Can't wait to see our first bill. We been here two weeks in Cholul. We keep ours at 23 or 24 when on, but honestly, we keep them off quite a bit of the time.
I recommend keeping two bank accounts at different banks so that if you have any problems with one card or if you or your bank freezes your account you have another bank card as a backup. A Charles Schwab debit card is a great card to save you money in Mexico because it refunds any ATM fees with no foreign exchange rate fees or transfer fees between banks in the US. It costs you nothing to use it! I transfer money as needed from my main bank in the US to my CS account. By doing that it keeps your money safer. If someone hacks your card they can't clean you completely out, they can only get the money in that account until you are able to straighten things out with your bank. Buena suerte!
Hola @debras 4718! Hola Cortess! Another huge money saving tip that many people are unaware of happens at the ATM's you use in Mexico. Just like in the US when you are taking US dollars out you always have to accept the ATM's use fees. But in Mexico they ask you to accept the exchange rate that they offer. DO NOT accept it! It's the banks way to trick you into giving you a terrible exchange rate! Pay attention, when the screen pops up that asks if you accept the exchange rate, push the Do not Accept button, you will still get your money! They usually hide the DO Not Accept button in the bottom left hand corner when all of the other buttons you use to do your transactions are on the right hand side. That alone shows that they know what they are doing. Who in their right mind would willingly accept the rate they offer when it's always a lot less than the going rate? Many travelers don't know this trick so they still accept it. As an example, last week I withdrew $9000 pesos for my rent at the HSBC Bank here in Ensenada. They offered an exchange rate of 17.00 or $529.411us. By not accepting their exchange rate I got a rate of 19.56 or $460.122. Just by not accepting their exchange rate I saved $69.288! BTW- You have to apply for Charles Schwab debit card/ checking/brokerage account while you are in the US from a US phone number and with a US address. Once you get to Mexico just change you US phone number to your new Mexican Telcel number and if you call them use the international number for no hold time. It's really easy and there is no charge to have this account. Their customer service is rated #1 and any time I've needed help they are very friendly and helpful. If you don't have a US address most US banks will cancel your accounts, I just use my cousins address in CA and do all of my banking online in the US. I don't fret about any type of fees but for those of you who don't have a Charles Schwab account I have found that BBVA has the highest ATM use fees of around $10.00us. The HSBC bank has an ATM use fee of $3.795. Another heads up, banks here in Mexico are not at all like using a bank in the US. You have to give yourself the whole afternoon to do any type of banking. They give you a number when you walk in and you take a seat and it could take well over an hour before someone helps you. I will eventually get a Mexican Banking account to help establish credit here because my stellar US credit rating doesn't count here. Mucha suerte desde la hermosa Ensenada!
It's amazing how quickly you adjusted to the heat after being there for three years, you got great advice! Good tips that you learned from some client's mishaps, thanks for passing them along.
You might to look at rechargeable battery fans as well. I have two made by Milwaukee. They are the type batteries that run power tools so they are strong and hold a charge for a good amount of time. You can purchase different sizes of batteries that fit the same fan. Other brands are out there as well. These things are great and have 4 Speeds. Especially great with power outages. I run 2 in different parts of the house instead of running the a/c.
You know what Cartess? I used to spend 2 months at a time in México about 23 years ago, and back then, not many places had A/C. I found that my body adjusted to the heat and humidity within about 2-3 weeks. One of those trips I was at a real rustic beach and didn't even go into a proper building of any sort for 9 whole weeks! And keep in mind that the daily temperature was about 37-40C. My body adjusted. Yeah, I felt warm. But I wasn't uncomfortable at all, (until I went home to Canada in March and froze my butt off!). I even had to throw jeans and a sweater on at night when the temperature dipped to 19-22C! It made me wonder if keeping the A/C on so low actually prevents our bodies from acclimating. If you're in a cold house and keep stepping out into an oven, that oven is going to feel *extra* hot, and your body never gets the time to just get used to the oven. I think keeping the A/C at 24-25 is probably better for your body, and your health as well, because you give it more of a chance to properly acclimate to the climate you're in. Big plus is that the electricity bill is lower! 😅
Wow!! Impressive. Definitely, low temps on that a/c will keep one from adjusting for sure. They even drink hot coffee or tea out here at restaurants before stepping back out into the heat. Says it makes them perspire a little bit, which helps keep them cool outside. Don’t think I’m ready for that one just yet 😂
I’m also Canadian and I hate the dang temperatures for most of the year here. Anything below 22 degrees Celsius feels cold to me. So I know how you feel.
