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What I used to buy with one month’s pay, I now have to cover with two months’ pay.

The gourde’s depreciation—now at a drastic low of 93.29 gourdes to the U.S. dollar as of August 9th—is affecting the daily lives of Haitians both in and out of Haiti. Everyday items have become less and less affordable, and local businesses continue to suffer along with the country’s economy. Many internal and external factors come into play affecting the gourde’s value: the PetroCaribe scandal and the increasing price and scarcity of fuel, the country’s dependency on imported goods, political corruption, and more. 

We at Woy Magazine sought out stories and experiences of how the decreasing value of the gourde has been affecting our readers. Here are some of the stories that were shared with us.

Response 1:

I work a lot and hard, but my purchasing capacity  has reduced. Now I am working only to put food on the table, if an unexpected expense comes up, I have to do a lot of gymnastics to make ends meet.

Response 2:

You can’t even make a budget now because so little money comes into your hands. No product price is stable, the stores that mark their prices in U.S. dollars make you pay at an exchange rate that they’ve made up in their head. Rent has gone up, tuition has gone up…

Response 3:

The changing value of the gourde is a disaster for me. I am a professional that has been working for 35 years. In any other country, I would have been able to retire in the next two years. When someone likes me reaches the age that I am at, there are certain leisures I should be able to enjoy: a day at the beach, eating out at a restaurant, little trips when I have time off. But I am not able to do these things. In addition to my day job, I have had to pick up multiple small jobs on the side so I maintain my quality of life. All the money I bring in goes to buying food; there is nothing left after that. It is really hard to consider that I do not get paid in USD, which means that as the gourde goes down, the money I am making is worth half of what I was making 10 years ago. I have regressed.

Response 4: 

Here’s the logic: prices of products are going up, I purchase things using my credit card in USD. But imagine, in less than 2 years, I have lost $200 USD when I calculate my salary in dollars.

I was in sòl that collected money in goudes. At the time I made a budget, when the exchange rate was 64 gourdes for $1 USD, to save up to buy a car. But the money was too little. Now that the USD is worth 93 gourdes,  that money is even smaller. I’ve realized that there is no way to save in gourdes because you will only lose. I have become poorer because I am only able to save a little bit of money with what I make. This hurts. What I used to buy with one month’s pay, I now have to cover with two months’ pay.

Response 5:

I am planning my capstone project which I need to complete in order to receive my bachelor’s degree at my university. The cost is in USD, and I work and get paid in Haitian Gourdes. Recently, I exchanged 30,000 gourdes, and this gave me $319 USD. And I’m supposed to raise $1,500 USD [to pay the semester]. I have had to take on a second job, I am working more and harder, and I have no room to do anything for pleasure.

I am trying as much as possible to find income in USD, and to increase my sources of income. I’ve become better at determining what I want vs. what I need, which allows me to reduce my spending considerably.

Response 6:

I have become afraid to spend money. Everything is expensive. No more eat for fun, it is just eating for the sake of nutrition.

Response 7:
I currently reside in the US but still on a contract with an NGO in Haiti, where I work part time. For me the decreasing value of the gourde means less US dollar at the end of the month, because they pay in local currency. I always have to adjust, since I include this pay in my monthly budget and it changes constantly. I have to stay on top of it.

Response 8:

I am a professional who depends on clients. Because of the devaluation of our gourde , life became more expensive . Now I have less clients and I have to reduce my expenses. Can’t even go on vacation this year. 

Response 9:

Dying silently.