It would be a dream to retire in beautiful Mexico and live among the kindest indigenous people when our time comes.♥︎ Thank you for your service, Michael! I enjoy coming on TH-cam to watch you and your sweet wife Louisa. Your videos have a calming effect that I am quite certain many others enjoy. Thank you for sharing information as ex-pats!♥︎
Great move to be debt-free. It's a plague in the US and advertisements make debt seem innocuous, but it's really financially crippling. Ramsey's advice rings true for most people. It's true that there is "good debt" and "bad debt," but the majority of debt is BAD!!
Love this. Cheering you both on🥰. I had 3 strokes - 2 in brain and one in my right eye which left me blind.I am moving to Merida on Thanksgiving Day. I am so excited. I eat fruit and vegetables..... will follow your YT channel . Thank you for sharing. 🥰 please share your Spanish online class information. 😄
@@gretacobb8285 Congratulations on your decision to move to Mérida. I’m excited for you! Sorry to hear about your strokes. We believe diet can help prevent further ones and of course follow your doctor’s orders. My Spanish classes are through Fast Conversational Spanish.com. Good luck with your move! Keep us posted on how it goes!
Hola! Thanks for watching and subscribing. We loved our time in Puebla...hopefully you'll enjoy your retirement when the time comes. Are you planning to retire in Mexico? NYC is so busy! Enjoy your day!
You mentioned your Costco is $60US. Next time you need to renew, you can just switch to the MX Membership. I renewed ours last week, 600pesos, and the exchange on my credit card was $32US. You can use the MX membership anywhere, the only difference is outside of MX you MUST keep your receipt if you return anything and you can't purchase online because you don't have a US membership. Great video!
@@billyjohnson9166 thanks for your suggestion. We’ll look into it. How’s life in the Philippines? We visited there several times when we were stationed in Okinawa.
Hola! Happy to see you here! I just subscribed to your channel and will be watching your videos asap. Looks like a fun channel. How did you find our channel, as it is really still very small? Thanks for watching and subscribing :)
Great video! I was also was in the Navy, avionics, then became a civilian PA after, worked in Ortho. Six streams of income, that is great! Well done! My wife and I are missionaries in Africa, maybe will retire in 4-5 years. Looking more toward Asia in retirement as I am intimidated about the Spanish needed to be comfortable in Mexico. Keep up the great videos; God bless!
Thanks for watching and commenting! How great that you were a PA also. Where about in Africa are you? According to Michael, he says that not being fluent in Spanish should not be a deterrent to living here...there is a lot of English spoken, depending on the place you choose. I, on the other hand, don't want to live in a country where I can't communicate, so Asia would not be a choice for me. We lived in Okinawa for 3 years while we were both in the Navy, and learning Japanese would be really intimidating! Enjoy your day :)
Thanks for watching and commenting! Learning some Spanish shouldn't be too intimidating. There are so many schools here and online that teach it well. Good luck in your future plans!
We're in Uganda, national language is English. Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines are English speaking countries. The plan might be for our home base to be in the Philippines and then Asia/world travel from there, I'm a diver. Also considering snowbirding ("flexpat") between the US and another country, and then travel from there. Would love to "long stay" in Mexico, but would have to be in a locale where we can get along with English. But I would learn some Spanish, as the locals are more appreciative is we can at least greet and such in the local language; same in Uganda. Many varied opportunities to consider! @@RetiredLifeMexico
@@fdm2155 nice! It’s amazing how much less expensive things are here in Mexico. However, we just spent 5 weeks in CDMX and I think prices have gone up since you were here. Still better than most US cities. Thanks for watching and commenting ❤️
MORE! MORE! MORE! lol Id love to hear more about Michaels federal FEHB medical insurance and if and how it transfers to Mexico for you guys. Ive heard that you pay upfront and get full reimbursement from BCBS if you choose the basic option. Although I know that medical treatment is very affordable there, Id worry about a catastrophic hospital stay for like a heart attack, stroke or accident could take place that you might need coverage for.
We have Tri-Care for Life and here we pay upfront and then file with Tri-Care Overseas. They pay 80% of the allowable charges and yes, you are correct, it is more affordable here. If we had underlying risk factors for heart attacks/strokes, then we might not take the chance and live here. I'm not sure if that answers your question? We don't have BCBS. Thanks for watching!
Very smart of you to take the good from Ramsey (paying off debt) and not listening to his sometimes kinda dumb financial advice (I have heard some bad investing advice from him)
Guys great videos. I like the folksy way you present information. Lovely sweet couple who get along so even completing each others sentences. I am interested in the Spanish classes you are taking. Would you mind sharing some information on your Spanish classes.
Thanks for watching and commenting and for your nice comments about us completing each others sentences. That happens after being together for 45 years! The Spanish classes are through: "Fast Conversational Spanish.com" Be sure to tell Peter where you heard about them!☺ Let me know if you have any questions!
Hola de nuevo! Just wondering that since you are flying back and forth at least three times a year for your dental needs that has to add up. I'm sure you're visiting and staying with family when you come back to also save on any hotel bills. You could still save a lot of money by doing your dental here and then it would just be the costs of your flights but then again who is really counting when you have six streams of income! Me? I started out with nothing and I still have some of that left! Mucha suerte desde Norte Baja!
