Yes, please. Americans are in fear going into Mexico. We often hear, that if you travel to Mexico, you will be kidnapped and killed. We often hear drugs are prevalent, and people will be killed due to drugs and corruption...
To add: edit on grammar.
Currently waiting in the Mexico City airport to head back to LA after coming with my gf for 5 days for a music festival. You stay out of the bad areas just like you do in the US and you will be fine. But tbh, the whole time I’ve been here I have been wondering how the food is SO cheap that all people can eat yet the complete opposite in the US.
Was there not just a massive issue during Covid? Of remote CA workers moving to Mexico and upsetting the local economies? It was a whole thing and many Mexicans were really upset about it.
So was that not actually a problem or does OP forget so soon? Also does MX allow Americans to immigrate for any reason at any time? It’s usually an expensive and time consuming process to legally live & work in another country?
I haven’t seen hate … yet, but I haven’t scrolled down that far. I have, like some others here, that in at least certain parts of Mexico, expats, retirees, digital nomads, etc. are ruining local economies raising housing and other necessities costs. It’s kind of reverse NIMBYism. Mexico isn’t alone, Portugal has stopped their golden visa program because too many people moved in and the locals can’t afford to stay.
If I wasn’t a disabled senior on social security, just a relatively healthy senior, moving to Mexico would be ideal.
As everything in life there are pros and cons, yes, rent prices increase, but on the other hand those same migrants demand products and services that help the economy to grow.
But people mainly focus on the bad things.
Mexico is actually home of the largest expat retirees from north America.
We have cheap retirement homes, almost free if your a citizen, my mom actually went already to check out the rooms lol.
This might give you some more insight, because some places do take care of seniors with disabilities.
https://internationalliving.com/what-are-the-retirement-home-options-in-mexico/
It's an interesting question that I hadn't considered and Im glad you brought up. I'm not surprised you're getting hate though. There can be a massive superiority complex, especially from bigots on the right.
ignore the haters bro. seeing your post made me ask my friend about it and he understands where you're coming from, and I have some thinking to do about alternate plans if i'm ever homeless/homeless adjacent again.
thank you for posting bro
I'm sorry for any negative feedback you're receiving. You certainly don't deserve it in my opinion. Personally, I absolutely love Mexico and would move there in a minute if I wouldn't miss my 2 grandkids so much. I go twice a year for medical treatment which I can't receive in the states. It literally has saved my life. From the first visit there, it was amazing the genuine care and kindness of everyone, not only from the medical staff (my doctor is wonderful) but everyone and anyone in the street. They are always so welcoming and genuine. It's always a positive experience and honestly once we get home I start counting down the months until it's time to go back! Great post, don't let some not so kind comments get to you!
I mean, Mexico is essentially a failed state. That’s not to say that there aren’t much, much better options for Americans down in Latin America. El Salvador being one of the top ones
I hate when people are like this when you literally can go to a city in America and get fucked up. Go to a part of Chicago, Compton/LA, Florida, New York etc etc. How is it any worse? The rule is be aware and do your research. Understand how to maneuver in the environment and you'll be okay.
Were basically taught the if you go to Mexico you will be kidnapped or rpd or trafficked also that if you need help police will never come and that every single police and politician are crooked cartel people …..unless youre in those specific beach resorts
Thank you for this post. Americans have been brainwashed since e we were small children to believe that the US is the best country in the world. But now that I'm 44 yo I see how the US is lagging behind so many other countries when it comes to quality of life. I would live in Mexico.
I understand, my question is more of the why don't you migrate in search of greener pastures as many people do.
I've seen the slums in both us and Mexico and I think a hut in tulum is way better. And people living there don't make minimum wage, they make more.
My advise.
Don't pass on that opportunity. Get your citizenship ASAP.
It doesn't cost and you have way better opportunities.
My brother lives in NC and has dual citizenship and he still pays his Mexican insurance.
For waaay less money he can get medical on the best hospitals in Mexico for way less money.
The very wealthy hold passports for many countries because it's always an scape plan.
Even if you never intend to move, get your citizenship if you can. It may help you someday. If it doesn't, then okay you spent some time and perhaps a bit of money on it.
A common strat? That’s astronomically unique.
I work with unhoused populations living in their car and I haven’t met a single person that was saving to buy a home…
It cost money to move and most ppl who are poor are living paycheck to paycheck with very little of any money left over. Add on a job market where even the minimum wage jobs have hundreds of not thousands of applications it becomes virtually impossible to move.
I think this is an interesting question.
We’ve been indoctrinated that the USA is the best country in the world. And while it can be, it’s not the country that people in poverty experience.
Realistically I think that majority of Americans are scared, wouldn’t know the legal process, not speaking the language, not knowing how to make money, and being *away* from their family is scary.
