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Lucy

Nov 30, 1919, 12:00 AM

Post #1 of 8 (689 views)

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Living in Mexico on a tight budget

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That is a tough budget but it is possible, In my humble opinion. There are a few that live on $500/mo among the People from the states. Many mexican families survive on that. I think The main key is learning Spanish. If you can speak Spanish you can live in a small village almost anywhere in Mexico. Most basics are cheap. Fruit, vegies (fresh), some meat, some fish, Rent in a Mexican neighborhood, the Doc, etc. It is too expensive for you to live in an area with mostly Gringos. They have driven up the rents. unless you get cable, TV will be in Spanish. Newspapers are expensive. Bring your basic appliances. you can live just fine without a car. Phone calls to anywhere are expensive. It will be a spartan life but it may be better than being poor in the states, I think. Take some time to consider the lifestyle difference... Good luck : I am a 65 year old single man with some health problems. I am thinking of moving to Mexico because of the climate and cost of living. My monthly income is only $500 from social security. Can anyone suggest where I might live comfortably in Mexico on that income. I don't need much and I am very adaptable.

jack

Nov 30, 1919, 12:00 AM

Post #2 of 8 (658 views)

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I think he's pulling your leg Lucy

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: That is a tough budget but it is possible, In my humble opinion. There are a few that live on $500/mo among the People from the states. Many mexican families survive on that. I think The main key is learning Spanish. If you can speak Spanish you can live in a small village almost anywhere in Mexico. Most basics are cheap. Fruit, vegies (fresh), some meat, some fish, Rent in a Mexican neighborhood, the Doc, etc. It is too expensive for you to live in an area with mostly Gringos. They have driven up the rents. unless you get cable, TV will be in Spanish. Newspapers are expensive. Bring your basic appliances. you can live just fine without a car. Phone calls to anywhere are expensive. It will be a spartan life but it may be better than being poor in the states, I think. Take some time to consider the lifestyle difference... Good luck 
: : I am a 65 year old single man with some health problems. I am thinking of moving to Mexico because of the climate and cost of living. My monthly income is only $500 from social security. Can anyone suggest where I might live comfortably in Mexico on that income. I don't need much and I am very adaptable.

michael

Nov 30, 1919, 12:00 AM

Post #3 of 8 (662 views)

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he's pulling your leg all right

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: : That is a tough budget but it is possible, In my humble opinion. There are a few that live on $500/mo among the People from the states. Many mexican families survive on that. I think The main key is learning Spanish. If you can speak Spanish you can live in a small village almost anywhere in Mexico. Most basics are cheap. Fruit, vegies (fresh), some meat, some fish, Rent in a Mexican neighborhood, the Doc, etc. It is too expensive for you to live in an area with mostly Gringos. They have driven up the rents. unless you get cable, TV will be in Spanish. Newspapers are expensive. Bring your basic appliances. you can live just fine without a car. Phone calls to anywhere are expensive. It will be a spartan life but it may be better than being poor in the states, I think. Take some time to consider the lifestyle difference... Good luck :
: : : I am a 65 year old single man with some health problems. I am thinking of moving to Mexico because of the climate and cost of living. My monthly income is only $500 from social security. Can anyone suggest where I might live comfortably in Mexico on that income. I don't need much and I am very adaptable.Hello I think that you would have know problem living on that much money a month I know that I can do and have done it.. I am a little different from you howerver I am 21 and have done it backpacking. But I do know this even in Europe I lived for much less than 500 a month.. I think the man with the privous follow up had it right if you go to the country and look there get away from all the stupid tourist's and out of town vacation people than you will have know problem liveing on that much money.. Your biggest problem is going to be looking around down there before hand.. what I would suggest is that if you are in good health take a mimnamal amount of stuff and go for an adventure traveling down the pacific side of the country and checking it out backpacking and camping if you like.. I know there is an age differance but better now than never.. If you have any questions you would like to ask just email me armand1981@hotmail.com my parent's live in mexico already and have started a buisness so even they might know of somthing for you.. anyway good luck

Rolly

Nov 30, 1919, 12:00 AM

Post #4 of 8 (657 views)

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No, Lucy....