Hola, nice to see you here again. Yes, we fly often to visit our elderly parents and combine the dentist and doctor's appointments with those visits. I have tried a couple of different dentists here in Vallarta...none of them wants to do the hand-scaling. Michael uses the dentist here and finds them to be outstanding. It's all a matter of choice, no? We also use credit card points for flights so we are making it work. Maybe we'll do a video on how we maximize our points for flights. Someone may find it helpful. Have a great day!
Hello from AZ and thanks for the interesting content!! Could you go through the process of renting your apartment, why’d you pick the particular area and anything you’d do differently? Thank you!
Thanks for watching and commenting! We are putting a video together to show our place and the neighborhood. I will be sure to add how we found it. Thanks for the suggestion!
I just came across your Video! Very Nice Job, and Congratulations on your move to Mexico! You may have stated this in another video, but do you all have any children and grandkids?
Hi! Thanks for watching and commenting. Yes, we do. Two grown boys, married and living in Texas. We also have 2 grandchildren who are in their teens so we get to visit them often. It's easy to fly from Puerto Vallarta to the states. Another reason we picked Puerto Vallarta.
My monthly retirement budget is 4k in North Carolina. Personally I would feel uncomfortable living in Mexico since I have been diagnosed with a rare cancer. Also the threat of hurricanes and crime would be an issue
@@Retired-jr3qs you have a nice retirement income and with a cancer diagnosis it would be scary to live outside the USA. Once living here it might be plausible to return to the states for treatment but that’s a very hypothetical situation and not something I can speak to. That being said, the hurricanes occur along the coast and aren’t you getting some exposure from Helene? We’re inland so not really concerned. Crime is mostly petty pickpocketing and/or among cartels. Where we live we feel very safe. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I absolutely get it! You are so right about teaching at a certain level and it can indeed affect your Spanish or whatever other language. I am fluent in Spanish, however I hear and see new words all the time and have to look them up.....I certainly don't know every word in English ( not William F. Buckley here LOL). Also my German is really suffering because I very rarely use it and for the most part never hear it or have opportunities to ever use it.....I applaud You for keeping it up and moving forward with the beautiful Spanish Language......really enjoy you videos thanks
Thanks for your nice response. I find I get mixed reviews from people who aren't second-language learners...they often think that once you have a degree in a language then that's enough! I love learning. Did you grow up speaking Spanish?
Hola! New subscriber here. Enjoyed your video. Looking to relocate in the very near future to Panama. Very interested in the SPANISH classes you mentioned. Please share with the company you take them through?
Thanks for watching and commenting and subscribing to our channel! Which part of Panama are you going to be in? The Spanish classes are through: "Fast Conversational Spanish.com" Be sure to tell Peter where you heard of them. It's a very personable program. Hasta luego :)
Subbed you guys! Building a channel is hard but it starts to roll up as you keep posting regularly. Hey I have a video idea if you’re interested. How about a neighborhood video discussing where in PV we should be looking depending on budget. It’s hard to know where is the best blend of convenience and cost. Thanks!
@@RetiredLifeMexico I have been there a couple of times for only a few days. I used to live in Mexico City CDMX but never PV which I’m sure is a lot cheaper than the capital if you know where to go.
Yes, Mexico City is expensive for us...and Puerto Vallarta definitely has its expensive areas. There are affordable neighborhoods for sure. We're planning on doing some videos about some other areas in the city. Should be fun!
My husband Mike and I will be in Puerto Vallarta end of November this year. Could we meet with you two and get some info from you. We are moving next year and I am overwhelmed with what it takes living in Mexico. I really need help. Leilani Denham
Hola! Of course! We would love to meet up for coffee and conversation when you get here. It's one of our favorite things to do! Where abouts are you going to be staying when you visit in November?
Hola de nuevo Michael y Louisa! Hola bilrmkl2!... Moving to anywhere that you are not accustomed to can be tough mentally on some people. Especially moving to a different country like Mexico. Sounds to me like you haven't really visited Mexico enough otherwise you would know what you are getting yourselves into and you wouldn't be so "overwhelmed". Just do a lot of extra research so you feel more comfortable and you wont be surprised by things that you didn't already know about or expect. Hopefully you two have started to seriously downsize. That is the one thing that most people have the hardest time doing. That release alone will free your mind and your move will be easier to handle. I sold and gave away most everything I owned. I just packed my car with the things that I knew I needed to start fresh. Don't even consider packing everything in your home and shipping it! You can purchase everything you need here when you are settled in and it would probably cost you less in the long run. Talk to anybody and 97% will tell you the same thing. I just packed my clothes, some things from my kitchen because I like to cook and knew I would use and need it the first day I got here. I also packed my cat, some artwork and documents and other things from my office, my surfboards, guitars and a few other things. With enough research everything will be a lot easier than you're probably thinking. Things move slower down here so if your life is hectic now be prepared for that because that will change you two for the better. BTW- You should consider that at least one of you getting a Temporary Residency Visa. That way you can drive your foreign plated car for at least four years and you wont have to deal with getting a Mexican plated car as soon as you cross the border. It will be one more thing to help make your move less stressful. I could go on but let me just say that you two will love living here!....Mucha suerte desde la hermosa Ensenada!
