Beth Whitman
http://www.WanderlustAndLipstick.com

Skype now has monthly plans that I just learned about for country-to-country calling. Most of the numbers I call in the U.S. are 1-800 numbers so there is little point for the plan for me.

The TelMex plan we have has unlimited calls inside Mexico and a reduced rate for international calls. Not too bad at all.

Sorry you are delaying coming to Manzanillo “Miguel”. Flying into Guadalajara can be cheaper, but you probably know that anyway.

¡Hasta pronto!

As for the economy, I’ve held off visiting Manzanillo this past year because of the high price air fares. I’m also feeling the pinch through my client’s lack of funds. So the trickle down economy is in effect, but not how we wanted it.

Are some things more expensive here? Sure! Electronics always will be cheaper in the U.S. because of the 15% duty imposed on goods imported. Clothes same way, unless made here. Cars sameo. Any “durable good” will nearly always be cheaper in the U.S.

But what about commodities? There is no way to get 1 kg of good tomatoes for 10 pesos in the U.S. A beer for 7 pesos, 6 pesos at the Corona distributor? Nope. A kilo of fresh tortillas for 8-10 pesos? From what I’ve seen things made/grown in Mexico are cheaper. The quality may not be as high, but many things found in the U.S. are actually made/grown in Mexico (read “Home Depot”). So it seems difficult that those things would be more expensive as there are no transportation or duties imposed on them.

Phone costs are exorbitant. It’s a monopoly and nothing can be done, thank you Carlos Slim. Gas prices are nearly 1/2 of the U.S. and we can FIND gas. They can’t get gas in Atlanta even after going to 10 stations. Electricity is expensive here… if you use a lot. If not, the government subsidizes part of the cost. My parents in a rural area of Washington state pay twice the amount we do for a kilo of LP gas. Car insurance is 1/2 here what it is in the U.S. Full health insurance for a family of three for 70 pesos a month with Seguro Popular? Forget about it! Plus no screening for pre-existing conditions. Unheard of in the U.S.

Quality of life. If we want to live like we did when up North in The Promised Land (although that can be effectively debated now…), it is going to cost more than before. It is possible to simplify ones life and end up with a higher quality of life too.

In talking with some of my local friends at a fiesta Saturday, they pointed out how the U.S. appears to be following Mexico. How so? In 1995 when there were financial disasters in Mexico all the banks were nationalized until things stabilized and then slowly some were privatized. Sound familiar? It would be an interesting editorial if somebody wrote about the similarities of the Mexican collapse and then process of rebuilding with what is happening in the U.S. now.

Just like at Disneyland with Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, hang on and scream a little. It’s going to be bumpy.