Living in PP

[itsme74123]

Hello All, I've been reading this board for about a week and have found a lot of useful information scattered about (as well as some entertaining quarrels). Sorry if this is very vague questions but I don't mind vague answers... Before I ask here's my current situation: I currently live in the U.S. and my wife's a Mexico citizen/Permanent Resident and her family will be moving back to Mexico this year. We've toyed with the idea of coming with them as she's VERY close to her family and my family lives in AZ so it would be nice to be close to our families. My wife is bilingual, college educated and I have a very strong technical background as well as business management background (I also speak a little Spanish, enough to get around, but will hopefully be more fluent by the time we move. I know with visas and stuff I won't be able to work for a while but my wife and the rest of her family will be able to provided they find jobs. The last thing I want to mention is we will be going with about 5k+ saved up to try and stay afloat while we get settled in. So this boils down to my questions. Is it very difficult to find jobs and and make a living for Americans (or in general) down there? I know a lot of you are retired with retirement pay but I was hoping maybe some people on this board actually live and work in PP. I read that minimum wage is like 55 pesos a day which translates to less than 5 dollars a day and it's kind of discouraging. Anyway, and feedback will be helpful and I'm sure more questions will come to light after I get a few replies. Thanks everybody!!!:geek:

 

[Stuart]

You will have difficulty finding work right now. The economy in Penasco is highly tourism-based and it's been in the toilet lately. Plus, there are legal ramifications, FM-3's and such that will limit your ability to work (legally). I don't have all the answers, but I *do* know that when I looked at starting a charter business in Mexico, it was very daunting. The easiest way would have been to marry a Mexican and run the business in her name.

There's several ex-pats on this forum that live full-time in Penasco and can give you the wisdom of their experience. The 5k you have saved doesn't seem like it will take you very far to me. Heck, it's easy enough to go through $500 US in a weekend, but that's fuel, hotel, dinners, etc., not full-time living there.

 

[mexicoruss]

My experience is that I went from spending 8000.00 per month to live (Stateside) to a modest 800.00 per month (inc water, elec, food and fuel, but not travel) here in Mexico. This allows us to earn less and live better, less stressful lives. I think it was Toby Keith who said "it may not work for you, but it works for me" That pretty much sums it up. There are opportunities but they aren't always what you are accustomed to. So you have to be be willing to flow and not restrict your ideas. It is hard for many to make this adjustment in their personal lives.

 

[HAPPY]

Another pipe dream !!!

My friend, ~~~ FORGET IT !!! ~~~ if you do go thru with this ~~~ PIPE DREAM ~~~

Before you BLOW that 5-g's in 2-wks. ~~~ make sure you buy a GOOD pair of shoes, ~ ~ ~

As you ~~~ WILL !!! ~~~ be hitch hiking, OR WALKING out of town, ~~~ in your underwear, with a broom stick w/a sack tied to the end of it, slung over your shoulder !!!

~~~ NOTHING, NOTHING, is cheaper in PP these days, ~~~ it is rip off oriented !!!

~~~ & with all of the ~~~ SHOOTINGS, & RIP OFFS ~~~ going on now, ~~~ you may not last 2-wks, ~~~ be VERY carefull my friend !!!

 

[Roberto]

Jobs are very hard to come by in Penasco. Wages are a small fraction of those in the US. Hours and days worked are longer. The Mayan is always looking but the work is grueling, 6 days a week, split shift in the day, long travel time to get to work, but they do run busses regularly. The new Walmart associated store is soliciting employees right now. Odds of finding work at the condos are extremely low, same with restaurants. Being a US citizen is a negative to find work. If you wife is Mexican you can start a business under her name, but there are really not many opportunities for business right now, and if you do it legally with all the required permits, etc. it is a nightmare. Forget a taco stand, the town is loaded with them. Don't expect to make a living off the US tourists, they are few and far between with lots of competition for those dollars. Rents are cheap right now, at least compared to 2 years ago, but don't expect a home to US standards for the cheapest rent. If you eat simply food prices are not bad. Electricity can be very expensive if you use a lot, there is a tiered rate system. If you decide to move here, plan on tightening up your expenses as much as possible from the start. Save every penny you can before you move. All in all if you can accept a simpler life style it will work out for you.

This from a 6 year full time resident.