I missed or perhaps you didn't mention the total amount of income streams you receive. You mentioned you have six income streams between the two of you. You mentioned your total monthly living expense is over $2,800 to live in Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico. What is your surplus monthly budget after you deduct the $2,800 from your monthly total income? I venture to guess that you guys are doing very well with your total income streams; I bet you can afford to live in the USA. I do think retirees want to live in Mexico because they don't have close to the income streams you guys have, or these retirees really love Mexico.
Thanks for watching and commenting. You are correct, we did not mention our specific income amount but we live in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. It's on the Pacific coast south of Mazatlan. We could most definitely live in the USA but love the lifestyle that living here affords us. Plus, we love the culture, the people, the food and the language. Do you live here?
any suggestions for a solo retiree looking to live off only SS? You have any friends living there in that situation? I have seen dozens of videos of couples and all the different retirement incomes... but I am searching for the one that has only ONE source of income and can afford to live there.
@@anniesshenanigans3815 we have plans for interviewing a couple of friends who live here on one income. Single ladies who don’t live in the touristy areas. Thanks for watching and commenting. ❤️
My husband and I are Canadians who are part time residents of PV (6 months per year). We know just a few single people who are living off SS. It can be done by those who choose to live simply and eat simply. However, it takes effort to stay on budget, particularly as costs have risen in recent years. PV is a tourist town, which could be a challenge for those tempted by interesting activities and eating places geared to visitors with much more generous budgets. And it is essential to have a nest egg for the unexpected, and for intermittent travel back home.
Just curious how long you've been in your apartment, because $US10 per month for electricity is way too cheap if you are running AC. Make very sure your electric meter is working correctly. Don't mean to be discouraging, but that low of a CFE bill (~385 mxn every 2 months) sounds like a red flag. But if it's correct, you've got one heck of a deal. Enjoy PV! I've been here 13 years and counting. I subscribed.
Hola! Thanks for watching and commenting. Yes, we are very fortunate to be living in a very low cost neighborhood. We will see how much it goes up this month since we have used the ac for most days. We have been living here for 2 years. Where abouts do you live in PV?
@@RetiredLifeMexicowe're in the Aralias/Los Sauces area. I used to be the only gringo but now there are more and more because Zona Romantica is unaffordable for a lot of folks now. Costs were already going up, but covid just made prices insane. The rent you're paying now was considered a luxury lifestyle in 2011. Income requirements for residency are now 4 times what they were when I became a resident. PV is not doable anymore for most singles on SS alone, whereas you used to be able to. Paradise has gotten pricey.
Yes, of course, prices have gone up everywhere in the last 13 years, and especially after Covid. I'm glad you found a place in Aralias that you like. Is the electric bill doable there? Residency requirements keep going up every year for sure. We certainly could not be living 15 minutes walk to the beach where we lived in California. For us, it's a matter of perspective. Enjoy your day!
Under $4,000 a month is incredible, especially with rent being $1,500. I really enjoy these budget/spending videos so I look forward to seeing yours in the future.
Spain is a consideration, but we have elderly parents in Oregon and family in Texas so visiting is quite a trip from there. Perhaps in the future we will look more into Spain. Personally, Spain is a wonderful place. We haven't visited Portugal yet, but I am biased toward places where Spanish is spoken. Are you considering Spain or Portugal? Thanks for watching and commenting. Enjoy your day.
@@RetiredLifeMexico Visited both on vacation and will go back. I don’t see us ever moving permanently - we’re in San Diego and been retired a few years…
@@RetiredLifeMexico Hola de nuevo! I moved here a few years ago from the LA/Ventura beach area and that is exactly why I chose Ensenada! The weather here is just like it would be living on the beach in San Diego or North County and their are some great surf spots for people like me to enjoy. It's not a gringo or touristy hot spot like PV. Let's just say it's a little more "rustic" and that makes it a less traveled or desired area to live. Heck, some of the sidewalks here are over 300 years old and they've never been repaired in those 300 hundred years!! Because of these things it's a lot more affordable to live here. I rent a little place that includes all utilities including electric, cable, internet, drinking water with maid and laundry service for $12,000mx! Even though I live less than two miles from the beach I'm up on a hill so from my patio I have an ocean view that also overlooks the beautiful city lights at night. BTW- I surfed this morning and grabbed a few freshly caught fish tacos con todo for lunch on the harbor malecon that cost me $30mx or about $1.50us each! I have an organic fruit, veggie and juice spot less than a block away from me and I go there almost every day. It's a sunny 73 degrees and just another beautiful day in Mexico! Buenas tardes y buena suerte!