In addition to a back up card, should keep a crisp $100 bill as a back up. My debit card got eaten up when visiting Puerto Vallarta last summer and that bill ‘saved’ me for the rest of my vacation. For those living in Mexico, that bill could tied you over until your debit card is replaced.
Good advice, Cartess. Thanks for keeping us up to date with your Life's adventures. Btw, how does a card get eaten up by an ATM? Was this done at a bank ATM? What do you do in a foreign country if that happens? Thanks!
Great vlog. Great savings too. Glad y’all could adapt. I wonder if that price will stay consistent during the summer months when it’s hotter outside. I guess we’ll see.
I can see why purchasing feels right, it's the culture-conditioning. I see a lot of buying, but don't see as much about selling. Do you have any examples of any (non-native) that have sold their properties?
your electric bill is prorated from the last owner. it seems they very rarely used it. so as your usage pro-rates up to your current usage you will be back to a $400 a month bill. find out your usage in watts on your bill from the 18 days and multiple it by the electric rate and thats what it will cost per month
Exactly have a look at your invoice for the rates. The cost per kilowatt hour increases dramatically as the usage goes up...starting at approximately 1 peso per kwh for the first 400 kwh then it jumps nearly 4 pesos per kwh. Plus there are taxes and other fees added. My family and I struggle with the same issue trying to acclimate to the Yucatan climate. We average between 20 and 30 kwh per day which will total somewhere in the 6,000 peso range....I can't wait for the "cooler" winter weather. We love watching your show!
I know this is random, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE that sofa! The style and color are right up my alley! Good to see you can get beautiful contemporary furniture in Merida😊
I live in Florida and I have never adjusted to this heat. It will be 95°, but humidity will make it "feel like" 104°. Is it lower there, across the golf?
Thanks for this video my name is Lisa ,also thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule meeting my brothers and I through Tia Nikki. We enjoyed you and your wife. Planning on returning around April to get a taste of that heat. Thanks once again and keep up the good work we the people need your help to get us out of the belly of the beast and I honor you for that. So peace be unto you and your family…
Is there a way to automate your electricity use? At least, it might be valuable to have the (Peso expenditure) number in your face as often as possible.
@@MoveAbroadandThrive You aren't the one that's crazy you were just trying to keep things real, you kept doing it to keep your wife happy. Face it, soon enough she'll want a bigger more expensive place. I'm not married, because it's like old Almond Joy and Mounds candy bar commercial...."Sometimes you feel like a nut sometimes you don't!" Buena suerte!
Finding value with our content? Consider a donation. CashApp: $CartessRoss CreditCard: www.moveabroadandthrive.com/donate
Can't wait to see our first bill. We been here two weeks in Cholul. We keep ours at 23 or 24 when on, but honestly, we keep them off quite a bit of the time.
I recommend keeping two bank accounts at different banks so that if you have any problems with one card or if you or your bank freezes your account you have another bank card as a backup. A Charles Schwab debit card is a great card to save you money in Mexico because it refunds any ATM fees with no foreign exchange rate fees or transfer fees between banks in the US. It costs you nothing to use it! I transfer money as needed from my main bank in the US to my CS account. By doing that it keeps your money safer. If someone hacks your card they can't clean you completely out, they can only get the money in that account until you are able to straighten things out with your bank. Buena suerte!
Thank You!
