costa Rica. If you have only 1 option, make a longer list. We put other countries on our list of possibilities and then began checking them against our criteria.
What criteria were important for our new home? We came up with a list of 10 critical factors including the 3 C's: Climate, Community, and Cost of living. Costa Rica won the contest.
- Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?
Not at that time. It has grown increasingly more difficult. As a permanent resident, I can now work here. The option is more the norm, i.e., many expats who move to Costa Rica work as entrepreneurs or in virtual offices where their work is outside of Costa Rica.
- Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
Not at all and still very accessible and affordable through INS. My healthcare in Costa Rica is better and much less expensive than in the U.S., which is why we have a boom in medical tourism.
- How do you make your living in Costa Rica? Do you have any type of income generated?
I am an author and independent training consultant and teach around the world on leadership, communication and customer service. I also started a Corporate Retreat Business "Business Meetings Costa Rica" and "Retreats Costa Rica." We host business groups and individuals on learning vacations and creativity retreats. You can even explore living here for two weeks by attending one of our retreats.
- Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
Yes, I speak Spanish, but not fluently. I recommend no matter where you live that learning the basic language will improve the quality of your life as a guest/resident in another country. There is theatre, social events and arts you will miss without it. Also day to day navigation of your world is important and when you don't have language skills, you increase your dependence on others. Are there people that do fine living here without the effort of learning the language? Certainly, but you see their frustration because life is just harder when you don't have the words.
- Do you miss home and family sometimes? Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available.
The Internet has made communication so easy--you can see your family every day with web cams! I also travel around the world so arrange to see my family whenever I can on a stopover and of course they come to Costa Rica.
As for recreation: Costa Rica is paradise: Hiking, Birding, Wine & Gourmet Clubs, Bridge, Latin Dancing. I could go on and on and be busy every second in my adopted country.
- Do you have other plans for the future?
I now consider myself a citizen of the world. This past year I have taught in South Africa, Canada and the U.S and attended coursework in Paris. I am currently on a writing project in the Netherlands. I hope to spend 2 months next year in Argentina and continue my work training internationally.
- What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
I have both rented and owned homes here. Pricing depends on what part of country you are in (luxury beach areas or city addresses or countryside). We have done well in our real estate projects here as Costa Rica continues to grow as a destination for both living and tourism.
Rentals can be as low as $500 per month - $4,000 plus.
Almost impossible to give a range for housing...readers should check out for Sale By Owner Listings.
- What is the cost of living in Costa Rica?
Not what it used to be, like everywhere, but still reasonable if you do not need pampered imported goods. A car is a luxury good with heavy taxes but transportation is quite accessible.
You can still eat cheap, but dining out in non-local establishments has gotten much more expensive. Labor is very inexpensive and therefore domestic help is affordable for we "working women."
- What do you think about the Costa Ricans?
The Costa Ricans I have met are warm, friendly and family oriented. I believe you get what you give and have found Costa Rica not to be an exception to that rule. There are exceptions of course in every society.
- What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Costa Rica?
Positives: Scenery and Nature, Convenience (Wireless on my Deck with Parrots overhead), Active Expat Community, Proximity to the United States/Major Airport Hubs, Cost of Living, Quality Healthcare, Safety and Security, Living outdoors year round at 72 degrees.
Negatives: Driving our Roads and Lack of Street Signs is one of my stressors. While Costa Rica is quite safe, the need for security precautions has always been present. For us it's like living in New York City...you just keep street smart.
- Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Costa Rica?
On arrival, women should find the "Newcomers Club" in the Tico Times--it's a great social group that welcomes new arrivals and serves as a social hub and resource center. Sign up for Spanish when you first arrive--begin the right way by learning the language. Please don't complain constantly to other expats or particularly Costa Ricans that things aren't like home. This isn't Kansas! When I meet expats who go down that road, I just ask one question. "Who invited you?" If you have decided to live in another country, experience and accept that country for what it is and if it's not to your liking, move on which is why I recommend exploratory trips before one big relocation. While of course we are all honest and talk about the country's imperfections--indeed all is not perfect in our tropical paradise--you will be living in a community, who think it's pretty close.
- Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Costa Rica?
You can read my blogs about daily life in Costa Rica at www.dreamincostarica.com and www.costarica.org.
Posted by Adam Sax on Thu, Jan 12, 2012 @ 03:46 PM
Reposted By: Jesse Montgomery, from Live In Costa Rica
During the last 28 years that I have lived in Costa Rica I have had the opportunity to observe 1000s of foreigners who have moved here. Some have been very successful while others have not. Those who found happiness and saw their dreams come true followed most of the time-tested rules below. Hopefully if you choose to live or retire here you will keep these simple principles in mind so you can take full advantage of what Costa Rica has to offer and enjoy a new exciting lifestyle or the pura vida (pure life/good life) which abounds everywhere.
-
Don’t have false expectations.
-
Don’t assume that what worked at home works here. You have to adapt to the reality of the country.
-
Don’t go into business unless you want to complicate your life. Most people come here to simplify their lives. The happiest people are those with pensions or other fixed sources of income who don’t have to work. If you do work, don’t expect to get rich.
-
Stay busy and or find an interesting hobby. Almost everyone has a hobby. If you don’t have one, find a new one here. Costa Rica offers 100s of stimulating activities from which to choose.
-
Don’t hang out in bars. I have seen scores of people come down here and because they were bored they went off the deep end by drinking themselves to death.
-
Stay active and have a good exercise program.
-
Have a good doctor or teams of doctors to meet your specific health needs. Costa Rica has an excellent and affordable health care system which draws retirees from all over the world.
-
Single men shouldn’t get involved with low-life women or prostitutes (the easiest women to meet). Single women should watch out for younger men who are gold diggers. Take time to develop healthy relationships.
-
Don’t leave your brain on the plane by forgetting to use your common sense.
-
Don’t try to cut corners by thinking you can outsmart the locals by paying bribes, etc. It will all catch up to you sooner or later.
-
Don’t make bad investments. If it seems too good to be true, it usually is.
-
Try not to live in isolated areas with no home security. Burglary can be a problem in some parts of Costa Rica. There is safety in numbers.
-
Don’t walk around alone at night. If you have to, be sure to know the neighborhood where you are and take a friend.
-
Do your homework! Read all of the books and newspapers about Costa Rica, talk to other who have lived here for a long time, go to the ARCR’s monthly seminar and in general stay informed by reading the local Spanish newspapers.
-
Learn as much as you can about the Costa Rican culture.
-
Try to always check your sources of information especially what you see on the on-line Costa Rica news groups. Something happens to people who move here. They think they are overnight experts just because they have made the move. It takes years of living here to really be considered an expert. Funny things happen to JCL’s (Johnny Come Lately) minds when they come to the tropics.
-
It is VERY important to have a good BILINGUAL lawyer. Most Americans brag they have the “best lawyer”. Make sure this is true by doing your homework and getting good references from other expatriates. Having a competent/honest lawyer can make the difference between success and failure.
-
LEARN Spanish! You need at least a survival level Spanish to get by here. Find a school that fits your learning style. Also read my best selling Spanish book, “Christopher Howard’s Guide to Costa Rican Spanish (amazon.com).” It is designed to give you what you need to survive linguistically in Costa Rica.
-
Mix with the locals. Part of living in a foreign country is enjoying the people and culture. Don’t isolate yourself in a Gringo enclave like Escazú. That’s exactly why you need to learn some Spanish.
-
Form a network of friends so you can lean on them in hard times. Making friends is easy here since foreigners tend to gravitate toward each other when living abroad.
-
Don’t “Jugar de vivo” as we say in Spanish. Thus means to not act like a WAG (a wise ass know-it-all Gringo).
-
Don’t be the Ugly America, Ugly Canadian, Ugly Englishman of ugly foreigner. This is the Costa Rica people’s country, you have to live in it and you can’t change it. So, DON’T wear out your welcome.
-
Obey the law here and above all traffic laws.
-
Travel around the country. Costa Rica is small yet very big at the same time and there are lot of incredibly beautiful places to see.