@@AG-so4gl thanks for watching and subscribing! We have a video about health care and plan to make one about safety soon. Thanks for your interest and suggestions ❤️
Great Video thanks......How big is your apartment for $1500 a month? Also thought You were a retired Spanish Teacher, why the need for Spanish Classes? That is amazing that your electricity bill with A/C is only about 10 bucks a month, that was a major concern with me. I am a RP of Mexico and can't wait to finally be there full time. You seem like a really nice couple, keep up the Videos, sure your Subscribers and Viewers will grow rapidly like " GringosRus" ( Gina and Mark) started watching them from the get-go while they were going through the whole process in the US till now. They have I think three thousand viewers or more now . Came down and spent time with them in Progresso, they would pick me up from my Airbnb. Maybe run into you guys in PV one of these days.
That would be fun to meet you if and when you visit Puerto Vallarta. Our apartment is not very big, but we have all of the amenities, we'll put a video out about it soon. Yes, I am a retired Spanish teacher and I love learning. I have found that teaching Spanish to beginner students does not help maintain one's own levels and/or growth. The more classes I take, the more I get to refine the nuances of the language and learn more about the culture. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I would never have thought that CFE in PV was inexpensive. We live in Merida. I think the temperature may be the same, but I'm not sure. Definitely have not seen a low bill like yours. I guess some people do if they have solar
We live in a non-touristy area, although it is within a 15 minute walk to the tourist area, so that is one reason our CFE is so inexpensive. The weather is definitely hot and humid right now, we are using the ac more than at other times of the year so we'll see what that does to our bill. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thanks for watching and commenting. Yes, it can be expensive to live here. We find that there are trade-offs...the rent is higher in our building but the food is lower and the weather is awesome! Enjoy your day!
Hmmm. Good question. It's probably easier being vegan in the US as you don't have to wash the vegeys so much as you do here in Mexico. However, eating beans and finding tortillas fresh on the corner every day makes it really easy here. So, it's a toss-up! Are you vegan?
@@bluetuesday hahaha! He’s just not comfortable yet on camera. He’s the introvert and I’m the extrovert. I’m hoping he gets more comfortable because he has a lot to share. Thanks for watching and commenting ❤️
It would be a dream to retire in beautiful Mexico and live among the kindest indigenous people when our time comes.♥︎
Thank you for your service, Michael! I enjoy coming on TH-cam to watch you and your sweet wife Louisa. Your videos have a calming effect that I am quite certain many others enjoy. Thank you for sharing information as ex-pats!♥︎
Thanks for watching and commenting! We are enjoying making the videos and sharing our experiences living here in beautiful Mexico. Enjoy your day :)
Great move to be debt-free. It's a plague in the US and advertisements make debt seem innocuous, but it's really financially crippling. Ramsey's advice rings true for most people. It's true that there is "good debt" and "bad debt," but the majority of debt is BAD!!
Thanks for watching and commenting. Really appreciate your participation :)
I love your content. Thank you for the information and for being transparent.
Thanks for watching and commenting. We are really enjoying sharing our adventures. Thanks for your support. Have a great day :)
me encantaaaaa este canal, gracias por compartir sus experiencias con nosotros. TE QUIERO LUISA
Muchísimas gracias, Magda! Eres muy amable :)
Mexico is Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching and commenting. I'm glad you are enjoying seeing Mexico from our POV. Hopefully you'll stay tuned for more videos! Enjoy your day!
Michael did it right! I wish he would have been my life coach!
I'll let him know you said this! You mean that he worked all his life and has decent pensions? He's a good guy for sure
This was very helpful! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I am so glad you found that helpful. Any other ideas that you might have for us to do a video about?
Dude is in his 60’s…😮 Wow! The saying that Black doesn’t crack is for real. 😂
Hahaha! Thanks for watching and commenting! Actually, he's in his 70s if you can believe it?! Good genes and being vegan helps.
@@RetiredLifeMexico Blessings to the both of you! Happy Retirement. ❤️
❤
Beautiful couple! Great video and very informative!
Thanks for watching and commenting. I am glad you enjoyed the information. Any suggestions on future videos?
Love this. Cheering you both on🥰. I had 3 strokes - 2 in brain and one in my right eye which left me blind.I am moving to Merida on Thanksgiving Day. I am so excited. I eat fruit and vegetables..... will follow your YT channel . Thank you for sharing. 🥰 please share your Spanish online class information. 😄
@@gretacobb8285 Congratulations on your decision to move to Mérida. I’m excited for you! Sorry to hear about your strokes. We believe diet can help prevent further ones and of course follow your doctor’s orders. My Spanish classes are through Fast Conversational Spanish.com. Good luck with your move! Keep us posted on how it goes!
This was very useful, thank you
P.S. you guys both look absolutely amazing, keep up the good work!
Awww. That's so nice!
You had me a WFPB! I can’t wait to join you vegan channel!!❤
Yay! Thanks for watching! Glad you are going to see our vegan channel as well. Hasta la próxima :)
Ok. So I'm the 15th subscriber. hopefully I'll have a happy retirement when the time comes, I'm from puebla mx. I'm living in nyc.
Hola! Thanks for watching and subscribing. We loved our time in Puebla...hopefully you'll enjoy your retirement when the time comes. Are you planning to retire in Mexico? NYC is so busy! Enjoy your day!