Great advice. Thanks for sharing
Hola @debras 4718! Hola Cortess! Another huge money saving tip that many people are unaware of happens at the ATM's you use in Mexico. Just like in the US when you are taking US dollars out you always have to accept the ATM's use fees. But in Mexico they ask you to accept the exchange rate that they offer. DO NOT accept it! It's the banks way to trick you into giving you a terrible exchange rate! Pay attention, when the screen pops up that asks if you accept the exchange rate, push the Do not Accept button, you will still get your money! They usually hide the DO Not Accept button in the bottom left hand corner when all of the other buttons you use to do your transactions are on the right hand side. That alone shows that they know what they are doing. Who in their right mind would willingly accept the rate they offer when it's always a lot less than the going rate? Many travelers don't know this trick so they still accept it. As an example, last week I withdrew $9000 pesos for my rent at the HSBC Bank here in Ensenada. They offered an exchange rate of 17.00 or $529.411us. By not accepting their exchange rate I got a rate of 19.56 or $460.122. Just by not accepting their exchange rate I saved $69.288! BTW- You have to apply for Charles Schwab debit card/ checking/brokerage account while you are in the US from a US phone number and with a US address. Once you get to Mexico just change you US phone number to your new Mexican Telcel number and if you call them use the international number for no hold time. It's really easy and there is no charge to have this account. Their customer service is rated #1 and any time I've needed help they are very friendly and helpful. If you don't have a US address most US banks will cancel your accounts, I just use my cousins address in CA and do all of my banking online in the US. I don't fret about any type of fees but for those of you who don't have a Charles Schwab account I have found that BBVA has the highest ATM use fees of around $10.00us. The HSBC bank has an ATM use fee of $3.795. Another heads up, banks here in Mexico are not at all like using a bank in the US. You have to give yourself the whole afternoon to do any type of banking. They give you a number when you walk in and you take a seat and it could take well over an hour before someone helps you. I will eventually get a Mexican Banking account to help establish credit here because my stellar US credit rating doesn't count here. Mucha suerte desde la hermosa Ensenada!
Your nice person Cartess thanks for helping others .
It's amazing how quickly you adjusted to the heat after being there for three years, you got great advice! Good tips that you learned from some client's mishaps, thanks for passing them along.
Love your videos buddy. God bless.
Gracias
I agree on paying for advice. The attorneys here were life savers, and frustration free for me.
Happy to hear things went smoothly for you.
You might to look at rechargeable battery fans as well. I have two made by Milwaukee. They are the type batteries that run power tools so they are strong and hold a charge for a good amount of time. You can purchase different sizes of batteries that fit the same fan. Other brands are out there as well. These things are great and have 4 Speeds. Especially great with power outages. I run 2 in different parts of the house instead of running the a/c.
You know what Cartess? I used to spend 2 months at a time in México about 23 years ago, and back then, not many places had A/C. I found that my body adjusted to the heat and humidity within about 2-3 weeks. One of those trips I was at a real rustic beach and didn't even go into a proper building of any sort for 9 whole weeks! And keep in mind that the daily temperature was about 37-40C. My body adjusted. Yeah, I felt warm. But I wasn't uncomfortable at all, (until I went home to Canada in March and froze my butt off!). I even had to throw jeans and a sweater on at night when the temperature dipped to 19-22C!
It made me wonder if keeping the A/C on so low actually prevents our bodies from acclimating. If you're in a cold house and keep stepping out into an oven, that oven is going to feel *extra* hot, and your body never gets the time to just get used to the oven.
I think keeping the A/C at 24-25 is probably better for your body, and your health as well, because you give it more of a chance to properly acclimate to the climate you're in.
Big plus is that the electricity bill is lower! 😅
Wow!! Impressive.
Definitely, low temps on that a/c will keep one from adjusting for sure.
They even drink hot coffee or tea out here at restaurants before stepping back out into the heat. Says it makes them perspire a little bit, which helps keep them cool outside. Don’t think I’m ready for that one just yet 😂
@@MoveAbroadandThrive Hahaha! Yup! Hot chilies are supposed to do the same thing. Not sure I believe that one. 😄
I’m also Canadian and I hate the dang temperatures for most of the year here. Anything below 22 degrees Celsius feels cold to me. So I know how you feel.
Hola Cortez, I live in San Luis Potosi, no air needed because of the high elevation my electric bill for 2 months is 250 pesos
Wow. I would love that! How do u like San Luis Potosí?
