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Live Better South of the Border: A Practical Guide for Living and Working
Helps readers explore the pros and cons of living and working in Mexico.
- GenresNonfiction
224 pages, Paperback
First published April 10, 2000
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August 27, 2016
I read this book in 2014 and it was written in 2005 so I knew it was a bit outdated. The book does represent what it is like living overseas though, I am not totally sure if it is still 100% relevant but it was still an interesting read.
Here are some interesting notes from the book
* Medical care is the reason many people move to Mexico. Health insurance is cheaper and hospitals are good. If your major expenses are medical care figure you will pay 1/2 in Mexico.
* In many cases it is now possible to conduct business online in Mexico, although internet connections in many instances are not as reliable as those in the US.
* Learn to speak Spanish and a whole world will open up to you
* In Mexico there are less rules than in the USA. Remember things are different here, not better, not worse... to live here you have to accept that and stop comparing.
* In 2005 the least amount of money you need to live an OK live in Mexico was $20,000 a year but
* it depends where you live. You should only spend 31% of your income on housing....
* the Mexican government things you need a $1000 a month to get a FM3 Permit (visa)
* For $2400 a month you can live well in Mexico
* Purchasing a home...You can guarantee your title of your house with US companies like Stewart title
* Renting bargains - rent a room or sublease from an absenttee expat (many would rather rent to you) or housesit. Once you are there for a little while you will be able to find people who move away for an extended period and rent from them for real bargins
*Maids are inexpensive
* Generic drugs are not as regulated in Mexico than in the US and the author does not recommend taking them here.
* Be careful about getting prescription drugs. Read the label and make sure the prescription is the same....
* cough syrup with codeine or other controlled substance are impossible to get (important for me since I seem to get a chronic cough every year and it is the only thing that works)
* a person with retired status can take their household goods into mexico duty free
* you cannot move to mexico and take jobs away from Mexican's - unemplpyment rate in mexico is horrific (not true when I read this book...according to official reports anyway)
* consider hiring a relocation service
* if you are self employed and living in Mexico you still have to pay the self employment tax in the US (no waiver for the first %80,000 or so you make a year...) check to see if this is still true.
* if you are an executive you can go with headhunting firms and get a job in Mexico but it is not easy
*if you buy property here...never leave it unattended. Squaters have a lot of rights here and you could loose your property!
Here are some interesting notes from the book
* Medical care is the reason many people move to Mexico. Health insurance is cheaper and hospitals are good. If your major expenses are medical care figure you will pay 1/2 in Mexico.
* In many cases it is now possible to conduct business online in Mexico, although internet connections in many instances are not as reliable as those in the US.
* Learn to speak Spanish and a whole world will open up to you
* In Mexico there are less rules than in the USA. Remember things are different here, not better, not worse... to live here you have to accept that and stop comparing.
* In 2005 the least amount of money you need to live an OK live in Mexico was $20,000 a year but
* it depends where you live. You should only spend 31% of your income on housing....
* the Mexican government things you need a $1000 a month to get a FM3 Permit (visa)
* For $2400 a month you can live well in Mexico
* Purchasing a home...You can guarantee your title of your house with US companies like Stewart title
* Renting bargains - rent a room or sublease from an absenttee expat (many would rather rent to you) or housesit. Once you are there for a little while you will be able to find people who move away for an extended period and rent from them for real bargins
*Maids are inexpensive
* Generic drugs are not as regulated in Mexico than in the US and the author does not recommend taking them here.
* Be careful about getting prescription drugs. Read the label and make sure the prescription is the same....
* cough syrup with codeine or other controlled substance are impossible to get (important for me since I seem to get a chronic cough every year and it is the only thing that works)
* a person with retired status can take their household goods into mexico duty free
* you cannot move to mexico and take jobs away from Mexican's - unemplpyment rate in mexico is horrific (not true when I read this book...according to official reports anyway)
* consider hiring a relocation service
* if you are self employed and living in Mexico you still have to pay the self employment tax in the US (no waiver for the first %80,000 or so you make a year...) check to see if this is still true.
* if you are an executive you can go with headhunting firms and get a job in Mexico but it is not easy
*if you buy property here...never leave it unattended. Squaters have a lot of rights here and you could loose your property!
Displaying 1 of 1 review