MexConnect.com Forums: General: Living, Working, Retiring: small town living: Page 2

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Bubba

Aug 21, 2004, 6:19 PM

Post #26 of 49 (1580 views)

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Re: [Marlene] small town living

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About a month ago, I had a wonderful and most sophisticated meal at a luxurious hacienda at El Progreso commune, an impoverished pentacostal community in the heart of Zapatista country in Chiapas and, truly, it was a wonderful meal. I probably spent, when including the wine, an amount of money that would feed a local family for a month. Rolly and Esteban are right. There is good food to be had in the boonies here. Let them eat cakes.

Cynthia7

Aug 21, 2004, 8:47 PM

Post #27 of 49 (1556 views)

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Re: [Marlene] small town living

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I know a woman in SMA that swears she lives on $350 a month. She seems to be a lot of places I am. She works on the house tours, the handicapped adventure tours, sits on the jardin, shops with us at the Nieman Marcus table at the Tuesday market, buys her food at the Tuesday market, too. She goes to the prayer group and a sewing potluck lunch bunch. She has no car, no computer,no cable tv, no Telmex telephone. She has an adorable tiny house in a Mexican barrio near the centro and has an extra bedrooom for guests. She walks or rides the bus. She goes to the half price movies on Wed. for movies she wants to see. She goes to the general hospital when she needs medical attention. She does volunteer work and appears to be having a ball. She dresses very stylishly - thanks to the Tues. market and the 10 peso table. She eats healthy food. fruits and veggies and tortillas and beans and some meat and cheese. I don't know if she has to do this or if it is a game or self imposed. More will be revealed.

Carol Schmidt

Aug 21, 2004, 9:20 PM

Post #28 of 49 (1544 views)

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Re: [Marlene] small town living

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Reminder on fixer-uppers: just about any apartment you find, no matter how low the rent, will be a fixer-upper compared to what you probably expect in the U.S.

You will need to spend money repairing the plugs, changing the lights, replacing the towel bars and toilet paper dispenser that the previous tenants bought and then took when they moved. You may not want to defrost the fridge every other day so you may want to buy a new one yourself. You may want heat in the winter and install a propane furnace, at your cost. You'll probably need an egg crate topper for your hard mattress.

Just finding a cheap rent apartment is not the end of it. Be sure to budget for move-in costs.

Carol Schmidt

Marlene

Aug 21, 2004, 9:44 PM

Post #29 of 49 (1540 views)

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Re: [Carol Schmidt] small town living

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This thread has become very informative (wonder where the original poster got off to?)

Carol is quite correct. The only thing left behind in a lower budget, unfurnished apartment is the toilet and that is because it isn't all that handy to pack up and move or it would be gone too. Even the light bulbs are removed sometimes.

It is all relative I suppose. There is an apartment building next door to me where the story is that foreigners irresponsibly leave behind phone bills which become the problem of the next tenant who in turn don't get a phone line if they don't pay the debt. The latest tenant then leaves a bill (pay back time) when he leaves. The landlord rolled his eyes, threw up his hands, and bowed out ages ago. Only in Mexico. So remember to check the phone and other bills before you sign that lease.

jreboll

Aug 21, 2004, 11:07 PM

Post #30 of 49 (1530 views)

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Re: [Marlene] small town living

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Very little has been mentioned of the extensive network of friends that is needed to live and co-exist in these small towns. It is said that it is better to have good friends than to have lots of money. While this is stretching the truth a bit it is very true when your resources are meager and trying to make ends meet. You may be able to live on a fixed income for a while but what will happen when you get sick or some other unforeseen event happens?

Marlene

Aug 21, 2004, 11:13 PM

Post #31 of 49 (1530 views)

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Re: [jreboll] small town living

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That is the point made regards the language barrier. It goes without saying that you can't make friends if you can't communicate properly.

gpk

Aug 22, 2004, 10:35 AM

Post #32 of 49 (1491 views)

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Re: [Carol Schmidt] small town living

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I had a friend who joined the Peace Corps at age 55 or so. She lived in Ecuador in the campo del campo--very cheap, very interesting, but she didn't even make it the full 2 years before she went home.