You mentioned your Costco is $60US. Next time you need to renew, you can just switch to the MX Membership. I renewed ours last week, 600pesos, and the exchange on my credit card was $32US. You can use the MX membership anywhere, the only difference is outside of MX you MUST keep your receipt if you return anything and you can't purchase online because you don't have a US membership. Great video!
Great tip! Thanks, we will definitely do that :)
Love it! Just Subscribed! Thank you for the information. ❤
Thanks for subscribing!
Thank you both for the informative content!
Thanks for watching and commenting! Glad you enjoyed the content ❤
Great video. I lived in PV for six months and loved it. Who do you use for your zoom Spanish classes?
Thanks for watching! We use "Fast Conversational Spanish" with Peter McCaslin.
You’re sharing the budget friendly secret of being vegan ❤
Isn't that the truth! No need to spend all that money on animal products :) Thanks for watching and commenting.
Get magic jack you get a US number and it cost about $59.00 per year. I live in the Philippines and it works for me.
@@billyjohnson9166 thanks for your suggestion. We’ll look into it. How’s life in the Philippines? We visited there several times when we were stationed in Okinawa.
Subbed looking forward to hearing about your adventures.
Hola! Happy to see you here! I just subscribed to your channel and will be watching your videos asap. Looks like a fun channel. How did you find our channel, as it is really still very small? Thanks for watching and subscribing :)
@@RetiredLifeMexico I travel a lot to Mexico, probably that way
Also I grew up in Chula Vista which as you know is a navy town, so the algorithm probably connected me
Nice! We lived in Chula Vista for 20+ years and retired from there 6 years ago. It is a nice town.
Great video! I was also was in the Navy, avionics, then became a civilian PA after, worked in Ortho. Six streams of income, that is great! Well done! My wife and I are missionaries in Africa, maybe will retire in 4-5 years. Looking more toward Asia in retirement as I am intimidated about the Spanish needed to be comfortable in Mexico. Keep up the great videos; God bless!
Same here with me. If only I could speak Spanish or Portuguese I'd be in Mexico or Rio (Brazil).
Thanks for watching and commenting! How great that you were a PA also. Where about in Africa are you? According to Michael, he says that not being fluent in Spanish should not be a deterrent to living here...there is a lot of English spoken, depending on the place you choose. I, on the other hand, don't want to live in a country where I can't communicate, so Asia would not be a choice for me. We lived in Okinawa for 3 years while we were both in the Navy, and learning Japanese would be really intimidating! Enjoy your day :)
Thanks for watching and commenting! Learning some Spanish shouldn't be too intimidating. There are so many schools here and online that teach it well. Good luck in your future plans!
We're in Uganda, national language is English. Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines are English speaking countries. The plan might be for our home base to be in the Philippines and then Asia/world travel from there, I'm a diver. Also considering snowbirding ("flexpat") between the US and another country, and then travel from there. Would love to "long stay" in Mexico, but would have to be in a locale where we can get along with English. But I would learn some Spanish, as the locals are more appreciative is we can at least greet and such in the local language; same in Uganda. Many varied opportunities to consider! @@RetiredLifeMexico
Love the video! Found you guys today and new follower! We are traveling full time and your monthly cost makes us consider PV for the future
Thanks for watching and commenting! Have you been to Puerto Vallarta yet? Enjoy your travels :)
@@RetiredLifeMexico Never been on Tijuana and Cancun. It's on the list though. Currently in New Zealand so a little far😆
@@KylaandAlexJordan yes! A little far from New Zealand! Thanks again for watching! Enjoy your day ❤️
Incredible
Thanks for watching and commenting! Enjoy your day :)
A few years ago I spent 5 nights in CDMX on points. It was a nice hotel in the historic area. My points went much further than in most US cities.
@@fdm2155 nice! It’s amazing how much less expensive things are here in Mexico. However, we just spent 5 weeks in CDMX and I think prices have gone up since you were here. Still better than most US cities. Thanks for watching and commenting ❤️
@@RetiredLifeMexico Yes, the exchange rate was AMAZING when I was there. I wouldn't expect that now. 😀
MORE! MORE! MORE! lol Id love to hear more about Michaels federal FEHB medical insurance and if and how it transfers to Mexico for you guys. Ive heard that you pay upfront and get full reimbursement from BCBS if you choose the basic option. Although I know that medical treatment is very affordable there, Id worry about a catastrophic hospital stay for like a heart attack, stroke or accident could take place that you might need coverage for.
We have Tri-Care for Life and here we pay upfront and then file with Tri-Care Overseas. They pay 80% of the allowable charges and yes, you are correct, it is more affordable here. If we had underlying risk factors for heart attacks/strokes, then we might not take the chance and live here. I'm not sure if that answers your question? We don't have BCBS. Thanks for watching!
Very smart of you to take the good from Ramsey (paying off debt) and not listening to his sometimes kinda dumb financial advice (I have heard some bad investing advice from him)
Thanks for watching and commenting. His foundation of paying off debt is good, but I agree, the rest? Hmm. I hope you keep watching our channel!
Guys great videos. I like the folksy way you present information. Lovely sweet couple who get along so even completing each others sentences. I am interested in the Spanish classes you are taking. Would you mind sharing some information on your Spanish classes.
