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Working Remotely Teaching English With VIPKid
One of the most frequently asked questions of expats is what do you do for money while living abroad? If you are retired and receiving social security, this may not be a problem. You can easily live on social security or a pension in Mexico because the cost of living is lower here than in the United States and Canada (and probably a few other countries as well.) But let’s say you are a decade or two away from receiving social security benefits, like us. Or maybe you just lost your job due to the pandemic, going through a divorce or health scare and need extra money. If you do…
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Cost of Living in Queretaro
One of the most asked questions to any expat is “What’s the cost of living?” Mexico is a big country, and the cost of living can vary. Housing in cities with international airports are going to cost more than smaller towns an hour or so away. Meats and produce tend to be cheaper in Mexico, but you might pay considerably more for imported foods and products. Water and cell phone service is cheaper, but electric and internet costs can fluctuate depending on your usage and location. Regardless, the cost of living in Mexico, and particularly Queretaro, is one of the reasons we moved here. Housing Expense Depends on Location Renting…
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11 Things You Need to Do Before Moving to Mexico
Moving to another country should never be taken lightly. We didn’t move to Mexico on a whim. We carefully considered our options and the process of moving our household items and a dog across the border. Many people have asked us about our move to Mexico. Why did we choose Mexico? Why did we choose Queretaro? What was the hardest thing about moving here? What do we miss back in the USA? What was our process in moving to Mexico? These are great questions that can’t be answered in just one short sentence. There is no Happy Mexican Life formula we can share. It’s different for everyone. What we…
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The Best Travel Books on Expat Life
We don’t regret moving to a new country, but our expat life wasn’t rainbows and butterflies every day. We struggled with the language, setting up internet and cable, getting lost with Google maps and even writing a claim for a car accident. Most of the stories you hear from expats are all the wonderful “better quality of life” stuff, but I’m sure they had obstacles to reach that point. Our research on finding the best place to live started with a subscription to International Living. This magazine and website prints real stories from real people living in other countries around the world. From big cities to small villages, it’s been…
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So You Want to Be An Expat? How to Choose the Best Country for Your Lifestyle
Have you ever dreamed of living in a villa overlooking the Mediterranean? Or an off-the-grid ecolodge in the jungles of Costa Rica? Strolling through the vineyards of Tuscany? Or maybe a high-rise apartment in Bangkok with the best Asian food just steps away…The perfect country is out there for you, but which one? I’m really surprised at how many people mention that they would love to live in another country, but then say “Oh, it’s only a dream.” Why is it just a dream? It doesn’t have to be. The internet has changed our lives considerably. We can now chat with loved ones half a world away and virtually work…
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Our Visa Process to Live in Mexico
**This post has been updated with 2020 requirements from the Mexican government, but still retains our experience getting a visa the first and second year.** Getting a visa to live full-time in Mexico takes time and some exhausting work. Many people live in Mexico part time especially from the Northern states to escape winter. This is because the regular tourist visa you receive when entering Mexico is good for 6 months compared to the 90 day visa you receive in most other countries. Part-time living is fine if you want a winter home in warm weather and spend your summers with family after the snow has melted. But we went…
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Should You Sell Your House Before Moving Abroad?
A question we are asked often is “Did we sell our house before we moved abroad”? Well, yes we had planned to, but no it didn’t happen. We planned to put our house up for sale 3 months before we moved to Mexico, but it didn’t work out the way we hoped. Here’s the Story… When we decided to move to Mexico, we visited a few towns that we were considering for our wants and needs. We chose Queretaro in May of 2017 and spent the next few months working on home improvements, organizing our finances and packing up the kitchen (it took a while). In September, Hurricane Irma…
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How to Ship Your Belongings Overseas
Our boxes have arrived! All 63 of them… Yes, we packed WAY too much. The kitchen stuff alone was 42 boxes. No, we didn’t bring our own stove and refrigerator, but Tom is a self-made chef, so he has plenty of “toys.” We shipped a cryovac machine, 22 cutting boards (I don’t know why we need that many), the Vitamix (that’s for me), mixer, food processor, 2 crockpots, special pots, pans, ceramic cookware, and even an espresso machine. When I moved to the Dominican Republic, I had 3 suitcases and 2 dogs. That was a much easier move. Couldn’t we get that stuff down here? Yes, of course we could,…
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How to Pack Like A Boss for a Big Move
When it comes time to pack for a big move, the task can be overwhelming. How did you acquire so much stuff? If you’re lucky, your company will pay for most of the relocation costs. If you are doing this on your own, it’s time to “clean house”, decide what’s really important and become a master of the art of packing. Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links which means we will receive a small commission when you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Do Your Research on Shipping Companies First, research shipping companies. Some will charge by weight, others by cubic feet. If shipping…
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How We Stay Connected Using A Google Fi Phone
I did a lot of research about the best way to maintain my business phone number when moving abroad to Mexico. My email direct marketing business uses cell phone calls, text messages and email heavily both to accept orders and to get credit card numbers or changes to credit cards on file. So I needed to remain in touch with my clients but I needed to do it in the most economical manner possible. I had ruled out the big American service providers who all had an international plan designed for someone on a two week vacation abroad, but far too expensive for someone living abroad. AT & T provides…
