Forums > Areas > Jalisco's Lake Chapala Region

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HHERRINGTON

Sep 4, 2005, 2:47 PM

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Another reason to move to lakeside

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Just experienced pumping the first three dollar a gallon regular gas in Ocala. At least this station had the grance to run out of gas before increasing the price twenty cents a gallon. Several just automatically raise prices.
----------------------------------------------------

Life is too complicated to be expressed in one liners.

gypsy

Sep 4, 2005, 3:59 PM

Post #2 of 28 (2797 views)

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Re: [HHERRINGTON] Another reason to move to lakeside

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Yep, sounds like as good a reason as any to move to Mexico. We are having similar gas prices here in Ft. Myers. UGH!!!!!!!!!!

juan david

Sep 5, 2005, 7:55 AM

Post #3 of 28 (2726 views)

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Re: [HHERRINGTON] Another reason to move to lakeside

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A friend just filled up and calculated Ajijic price at Canadian 77 cents per liter or about 65 cents in American currency. I don't know the formula for converting into US gallons.
" let sleeping dogs lie"

johanson

Sep 5, 2005, 8:38 AM

Post #4 of 28 (2714 views)

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Re: [juan david] Another reason to move to lakeside

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There are 3.8 liters per gallon. Per Yahoo there are 8.95 pesos per Canadian dollar and 10.65 pesos per US dollar. If a liter of Magna costs 6.35 pesos, (I'm guessing that's what it costs, because it cost 6.33 in July) then that is the equivalant of $2.26 US per gallon and 71 cents Canadian per liter.

Gary Anderson

Sep 5, 2005, 9:46 AM

Post #5 of 28 (2701 views)

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Re: [johanson] Another reason to move to lakeside

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Pete, et al -

Sorry to split hairs, but one US gallon = 3.785 liters exactly - that's one of those numbers that tend to stick in the memory of an old manufacturing engineer. And Magna was 6.37 centavos/liter the week before last when I filled up at the Pemex on the Libramiento.

GA
____________________________________________________________
"There was only one catch and that was Catch-22 . . . ." - Joseph Heller

(This post was edited by Gary Anderson on Sep 5, 2005, 9:49 AM)

johanson

Sep 5, 2005, 11:11 AM

Post #6 of 28 (2669 views)

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Re: [Gary Anderson] Another reason to move to lakeside

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I knew if I used 3.8 instead of 3.785 that I would get jumped on, I always do, (SMILE). The last time I was in Mexico was July 25th and then magna was 6.33. I only guessed the 6.35 price. Darn it's gone up even faster than I guessed ($6.37)

And another thing I could be corrected on is the exchange rate. Usually the rate shown in Yahoo, is not the price you get at the bank or Lloyds. So this time I shall use 10.55 instead of 10.65 and 8.84 instead of 8.94 pesos per US and Canadian dollar.

WITH my updated figures I get $2.285 US per gallon and 72 Canadian cents per liter.

In the great state of Washington, where both Gary Anderson and I come from, AAA says today's average gallon sells for $2.914 per gallon. According to CFRA 580 talk radio in Ottawa, this morning, the average price per liter over all of Canada is $1.04 and reaching as high as $1.17 per liter in Newfoundland.

$1.17 X 3.785 X .84 = $3.72 US, per gallon in Newfoundland.

(This post was edited by johanson on Sep 5, 2005, 12:59 PM)

Bubba

Sep 5, 2005, 12:22 PM

Post #7 of 28 (2643 views)

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Re: [johanson] Another reason to move to lakeside

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Speaking of exchange rates. In the past I have wired funds from my large investment house in the states into a local investment house in Ajijic by wiring dollars to their domestic account in the U.S. which the local investment house would convert to pesos. I just found out last week that this investment house in the states can convert dollars to pesos in the states and wire the pesos to my account in Mexico. I got a much better exchange rate that way since the U.S. investment house has a lot of clout. On that wire I probably saved around $2,400 Pesos. The exchange rate I got was 10.775.

It took me four years to learn this. Those of you wiring funds down here should check with you foreign bank.

cristalhombre

Sep 5, 2005, 3:02 PM

Post #8 of 28 (2612 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Another reason to move to lakeside

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Banker Bubba.....thanks for the tip!!

Still confused??

When you suggest that we check with our 'foreign bank', is this a bank like, Bank of America, that I think owns a Mexican bank, like Serafin. Is this what you are suggesting.

I am a Washington Mutual customer & Charles Schwab for investments. Would these type of banks/institutions fit your example??