Thanks for watching and commenting and for your nice comments about us completing each others sentences. That happens after being together for 45 years! The Spanish classes are through: "Fast Conversational Spanish.com" Be sure to tell Peter where you heard about them!☺ Let me know if you have any questions!
Pues bienvenidos y espero que la pasen muy bien ! A divertirse! 👋👋
@@enriquevaldivia2458 gracias por ver y comentar! Espero que tengas un buen día ❤️
Hola de nuevo! Just wondering that since you are flying back and forth at least three times a year for your dental needs that has to add up. I'm sure you're visiting and staying with family when you come back to also save on any hotel bills. You could still save a lot of money by doing your dental here and then it would just be the costs of your flights but then again who is really counting when you have six streams of income! Me? I started out with nothing and I still have some of that left! Mucha suerte desde Norte Baja!
Hola, nice to see you here again. Yes, we fly often to visit our elderly parents and combine the dentist and doctor's appointments with those visits. I have tried a couple of different dentists here in Vallarta...none of them wants to do the hand-scaling. Michael uses the dentist here and finds them to be outstanding. It's all a matter of choice, no? We also use credit card points for flights so we are making it work. Maybe we'll do a video on how we maximize our points for flights. Someone may find it helpful. Have a great day!
Hello from AZ and thanks for the interesting content!!
Could you go through the process of renting your apartment, why’d you pick the particular area and anything you’d do differently?
Thank you!
Thanks for watching and commenting! We are putting a video together to show our place and the neighborhood. I will be sure to add how we found it. Thanks for the suggestion!
Right, we need more info, how to rent, what agency handles Americans moving and retiring in Mexico.
Hola. We just put out a video about our rental and plan to do some more showcasing other areas. Should be fun! Thanks for watching and commenting!
I just came across your Video! Very Nice Job, and Congratulations on your move to Mexico! You may have stated this in another video, but do you all have any children and grandkids?
Hi! Thanks for watching and commenting. Yes, we do. Two grown boys, married and living in Texas. We also have 2 grandchildren who are in their teens so we get to visit them often. It's easy to fly from Puerto Vallarta to the states. Another reason we picked Puerto Vallarta.
My monthly retirement budget is 4k in North Carolina. Personally I would feel uncomfortable living in Mexico since I have been diagnosed with a rare cancer. Also the threat of hurricanes and crime would be an issue
@@Retired-jr3qs you have a nice retirement income and with a cancer diagnosis it would be scary to live outside the USA. Once living here it might be plausible to return to the states for treatment but that’s a very hypothetical situation and not something I can speak to. That being said, the hurricanes occur along the coast and aren’t you getting some exposure from Helene? We’re inland so not really concerned. Crime is mostly petty pickpocketing and/or among cartels. Where we live we feel very safe. Thanks for watching and commenting!
What Makes You Think That there is no crime in Where you are living in USA?😅😂
I absolutely get it! You are so right about teaching at a certain level and it can indeed affect your Spanish or whatever other language. I am fluent in Spanish, however I hear and see new words all the time and have to look them up.....I certainly don't know every word in English ( not William F. Buckley here LOL). Also my German is really suffering because I very rarely use it and for the most part never hear it or have opportunities to ever use it.....I applaud You for keeping it up and moving forward with the beautiful Spanish Language......really enjoy you videos thanks
Thanks for your nice response. I find I get mixed reviews from people who aren't second-language learners...they often think that once you have a degree in a language then that's enough! I love learning. Did you grow up speaking Spanish?
Wo haben Sie Deutsch gelernt? Alles Gute.
Hola! New subscriber here. Enjoyed your video. Looking to relocate in the very near future to Panama. Very interested in the SPANISH classes you mentioned. Please share with the company you take them through?
Thanks for watching and commenting and subscribing to our channel! Which part of Panama are you going to be in? The Spanish classes are through: "Fast Conversational Spanish.com" Be sure to tell Peter where you heard of them. It's a very personable program. Hasta luego :)
Subbed you guys! Building a channel is hard but it starts to roll up as you keep posting regularly. Hey I have a video idea if you’re interested. How about a neighborhood video discussing where in PV we should be looking depending on budget. It’s hard to know where is the best blend of convenience and cost. Thanks!
Thanks for watching and commenting! Great idea! We'll put that one together . I appreciate your suggestion. Are you familiar with Puerto Vallarta?
@@RetiredLifeMexico I have been there a couple of times for only a few days. I used to live in Mexico City CDMX but never PV which I’m sure is a lot cheaper than the capital if you know where to go.
Yes, Mexico City is expensive for us...and Puerto Vallarta definitely has its expensive areas. There are affordable neighborhoods for sure. We're planning on doing some videos about some other areas in the city. Should be fun!
Yahhh, Mr. Mike is banking💵💸💵
Yeah, he worked a lot of. years for that! Thanks for watching and commenting!
My husband Mike and I will be in Puerto Vallarta end of November this year. Could we meet with you two and get some info from you. We are moving next year and I am overwhelmed with what it takes living in Mexico. I really need help. Leilani Denham
Hola! Of course! We would love to meet up for coffee and conversation when you get here. It's one of our favorite things to do! Where abouts are you going to be staying when you visit in November?