😮
In addition to a back up card, should keep a crisp $100 bill as a back up. My debit card got eaten up when visiting Puerto Vallarta last summer and that bill ‘saved’ me for the rest of my vacation. For those living in Mexico, that bill could tied you over until your debit card is replaced.
Great tip!!
Not too many places in Mexico will crack a one hundred US dollar bill. Keep some pesos handy plus the smaller bills are waterproof.
2000 pesos is approximately $100. That’s what you need to carry. U.S. currency in Mexico is like toilet paper unless you’re in an airport.
I don’t think
The solar was working correctly.
My bill was 1000 pesos every two months you gotta keep that air- conditioning set at 27 .. on rainy days open them windows up
Where I live my two month electricity bill is around $300.....pesos!
I’m assuming both of you don’t live in Merida ?😅 assuming you don’t, you don’t understand Merida’s heat
@@Mad-Angel-c6g I stay in Merida Yucatán Mexico 🇲🇽
@@Mad-Angel-c6g like today it’s raining my air conditioner is off
Good advice, Cartess. Thanks for keeping us up to date with your Life's adventures. Btw, how does a card get eaten up by an ATM? Was this done at a bank ATM? What do you do in a foreign country if that happens? Thanks!
Electric bill....shocked? Wise words to utilize.
😅😅😅 true 😂😂😂
Great vlog. Great savings too. Glad y’all could adapt.
I wonder if that price will stay consistent during the summer months when it’s hotter outside. I guess we’ll see.
We gonna find out soon enough jejeje
I can see why purchasing feels right, it's the culture-conditioning. I see a lot of buying, but don't see as much about selling. Do you have any examples of any (non-native) that have sold their properties?
your electric bill is prorated from the last owner. it seems they very rarely used it. so as your usage pro-rates up to your current usage you will be back to a $400 a month bill. find out your usage in watts on your bill from the 18 days and multiple it by the electric rate and thats what it will cost per month
Exactly have a look at your invoice for the rates. The cost per kilowatt hour increases dramatically as the usage goes up...starting at approximately 1 peso per kwh for the first 400 kwh then it jumps nearly 4 pesos per kwh.
Plus there are taxes and other fees added.
My family and I struggle with the same issue trying to acclimate to the Yucatan climate. We average between 20 and 30 kwh per day which will total somewhere in the 6,000 peso range....I can't wait for the "cooler" winter weather. We love watching your show!
Thanks for this. Will look at that today
Wow. That’s a big jump. Will investigate today. Thanks for sharing
I know this is random, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE that sofa! The style and color are right up my alley! Good to see you can get beautiful contemporary furniture in Merida😊
Thank u. Yes, there are many options here.
I live in Florida and I have never adjusted to this heat. It will be 95°, but humidity will make it "feel like" 104°. Is it lower there, across the golf?
whats an inverter
Hi Cartess, can you also let us know how many kWh was on your bill? I'm a numbers girlie and I need to compare to my own usage currently. Thanks!!
Congrats
Thanks for this video my name is Lisa ,also thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule meeting my brothers and I through Tia Nikki. We enjoyed you and your wife. Planning on returning around April to get a taste of that heat. Thanks once again and keep up the good work we the people need your help to get us out of the belly of the beast and I honor you for that. So peace be unto you and your family…
If you have an iPhone you can put cards on phones for apple pay.
Great tip. Thanks for sharing
Is there a way to automate your electricity use? At least, it might be valuable to have the (Peso expenditure) number in your face as often as possible.
$12,000 pesos for your electric bill you could pay for my car insurance for the whole yr lol
You have been living there a few years. Why it seems you move from one place to another making bad decisions and giving out moving advice 🤔
Because I’m kraZy
@@MoveAbroadandThrive You aren't the one that's crazy you were just trying to keep things real, you kept doing it to keep your wife happy. Face it, soon enough she'll want a bigger more expensive place. I'm not married, because it's like old Almond Joy and Mounds candy bar commercial...."Sometimes you feel like a nut sometimes you don't!" Buena suerte!
@@davidsebastianelli1326 Sooo true ... Thank u :)
My bill was 1000 pesos every two months you gotta keep that air- conditioning set at 27 .. on rainy days open them windows up