 

[AZ ROB]

" I have a very strong technical background "
What type of Techinical background are you in?

 

[itsme74123]

Thanks Everybody

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate the honesty, even from HAPPY. We live a pretty modest lifestyle here in the states so it wouldn't be difficult in that aspect but we do enjoy a roof over our heads and food in our tummies. I'm surprised to hear that 5k will go so fast. We moved in the states about 5 months ago with 3500 and it lasted us 3 months while we found jobs and got an income going. Over half of that went to rent but we're pretty resourceful.

AZ Rob

I'm comfortable doing basic things like fixing computers, graphic design/website design, writing databases all the way to implementing full scale networks. I worked for a while with a small company selling, installing and troubleshooting networks for industrial shops and learned a pretty broad range of skills there as well. I have a very well rounded set of skills but I lack the degree so I saw that as a concern when trying to be able to work down there. My understanding is that you and the company have to convince the Mexican Government that the position can't be filled by a Mexican Citizen. Anybody have any thoughts or experience with this process?

Unfortunately my wife's family HAS to move back to and they are from Agua Prieta originally but have a lot of concerns about living on a border town. Does anybody recommend other locations that may offer a better chance of "making it"? Puerto Penasco stood out because it's close to the border of AZ (where my family is), on the beach and I felt it would be more accommodating to people like me that speak poor and broken spanish.

 

[PitiquitoRosy]

Hi there. I tend to think that you might be better off as a free-lancer than as an employee of a company. As has been said here, not many companies are hiring and money is tight. That said, there are still businesses that might have a need for what you're able to do. Keep in mind that right now there are quite a few graphic/website designers in town competing for work. Unfortunately it might take a while for you to begin to build up a list of clients, assuming your work is good.

The amount of money you have is not enough to last you very long, though, and it's always sad to see people have to leave here because they didn't have enough of a cushion to begin with. Maybe by the time you take the plunge you'll have added to your bankroll. Either way, good luck to you!

 

[jerry]

Well i still think there is always room for another stinking middle man in any business illegal or legal if he adds convenience to the product.Maybe a produce/take out delivery/taxi business that combines your web skills with available family labor for the condo owners.i was also thinking of a Gps unit with preloaded smuggling routes (The electronic Coyote) to sell to people from the South headed to the US of A.

 

[Mentiras y Traición]

:lol:So...build a better mousetrap?:lol:

 

[GringoZona]

The only way you're going to survive living there at this point is to get a job where you can work online (telemarketer, customer service, etc.) from a remote location, and where they don't care of your country code when logging on to the work web site. When a longstanding business like Manny's Beach Club is shut down and up for sale, you've really got to face reality. This is NOT a job market looking for newcomers.

 

[markhillis]

Here's what you can do!

Hi,
You mentioned Web Design...I don't live in RP, but I am there frequently, so I read this
forum. I build websites and I don't depend upon the needs of local businesses to do it.
I do it entirely on the web....I get my clients through Craigslist and other advertising sources. And they pay me through Paypal. If you can make it for a while on what you have saved, and your wife gets a job, you could freelance, as was previously mentioned, but entirely from your home and with clients in the states or international.
Contrary to what someone above stated, even though I know it is tourist-oriented and pricier than it used to be, there are rental prices that totally beat what is available in the states.
I say GO FOR IT!! If you don't take a risk, you'll never succeed. I wish you the best.

 

[cholla]

Hi,
You mentioned Web Design...I don't live in RP, but I am there frequently, so I read this
forum. I build websites and I don't depend upon the needs of local businesses to do it.
I do it entirely on the web....I get my clients through Craigslist and other advertising sources. And they pay me through Paypal. If you can make it for a while on what you have saved, and your wife gets a job, you could freelance, as was previously mentioned, but entirely from your home and with clients in the states or international.
Contrary to what someone above stated, even though I know it is tourist-oriented and pricier than it used to be, there are rental prices that totally beat what is available in the states.
I say GO FOR IT!! If you don't take a risk, you'll never succeed. I wish you the best.

This is true.