@@RetiredLifeMexico❤
Hola de nuevo Michael y Louisa! Hola bilrmkl2!... Moving to anywhere that you are not accustomed to can be tough mentally on some people. Especially moving to a different country like Mexico. Sounds to me like you haven't really visited Mexico enough otherwise you would know what you are getting yourselves into and you wouldn't be so "overwhelmed". Just do a lot of extra research so you feel more comfortable and you wont be surprised by things that you didn't already know about or expect. Hopefully you two have started to seriously downsize. That is the one thing that most people have the hardest time doing. That release alone will free your mind and your move will be easier to handle. I sold and gave away most everything I owned. I just packed my car with the things that I knew I needed to start fresh. Don't even consider packing everything in your home and shipping it! You can purchase everything you need here when you are settled in and it would probably cost you less in the long run. Talk to anybody and 97% will tell you the same thing. I just packed my clothes, some things from my kitchen because I like to cook and knew I would use and need it the first day I got here. I also packed my cat, some artwork and documents and other things from my office, my surfboards, guitars and a few other things. With enough research everything will be a lot easier than you're probably thinking. Things move slower down here so if your life is hectic now be prepared for that because that will change you two for the better. BTW- You should consider that at least one of you getting a Temporary Residency Visa. That way you can drive your foreign plated car for at least four years and you wont have to deal with getting a Mexican plated car as soon as you cross the border. It will be one more thing to help make your move less stressful. I could go on but let me just say that you two will love living here!....Mucha suerte desde la hermosa Ensenada!
Do you store your motorhome in US?
No, we were going to store it in New Mexico for $200 a month, but decided to sell it instead. Very happy to have done that. Thanks for watching :)
I missed or perhaps you didn't mention the total amount of income streams you receive. You mentioned you have six income streams between the two of you. You mentioned your total monthly living expense is over $2,800 to live in Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico. What is your surplus monthly budget after you deduct the $2,800 from your monthly total income? I venture to guess that you guys are doing very well with your total income streams; I bet you can afford to live in the USA. I do think retirees want to live in Mexico because they don't have close to the income streams you guys have, or these retirees really love Mexico.
Thanks for watching and commenting. You are correct, we did not mention our specific income amount but we live in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. It's on the Pacific coast south of Mazatlan. We could most definitely live in the USA but love the lifestyle that living here affords us. Plus, we love the culture, the people, the food and the language. Do you live here?
any suggestions for a solo retiree looking to live off only SS? You have any friends living there in that situation? I have seen dozens of videos of couples and all the different retirement incomes... but I am searching for the one that has only ONE source of income and can afford to live there.
You can live well on $1000 in anywhere Central America.
@@misterniceguy67 great statement, but I would like to see some people talking about it.. and see the proof.
@@anniesshenanigans3815 we have plans for interviewing a couple of friends who live here on one income. Single ladies who don’t live in the touristy areas. Thanks for watching and commenting. ❤️
@@RetiredLifeMexico Thank you!!!
My husband and I are Canadians who are part time residents of PV (6 months per year). We know just a few single people who are living off SS. It can be done by those who choose to live simply and eat simply. However, it takes effort to stay on budget, particularly as costs have risen in recent years. PV is a tourist town, which could be a challenge for those tempted by interesting activities and eating places geared to visitors with much more generous budgets. And it is essential to have a nest egg for the unexpected, and for intermittent travel back home.
Just curious how long you've been in your apartment, because $US10 per month for electricity is way too cheap if you are running AC. Make very sure your electric meter is working correctly. Don't mean to be discouraging, but that low of a CFE bill (~385 mxn every 2 months) sounds like a red flag. But if it's correct, you've got one heck of a deal. Enjoy PV! I've been here 13 years and counting. I subscribed.
Hola! Thanks for watching and commenting. Yes, we are very fortunate to be living in a very low cost neighborhood. We will see how much it goes up this month since we have used the ac for most days. We have been living here for 2 years. Where abouts do you live in PV?
@@RetiredLifeMexicowe're in the Aralias/Los Sauces area. I used to be the only gringo but now there are more and more because Zona Romantica is unaffordable for a lot of folks now. Costs were already going up, but covid just made prices insane. The rent you're paying now was considered a luxury lifestyle in 2011. Income requirements for residency are now 4 times what they were when I became a resident. PV is not doable anymore for most singles on SS alone, whereas you used to be able to. Paradise has gotten pricey.
Yes, of course, prices have gone up everywhere in the last 13 years, and especially after Covid. I'm glad you found a place in Aralias that you like. Is the electric bill doable there? Residency requirements keep going up every year for sure. We certainly could not be living 15 minutes walk to the beach where we lived in California. For us, it's a matter of perspective. Enjoy your day!
I meant Puerto Vallarta, not Puerto Penasco in my comment below.
Gotcha! THANKS!
Under $4,000 a month is incredible, especially with rent being $1,500. I really enjoy these budget/spending videos so I look forward to seeing yours in the future.
Thanks for watching and commenting. Yes, it’s amazing how inexpensive most things are here. Which is why we can splurge on the rent.