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: I'm not positive but I would think that anyone at 65 would get more than $500/mo SS. No Lucy, $500/mounth SS is not unreal. What you get depends on what you paid in over the years. There are a variety reasons why one would get such an amount. The most obvious being that the recipient had a low paying job. Perhaps he spent many years working in an exempt job (I did). He said he has a health problem, perhaps he has not worked much in the past several years, etc.I try not to be judgmental about the questions asked or the reasons for asking. Is he pulling your leg? That's not for me to pass judgment on. I just try to answer the questions as directly and accurately as I can. If the post is a sham, so be it. Perhaps the answer will be useful to someone else.

Mabel

Nov 30, 1919, 12:00 AM

Post #5 of 8 (656 views)

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Rolly is correct, and here's another example

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: : I'm not positive but I would think that anyone at 65 would get more than $500/mo SS. : No Lucy, $500/mounth SS is not unreal. What you get depends on what you paid in over the years. There are a variety reasons why one would get such an amount. The most obvious being that the recipient had a low paying job. Perhaps he spent many years working in an exempt job (I did). He said he has a health problem, perhaps he has not worked much in the past several years, etc.Mabel writes: My Social Security income is $258 a month, right now, the minimum one can get . Since my
DH made a good living wage, I was a homemaker. Over the last 40
years, I have had a few jobs off and on , mostly to keep busy, but had to pay
into US Social Security. The total amount of credits I have is
41 (minimum is 40). The total amount I have paid into Social
Security over all those years is $530 (they send you their records
now, so you can verify the accuracy). And I will collect a minimum of $258 a month for the rest of
my life. Such a deal...... I LOVE this country...... DH is a little pissed tho. He has paid in the MAXIMUM for 35
years, and he will start drawing about $1500 a month next year.
At that time, I will be eligible to draw half that amount for
myself, based on HIS work record. Then I will be drawing $750
a month for the rest of my life.....Did I mention : I LOVE this
country....... (big grin) Mabel

Observer

Nov 30, 1919, 12:00 AM

Post #6 of 8 (655 views)

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One Question Mabel

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Will your $750 be subtracted from his $1500 or added to it if you know what I mean ? Would the two of you then have a monthly income totaling $2250

Lucy

Nov 30, 1919, 12:00 AM

Post #7 of 8 (653 views)

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Good point.

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I didn't think of those aspects. Most I know getting that low SS are in their late 70s or 80s. Thanks for the input..: : I'm not positive but I would think that anyone at 65 would get more than $500/mo SS. : No Lucy, $500/mounth SS is not unreal. What you get depends on what you paid in over the years. There are a variety reasons why one would get such an amount. The most obvious being that the recipient had a low paying job. Perhaps he spent many years working in an exempt job (I did). He said he has a health problem, perhaps he has not worked much in the past several years, etc.: I try not to be judgmental about the questions asked or the reasons for asking. Is he pulling your leg? That's not for me to pass judgment on. I just try to answer the questions as directly and accurately as I can. If the post is a sham, so be it. Perhaps the answer will be useful to someone else.

mabel

Nov 30, 1919, 12:00 AM

Post #8 of 8 (657 views)

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A reply

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: Will your $750 be subtracted from his $1500 or added to it if you know what I mean ? Would the two of you then have a monthly income totaling $2250Mabel replies: No he will get approx $1500 a month (mas or menos) plus a
cost of living increase. As soon as he is eligible for this, my allotment will be
upgraded to $750 per month (mas or menos) plus the cost of
living increase. So our total "take" according to the SS guidelines, will be
$2250 USD per month..... Not bad for a Cannuck who only paid
in $500 mas or menos into the system over a lifetime.
Of course, this applies to everyone. As long as the rules
are followed, they all get the same prize. Mabel.
PS SS is pretty good, assuming you live long enough....