 

[Wood Spinner]

Many many years ago I looked into getting an island near the Great Barrier Reef in Australia They were available at that time but I was conservative and went slow in making the decision and getting to the right people. Finlay I made the decision, only to find out that all of the islands having fresh water had been turned into national preserves and I was out of luck.
I have thought of this often as I have aged and wondered what would have happened if I had just made the plunge and not procrastinated.
Make up your mind and do it or you too may always wonder. I would guess that you could live, well but conservatively on $ 2000.00 per month.

 

[lagrimas85]

I live on 2 acres in RP my proerty taxes are less than 7.00 dllrs a year. Because also where I live the Federal government pays 1/3 of my electricity bill every month from may to september. Meats are about the same as in the states but vegetables fruits and staples are way cheaper here in Mexico, gasoline is a little cheaper. You could live good on 2000.00 a month and could survive on 500.00 a month especially with rents as cheap as they are now. Any day of the week from shore in town you can catch you a fish dinner or lunch. There are alot of ways to live cheap here that you cant do in the valley. Plant a garden go clamming or crabbing. liability car insurance with what they call insuring the license here for legal coverage is about 90.00 a year. Being married to a Mexican you can get on the mx. social security health plan for about 250.00 a year. you dont need the kind of money here you need in the states by a long shot.

 

[mexicoruss]

I live on 2 acres in RP my proerty taxes are less than 7.00 dllrs a year. Because also where I live the Federal government pays 1/3 of my electricity bill every month from may to september. Meats are about the same as in the states but vegetables fruits and staples are way cheaper here in Mexico, gasoline is a little cheaper. You could live good on 2000.00 a month and could survive on 500.00 a month especially with rents as cheap as they are now. Any day of the week from shore in town you can catch you a fish dinner or lunch. There are alot of ways to live cheap here that you cant do in the valley. Plant a garden go clamming or crabbing. liability car insurance with what they call insuring the license here for legal coverage is about 90.00 a year. Being married to a Mexican you can get on the mx. social security health plan for about 250.00 a year. you dont need the kind of money here you need in the states by a long shot.

2000.00 usd a month is a lot! Mt expenses before travel come in some where under 1000.00 a month less some months!

 

[lagrimas85]

Russ, does the government help you too with your power bill on any of your houses? I think on a 1000.00 a month somebody that had their finances in order could live fine here, or even way less depending on how materialistic the person is and their ability to take care of themselves. I know lots of people here that live on half that.

 

[Ladyjeeper]

1000.00 a month? I have twice that plus Hmmnnn!

 

[mexicoruss]

Russ, does the government help you too with your power bill on any of your houses? I think on a 1000.00 a month somebody that had their finances in order could live fine here, or even way less depending on how materialistic the person is and their ability to take care of themselves. I know lots of people here that live on half that.

The government gives us assistance in the 2 billings in the summer so it cuts our bill by almost half, I just got my bill for power for the months of November and December and it was higher than my adjusted summer bill it was still not bad considering we use electric everything except our range. So for 2 months the total was 3600 pesos or about 300.00 or 150 a month. It was cold in December I will tell you that.

I think if you only buy what you NEED, you can do well. 1000.00 a month is sufficient unless you NEED to eat in fancy restaurants all the time. Taco stands are only 11 to 13 pesos for each taco, I dont think I can cook for less than that. We do eat at home a lot and we dont always eat 3 times a day (diet time) but all in all we live a comfortable life for about 10 percent of what we spent up north per month.

 

[itsme74123]

Wow

This has turned into a very informative forum for me so I really appreciate everybody's input. There's a lot of opinions and many contradicting ones but it def gives me some insight. We are planning to go in Octoberish 2011 so we can save up more money just to be safe. There's a lot to do in between now and then with all the logistics at the Mexico Consulate, saving money, and really working on my Spanish. We are very much not materialistic people. We don't even have a car and internet despite being able to easily afford them right now but we choose to live a simpler life and utilize what we have available to us. We're also very resourceful so I'm confident that we can live on the lower end of your estimates. I have some more questions related to living in Puerto Penasco...

1) Is anybody not fluent in Spanish and how hard is it to get around?
2) I read that you can catch fish for lunch or dinner, is it regulated like it is here in the U.S. or can any old Joe go and catch some dinner?
3) Lastly, I'm curious about the general climate there? I've tried to do some basic research but seem to be coming short. Is it mostly warm? Humid? Is there monsoons?

Thanks again guys, I'm anxious to learn as much as I can.