I know that the large private insurance/investment house at Lakeside has ALWAYS made a bundle on the exchange rate. I would love to prevent that in the future.

Anyway this is great news! Tell us more.

"NOT ALL WHO WANDER ARE LOST...."

shoe

Sep 6, 2005, 5:14 AM

Post #9 of 28 (2544 views)

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Re: [cristalhombre] Another reason to move to lakeside

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Charles Schwab will give you a very good exchange rate and will wire the money anywhere you would like it. This must be set up in advance usually but that is not hard. I use them and get money in pesos when necessary. Merrill Lynch does the same. Just contact a rep at these institutions.

shoe

Nothing is intrinsically good or evil, but its manner of usage may make it so.
-St. Thomas Aquinas

(This post was edited by shoe on Sep 6, 2005, 5:16 AM)

cristalhombre

Sep 6, 2005, 3:42 PM

Post #10 of 28 (2477 views)

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Re: [shoe] Another reason to move to lakeside

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Thanks for the info Shoe. What is the wire transfer fee with Schwab?

"NOT ALL WHO WANDER ARE LOST...."

Bubba

Sep 6, 2005, 4:49 PM

Post #11 of 28 (2458 views)

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Re: [cristalhombre] Another reason to move to lakeside

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I didn't mention the name of my U.S. investment house but let's just say it is Charles Schwab. Their normal wire transfer fee is $25USD. Let's see now. I saved $2,400 pesos transferring from an interest bearing account at Schwab when I could have saved the $250 pesos by keeping my money in some crappy account in Bank of America and transferring money to their Mexican subsidiary and lost another $1,000 or more pesos because of their lousy internal excange rate. P,T, Barnum would love you folks that believe you are saving money because Bof A gives you free ATM withdrawals.

Welcome to my Parlor Said the Spider to the Fly.

(This post was edited by Bubba on Sep 6, 2005, 5:02 PM)

shoe

Sep 7, 2005, 4:26 AM

Post #12 of 28 (2406 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Another reason to move to lakeside

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Agreed! Investment houses give you the best service by far.

Schwab will also give you a debit card on your slush fund. No ATM fee and a great exchange rate. I found their fees for wiring money to be about $5 less then the couple of banks I deal with.

A side note: My Fort Knox credit union will not wire money internationally. Is this true of all credit unions? I have not checked with my IBM credit union and will do so soon. Consider that to be Mexican mañana as it is not the highest thing on my priority list. The beach IS!

shoe

Nothing is intrinsically good or evil, but its manner of usage may make it so.
-St. Thomas Aquinas

cristalhombre

Sep 7, 2005, 8:22 AM

Post #13 of 28 (2360 views)

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Re: [shoe] Another reason to move to lakeside

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Shoe, this is very interesting.

Two more quetions, por favor........

1. Have you successfully used a 'debit card' with an ATM in Mexico to receive pesos? (mine did not work??) Had to have the ATM card.

2. If the debit card works for cash withdrawls in Mexico, (which is what I think I read in your post) This a "NO FEE" transaction from someone like Schwab, with their money market accout, similar to Schwab One. Si???

Any "fine print".....like two withdrawls per month, or something like that.

Thanks for the clarifications

"NOT ALL WHO WANDER ARE LOST...."

johanson

Sep 7, 2005, 8:52 AM

Post #14 of 28 (2357 views)

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Re: [cristalhombre] Another reason to move to lakeside

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I have very occasionally used my B of A debit card to get pesos.

HHERRINGTON

Sep 7, 2005, 9:10 AM

Post #15 of 28 (2350 views)

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Re: [johanson] Another reason to move to lakeside

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My BofA debit card works without problems to obtain pesos in Mexico.

Does your bank know that you are using the card in Mexico? I made sure that my bank was aware of my plans to use the card in Mexico before I when SOB.
----------------------------------------------------

Life is too complicated to be expressed in one liners.

Gary Anderson

Sep 7, 2005, 12:09 PM

Post #16 of 28 (2313 views)

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Re: [cristalhombre] Another reason to move to lakeside

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Brad, I'm originally from your neck of the woods (Longview, WA) and have been using my Weyerhaeuser CU debit card here in Ajijic for 2 years to obtain pesos. I made sure they know I'm here and have had absolutamente no problemas. No fees, either.