Esteban

Aug 22, 2004, 10:37 AM

Post #33 of 49 (1490 views)

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Re: [jreboll] small town living

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Unless you live next door to Mexico's Expert Bubba and his group of English speaking geezers, you'll find that unless you learn Spanish, your network of friends will be made from a very small choice of ex-pats from the north. In Mazatlan, a town of about 500,000 the English speaking community is VERY small, divided and much like living in podunk Alabama. Like Marlene said, there are cheap apartments even in Mazatlan. I pay 950 pesos for a great place. With a small budget, it's probably good to start in a larger city then migrate to one of the quaint villages after you have checked them out. All villages are not the same as Bubba the All Knowing would have you believe and as others have said, there are some very nice clean small towns with good amenities and the possiblility of living without much money. To name a few within an hour of Mazatlan: La Cruz de Elota, La Noria and El Quelite.

gpk

Aug 22, 2004, 10:44 AM

Post #34 of 49 (1487 views)

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Re: [Marlene] small town living

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I looked at an apartment for rent in Leon with a friend. It looked like a bomb had gone off 5 moinutes before we arrived--no kitchen, no light bulbs, no toilet even. The landlady said they would sweep the place clean if my friend wanted to rent it.

Also in small and large towns, my experience is that many of the local people will assume that if you are a gringo you are rich. Therefore there will be a "gringo tax" on every product and service (this doesn't apply to the chain grocery stores, of course). Here in Irapuato, the vulcanizadora charges my Mexican friend 20 pesos--I get charged 50.

Cynthia7

Aug 22, 2004, 11:35 AM

Post #35 of 49 (1460 views)

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Re: [gpk] small town living

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We find it very convient to have several Mexican friends who are eager to do things for us. They know the ends and outs of getting things done because they know the people checking car registrations, connecting telephone lines, etc. There is a word for Spanish word for this- an article in the Wall Street Journal recently-explained what it was to be an "agent" in a Latin country. We in turn - either pay them or better yet- bring them things they want and cannot get here. I find it a very nice way to do things. I tell my female friends in Mexico it would be good for them to get an"agent". It can be difficult for a "gringa " to accomplish as much so easily.

Bubba

Aug 22, 2004, 7:05 PM

Post #36 of 49 (1401 views)

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Re: [Esteban] small town living

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Would the moderator who erased my response to the racist and inappropriate comments by the neanderthal in the toque like to explain why his comments designating small town people in the U.S. as scumbags and white trash are considered appropriate while my response to him is considered inappropriate?

annep

Aug 23, 2004, 11:08 AM

Post #37 of 49 (1327 views)

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Re: [Cynthia7] small town living

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this has been very eye opening for me. lots of differing views. regarding some concerns, i do speak a fare amount of spanish, i lived in mexico as a child for 1 year, i was 9. i have traveled quite alot alone through different parts of the country but haven't found the place i want to settle yet.we find that eating in the markets often times offers better food than some of the restaurants, we are not afraid of public transportation, we dont really need a phone or computer, maybe at another time.
we are late 40 early 50's and of good health, we are able to fix up a place as my husband is a carpenter, i am into textile arts, quilting and fabric dyeing, right now i sell ceramic tile for a living.
does any of this change anything?
we are still on a VERY tight budget.

Don Moore

Aug 23, 2004, 11:30 AM

Post #38 of 49 (1320 views)

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Re: [annep] small town living

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Try to work a few more years and build up a retirement if at all possible. You are young and you have a long time to go on this minimum amount of money. Things could change in the direction of getting more expensive in Mexico. I understand your desire to get to Mexico and out of the rat race. I wanted to retire from the time I started working. I have been looking toward going to Mexico for years, but it is better if possible to build up some cushion.

The best to you whatever you choose.
Don Moore

Bubba

Aug 23, 2004, 12:01 PM

Post #39 of 49 (1311 views)

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Re: [Bubba] small town living

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No need to respond. I'm sure he didn't mean to infer that small town Americans are scumbags. His posts are usually informed and entertaining. Enough said.

Marlene

Aug 23, 2004, 1:50 PM

Post #40 of 49 (1288 views)

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Re: [annep] small town living

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If you have traveled extensively in Mexico and speak Spanish you should be fine in whatever you decide to do.

Buena suerte and let us know how your upcoming visit goes and where your travels take you.

Morgan

Aug 23, 2004, 3:01 PM

Post #41 of 49 (1272 views)

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Was the erased post the one comparing your monthly nut with the same of the person who resides in Connecticut?
I have been looking for it to re read it to see what the $1000 per month covered.