-
Get Skype (www.skype.com) or Vonage (www.vonage.com) to stay in contact with friends back home so as to avoid homesickness.
-
Get cable or satellite TV to get a slice of home and stay up with events there when you need it.
-
Try to leave your hang ups and serious problems at home. If you had serious issues there, you will probably have them here too.
-
Give back to the community. Try to help but don’t impose the Gringo way of doing things.
-
Just because a person speaks English doesn’t mean he or she is trustworthy.
-
The single most important thing you need to survive is good sense of humor. Go with the flow and don’t take things too seriously.
Posted by Adam Sax on Wed, Jan 11, 2012 @ 01:09 PM
Reposted By: Jesse Montgomery, from Live In Costa Rica
Title insurance is a relatively new concept for Costa Rica. Until only recently, it was rather difficult to get title insurance in Costa Rica. It is not required to have title insurance when purchasing a property since the properties are usually purchase by foreigners in cash Now, there are some very good options for obtaining title insurance when buying real estate in Costa Rica. Title insurance is not required when purchasing property in Costa Rica, unless the buyer is obtaining a mortgage for the purchase. However, many North Americans feel a greater sense of security in having title insurance arranged during the purchasing process.
Title Insurance is insurance against defects in title to real property. It is meant to protect an owner’s financial interest in property against loss due to title defects, liens or other matters of public record. Before you purchase your property, the property may have gone through several ownership changes or there are documents lacking proof of the seller’s ownership. Someone along the way may have forged a signature in transferring title or there may be unpaid real estate taxes or other liens against the property. Title insurance covers the insured party for any claims and legal fees that arise out of such problems. Title insurance will defend against a lawsuit attacking the title, or reimburse the insured for the actual monetary loss incurred, up to the dollar amount of insurance provided by the policy. Title insurance guarantees that no one else can claim your property thus it also provides the peace of mind that you will not incur unexpected debts from your new property.
In short title insurance in Costa Rica protects against:
-
Invalid documents executed under expired or non-existent power.
-
False assumption of identity of the legitimate property owner.
-
Falsification of documents, legal power, and other papers related to the transfer of property title.
-
Liens or other financial burdens charged to the previous property owner.
-
Hidden heirs of previous property owners.
-
Documents executed by minors of age.
-
Invalid documents delivered after death of previous owner.
However, before you commit to title insurance you should consider Costa Rica has an excellent public registry. A competent attorney can perform the initial title search and explain how to perform this verification and what to look for.
Furthermore your escrow agent can be a lawyer or law firm. All escrow agents must be registered with the Superintendence of Financial Entities (SUGEF), the government body in charge of supervision of financial entities and administration of third party funds. It is mandatory for administrators of third-party funds to be properly registered with this institution. If you escrow agent is registered with SUGEF your funds will be protected and the risk of anything happening greatly reduced.
Stewart Title Latin America is one of the title insurance companies currently operating in Costa Rica.
Stewart Title – Costa Rica
www.stewarttitlelatinamerica.com – Costa Rica
customerservice@stewartcr.com
Phone: (506) 2258-5600
Posted by Adam Sax on Tue, Jan 10, 2012 @ 04:00 PM
Reposted By: Jesse Montgomery, from Inside Costa Rica
While many struggle through the "cuesta de Enero", many others use January to vacation, taking advantage of one of the most beautiful months of the year in Costa Rica and before their children head back to school next month.
Many take to Puntarenas and Jacó, the closest beaches to the Central Valley, while others travel further to enjoy the beach at Manuel Antonio and further to the beaches of Guanacaste.
Whatever the case, Costa Rica's beaches are booming with visitors, a mix of foreigners and locals, vacationing.
A visit to the beach also serves as the best way to forget all the bad omens of the past year and renew to face the challenges of the new.
For hardcore party animals, the say there is nothing better that to enjoy the holiday festivals of December and January, like the Zapote Fair that just closed on Sunday and the Palmares Festival that opens tomorrow. And then there is the New Year's Eve celebrations.
Whatever the case, Costs Rica offers a little bit for everyone.