GA
____________________________________________________________
"There was only one catch and that was Catch-22 . . . ." - Joseph Heller

(This post was edited by Gary Anderson on Sep 7, 2005, 12:13 PM)

patricio_lintz

Sep 7, 2005, 4:51 PM

Post #17 of 28 (2270 views)

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Re: [shoe] Another reason to move to lakeside

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My credit union wires money down here, no problem. It is a Honeywell affilliated FCU.

cristalhombre

Sep 7, 2005, 7:26 PM

Post #18 of 28 (2232 views)

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Re: [Gary Anderson] Another reason to move to lakeside

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Very kooooool! thanks for the info. I did not know a "debit card" was an option SOB!

I Learn something everyday..............

I also learned........ I can transfer funds to MX in pesos. GREAT NEWS!! I am in the middle of a remodel of a casa in Ajijic, sending $$ down every couple of weeks.

Now, I can avoid the 'sneaky' games played with the exchange of funds (dollars to pesos) by the non-bank financial organization located in the BIG salmon colored palace on the Carretera..........No names of course!!

"NOT ALL WHO WANDER ARE LOST...."

(This post was edited by cristalhombre on Sep 7, 2005, 7:36 PM)

shoe

Sep 8, 2005, 6:41 AM

Post #19 of 28 (2185 views)

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Re: [cristalhombre] Another reason to move to lakeside

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Certainly debit cards work just fine hre in the ATMs. The Schwab card (Schwab 1 account) does not charge anything but my bank does. I did let both of them know in advance that I would be using the card in Mexico. They had no problem with this. BUT alas, they do have limits on the number of times you can use them. You can only use them 30 or 31 times a month, once per day is all. The ATMs limit ite amount you can withdraw.

cya,
shoe

Nothing is intrinsically good or evil, but its manner of usage may make it so.
-St. Thomas Aquinas

Don

Sep 8, 2005, 7:45 AM

Post #20 of 28 (2173 views)

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Re: [shoe] Another reason to move to lakeside

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I believe the only limit the ATM puts on your withdrawal amount is how much they have in their machine. Your bank determines the amount you can withdraw daily. After living here a year, we had B of A change our ATM withdrawal amount. The change now allows us to withdraw up to 10,000 pesos per day. I have no trouble using my B of A card here, as they have my address here and mail my statements to me in Mexico. If I make withdrawals at banks in Mexico, that have agreements with B of A, there is no charge. If I use other banks in Mexico, there is a $5.00 charge per transaction.

Elaine

Sep 12, 2005, 11:49 AM

Post #21 of 28 (2021 views)

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Re: [Don] Another reason to move to lakeside

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Is that $5.00 American dollars?

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When one door closes, another opens. Some people are so busy looking at the door that has closed, they don't see the door that has opened. Keep looking for those open doors.
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Don

Sep 12, 2005, 6:59 PM

Post #22 of 28 (1973 views)

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Re: [Elaine] Another reason to move to lakeside

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Yes, $5.00 U.S. My Bank of America statement only deals in U.S. dollars and that is where I am charged that fee.

(This post was edited by Don on Sep 12, 2005, 7:01 PM)

rickgdlmx

Sep 12, 2005, 7:35 PM

Post #23 of 28 (1961 views)

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Re: [Don] Another reason to move to lakeside

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In Reply To

Yes, $5.00 U.S. My Bank of America statement only deals in U.S. dollars and that is where I am charged that Hola Don! $5.00 USD seems like an awful lot to charge for withdrawl fees. I've been using Bank of America for many Years, and we've never been charged a service fee for withdrawls at any Serfin, Santander Banks in Mexico. We just let our Bank know when we're going to Mexico and when we plan to return, and there's never been a problem or a charge. We can even request that they raise or lower the Daily Withdrawl Limits. Regards,Ricardo and Anita...
Rickgdlmx

Don

Sep 12, 2005, 8:52 PM

Post #24 of 28 (1947 views)

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Re: [rickhoutx] Another reason to move to lakeside

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Like I said in my original post, that $5.00 U.S. charge is only charged when you don't use banks that have agreements with them. Santander Serfin has agreements with B of A and therefore no charge. My town and many others do not have a Santander Serfin bank and therefore I will pay the $5.00 in fees instead of $10.00 in gas to go to another town to save the fee. I don't believe the fee is that high considering I can get a $10,000 peso withdrawal.

LYNNDENISE

Sep 13, 2005, 11:36 AM

Post #25 of 28 (1863 views)

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Re: [gypsy] Another reason to move to lakeside

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Yuck! We live in Alva, and when we return on the first of October, the house is going on the market, and we're moving, hopefully to the Raquet Club area in Ajijic.
Met lots of great people...even met a couple from Pine Island.
Weather is great...low humidity.
Lynn Smith

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