Carol Schmidt

Aug 23, 2004, 7:24 PM

Post #42 of 49 (1214 views)

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Re: [annep] small town living

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You're still not going to be able to live in Mexico legally on an FM3 without $1500 a month US verifiable income for a married couple, half that if you own your property in Mexico. The requirements vary slightly from office to office, but you're way below legality anyplace.

In your calculations you'll have to figure in the cost of having to leave suddenly if discovered extending a six-month, once a year tourist visa, or if you don't get an extension when you go to the border, and having to replace what gets left behind in Mexico when you have to then suddenly find a place in the US.

And without an FM3 you're not even on the path to possibly being able to work as a carpenter or anything else legally on a work permit, which is not granted automatically by any means. You can't take a job a Mexican can do.

If you work under the table you're far more likely to get turned in because you're a rich gringo, and you won't get the wages you're expecting anyway because the Mexican minimum daily wage is $4 US.

Lots more for you to think hard about.

It is wonderful here, though not for every wishful gringo--I know people who have left because it wasn't as cheap or friendly as they'd expected. We do not live in a world without borders.

Carol Schmidt

Bubba

Aug 23, 2004, 7:48 PM

Post #43 of 49 (1204 views)

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Re: [Morgan] small town living

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Morgan:

No, that post survived. To the best of my recollection, that fixed cost estimate was as follows.

No mortgage or rent was included since both we and our Connecticut friend own our houses outright. She figured her fixed costs at $28,000 p.a. before any food or entertainment. Our fixed costs come to less than $12,000 p.a. but include the cost of a full time gardener and part time housekeeper which she could not even dream of having. We also included the cost of high speed DSL internet service, local cable and satellite services which probably aggregate about $105USD per month. Otherwise, just basic utilities and property taxes that come to $125 p.a. We also included the costs associated with having two cars when we really only need one.

I many cities in Mexico, Merida, San Luis Potosi, Campeche, San Cristobal de Las Casas, etc. come to mind, one can buy a very nice house for well under $100,000 US so imagine what you could buy in a small town.

I hope this helps.

Judy in Ags

Aug 23, 2004, 9:08 PM

Post #44 of 49 (1186 views)

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Owning your own home does not change the required amount of income in all parts of Mexico, so be sure to check on that before you count on it.

jennifer rose

Aug 23, 2004, 10:39 PM

Post #45 of 49 (1175 views)

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Re: [Judy in Ags] small town living

The operative language, and I'm not going to look it up, reflects that the minimum income requirements may be reduced by up to 50% if the applicant owns the house in which he or she resides. Similarly, with reference to the income requirements, the statute speaks to not less than $$$.

Many people tend to misinterpret the law.

Marlene

Aug 23, 2004, 11:05 PM

Post #46 of 49 (1172 views)

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Re: [Carol Schmidt] small town living

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There is nothing stopping folks from starting their own business with the skills they possess and going that route. Another point is, not every foreigner in Mexico is retired on an FM3-Rentista. (There are several categories of FM-3's that qualify you to stay in the country if you meet the criteria.)

annep

Aug 24, 2004, 7:56 AM

Post #47 of 49 (1127 views)

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Re: [Marlene] small town living

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HOW DOES ONE GO ABOUT STARTING A BUSINESS? I WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH LOCAL WOMEN WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN DYEING FABRICS OR QUILTING OR BOTH. IN MY HEAD, WE WOULD PRODUCE PIECES THAT WOULD REPRESENT THEIR CULTURE AND BELIEFS, THEY COULD BE VERY BEAUTIFUL AND MAYBE SOLD IN THE U.S. AM I TOTALLY NUTS?
MY HUSBAND ALSO FEELS THE NEED TO MAKE SOME MONEY, HE IS A FINE CARPENTER, BUT WOULD HE BE ABLE TO USE HIS SKILL?
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS REPLIED TO ME..... THIS HAS BEEN SO HELPFUL.

Marlene

Aug 24, 2004, 8:04 AM

Post #48 of 49 (1122 views)

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Re: [annep] small town living

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There was a good discussion on this not too long ago. Go to the "search posts" function and type keyword "business".

tonyburton / Moderator

Aug 24, 2004, 8:42 AM

Post #49 of 49 (1104 views)

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Re: [annep] small town living

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Thread has got very long, so it has been locked; please re-start any remaining questions as a new thread. Thanks!

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