Good video
Where do you live in Mexico State?
@@LindaBaker-f8e we live in Puerto Vallarta in the state of Jalisco. Have you been here?
Thank you for the reply. Never been there I have friends telling me is very nice !
Enjoy your retirement in Mexico!!!🥰
…was Spain or Portugal ever a consideration?
Spain is a consideration, but we have elderly parents in Oregon and family in Texas so visiting is quite a trip from there. Perhaps in the future we will look more into Spain. Personally, Spain is a wonderful place. We haven't visited Portugal yet, but I am biased toward places where Spanish is spoken. Are you considering Spain or Portugal? Thanks for watching and commenting. Enjoy your day.
@@RetiredLifeMexico Visited both on vacation and will go back. I don’t see us ever moving permanently - we’re in San Diego and been retired a few years…
Yes! San Diego is almost heaven. Best weather in the country! Enjoy your retirement.
@@jonniesantos Portugal taxes any and all of your income and their tax rate is fairly high. Great place to visit! Buena suerte!
@@RetiredLifeMexico Hola de nuevo! I moved here a few years ago from the LA/Ventura beach area and that is exactly why I chose Ensenada! The weather here is just like it would be living on the beach in San Diego or North County and their are some great surf spots for people like me to enjoy. It's not a gringo or touristy hot spot like PV. Let's just say it's a little more "rustic" and that makes it a less traveled or desired area to live. Heck, some of the sidewalks here are over 300 years old and they've never been repaired in those 300 hundred years!! Because of these things it's a lot more affordable to live here. I rent a little place that includes all utilities including electric, cable, internet, drinking water with maid and laundry service for $12,000mx! Even though I live less than two miles from the beach I'm up on a hill so from my patio I have an ocean view that also overlooks the beautiful city lights at night. BTW- I surfed this morning and grabbed a few freshly caught fish tacos con todo for lunch on the harbor malecon that cost me $30mx or about $1.50us each! I have an organic fruit, veggie and juice spot less than a block away from me and I go there almost every day. It's a sunny 73 degrees and just another beautiful day in Mexico! Buenas tardes y buena suerte!
New Sub.. Thanks, what about healthcare and safety?
@@AG-so4gl thanks for watching and subscribing! We have a video about health care and plan to make one about safety soon. Thanks for your interest and suggestions ❤️
Great Video thanks......How big is your apartment for $1500 a month? Also thought You were a retired Spanish Teacher, why the need for Spanish Classes? That is amazing that your electricity bill with A/C is only about 10 bucks a month, that was a major concern with me. I am a RP of Mexico and can't wait to finally be there full time. You seem like a really nice couple, keep up the Videos, sure your Subscribers and Viewers will grow rapidly like " GringosRus" ( Gina and Mark) started watching them from the get-go while they were going through the whole process in the US till now. They have I think three thousand viewers or more now . Came down and spent time with them in Progresso, they would pick me up from my Airbnb. Maybe run into you guys in PV one of these days.
That would be fun to meet you if and when you visit Puerto Vallarta. Our apartment is not very big, but we have all of the amenities, we'll put a video out about it soon. Yes, I am a retired Spanish teacher and I love learning. I have found that teaching Spanish to beginner students does not help maintain one's own levels and/or growth. The more classes I take, the more I get to refine the nuances of the language and learn more about the culture. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I would never have thought that CFE in PV was inexpensive. We live in Merida. I think the temperature may be the same, but I'm not sure. Definitely have not seen a low bill like yours. I guess some people do if they have solar
We live in a non-touristy area, although it is within a 15 minute walk to the tourist area, so that is one reason our CFE is so inexpensive. The weather is definitely hot and humid right now, we are using the ac more than at other times of the year so we'll see what that does to our bill. Thanks for watching and commenting!
So expensive where you live.
Thanks for watching and commenting. Yes, it can be expensive to live here. We find that there are trade-offs...the rent is higher in our building but the food is lower and the weather is awesome! Enjoy your day!
Is it easier to be vegan in Mexico than the US?
Hmmm. Good question. It's probably easier being vegan in the US as you don't have to wash the vegeys so much as you do here in Mexico. However, eating beans and finding tortillas fresh on the corner every day makes it really easy here. So, it's a toss-up! Are you vegan?
@@RetiredLifeMexico I used to be trying to get back into it.
Do you guys have children together?
Yes we do! Two awesome grown men, married to wonderful women. And we also have 2 beautiful teenage grandchildren. Thanks for asking!
I love your video from Florida👍❤️
@@gloriahaughton8101 Thanks for watching and commenting! We are enjoying making them :)
Is Friday the lady on the photo on the back?
Yes! That is a picture of Frida Kahlo. Such an iconic artist from Mexico. Are you a fan? Thanks for watching and commenting!
Your husband looks intimidated… scary little lady😳
@@bluetuesday hahaha! He’s just not comfortable yet on camera. He’s the introvert and I’m the extrovert. I’m hoping he gets more comfortable because he has a lot to share. Thanks for watching and commenting ❤️
@@RetiredLifeMexico Michael is pretty chill. Yin yang works...Buena suerte!