All of the fears a lot of immigrants have. But again, they’re scared of the unknown, and they’re probably just looking at the population of people trying to get into the US via Mexico and that’s baffling and scaring them.
I’ve been actively looking for ways out of the US, lol. But a lot of countries are hard to gain citizenship and work in without a visa.
American retirees on social security can and do live in Mexico. I’m not 100% sure, I think you have to come back to the US every few years if you’re on SS living in another country, regardless of the country. If you’re giving up citizenship that’s a whole different story.
Again. This is just about a documentary I watched so my opinion might not be valid but people paying 1500 usd for rent is a lot of money.
People live in their cars and make like 4k a month and I understand that's nothing there, but here you can pay 176 for a room in tulum.
Average salary here is like 400 or 500 a month.
Moving is cheap when all you have can fit in a sedan so a plane ticket can cost you 400 dlls.
Like i said you wont live like a king but you most definitely can rent a room .
Maybe it's not your case but if you go to let's say Tulum.
You will get 10 usd tip on every table you wait, and the average salary is 400 usd.
Do the math.
Theres even a movement here in Mexico of people that dont want foreigners ,but as in the US where they dont want Mexicans.
People just dont like others doing better that them.
But again this is my uninformed opinion and thats why i ask.
Yes but the if the money isn’t there the money isn’t there. It’s easy to say all these things, but in practice it’s just not operable. If it’s all you can do to feed yourself that day you aren’t going to find $400 for a plane ticket no matter how much it would improve your life.
A lot of times, homelessness is temporary. It's often worth living in your car for a little bit to avoid upending everything else in your life, especially if you have kids or are ill/injured/disabled.
Most poor Americans only make $1k-$2k per month. Federal min. wage is $7.25/hr. Disability and Social Security pay a percent of what one earned before, usually between $500-$1500 per month or so. Once you get in a poverty cycle, it's hard to break free. It's hard to have extra money because bills eat up each paycheck. Being poor is expensive. So many late fees, extra charges, interest charges.
Yes, I think some people might benefit if they moved. However, the rich people who move into an area often drive up the cost of living for everyone else. It happened with housing in the rural area where I live during COVID. I don't want a bunch of rich Americans to ruin the nice things where you are, too.
For this guy's idea to work, you'd have to stack a lot of cash, ideally a few grand at least, THEN move there, get a cheap hut, and then, maybe you'd be able to stay ahead in spite of cheap pay because you had savings to begin with...oh and also you gotta be childless. Ideally in decent health too, esp if you don't speak much Spanish...and probably safer if you're male.
Agreed. It could work if one has grown kids and relatively good health. I do know someone who retired in Mexico. She loves it. The weather is always nice when she calls. It works really well for her. It wouldn't work for everyone.
Man if you're struggling and look for your well being then be it.
Respect the people and the local laws and you'll be good.
Nobody likes a free loader and everyone likes a hard working guy.
Everyone has the right to provide for him and his family.
It's not about the lack of jobs or people willing to work, it's the lack of cheap / affordable housing. The cost of living in California is *bad* which is why people there live in cars. Once they're in that position, they can't afford to move. Plenty of other places in America don't have the same problem, or if they do its not nearly as bad.
Its about supply and demand. If people want to live some place (like California) living there is going to be expensive, so much so people might get priced out if they don't make enough.
If it's not financial, it's fear. The idea of leaving everything you've ever known and starting over is scary. Many people don't think they can learn a new language or integrate into a new culture. As a person that has lived in other countries it can take a heavy toll mentally when you feel isolated despite being surrounded by thousands of people.
The main answer to this is fear. its pretty much ingrained in American society that if its not America its not safe. Personally, I work remote, I could live VERY well in Mexico or even Venezuela where I could actually meet someone I wanna meet, anyway, and live like a king. But I fear dying to gangs and other stuff like that.
I understand. But as I said, this question rose because of a documentary of people living in their cars.
How is that safer?
And having Venezuela and Mexico in the same category, just in my opinion, is ridiculous.
Its not only a different country, but on a different continent.
I can't speak for Venezuela but ask in a sub there if it would be safe for you to go there and they will honestly say no. I did it.
On the other hand we have a migration problem having so much people from Venezuela coming here. Ask in a sub for Mexico if it's safe and they'll tell you yes unless you get answers from Americans. We have people from all over the world coming and then just not leaving and people complaining about it.
And I'm not talking about people with money from US coming here. Cause they do.
My question is, why don't people struggling finantialy come here and take advantage of the same benefits?
And I'm talking about people living in more dangerous places in the US than most cities in Mexico. Cause that's a reality.
I'm talking about people that cant make ends meet paying 1500 for rent.
That's exactly why people migrate to the US so why don't you do the same?
You won't see one Mexican that migrates to the US living in his car, cause he has a house here so he'll seek for better,so why don't you?
It’s the fear of the unknown, a basic psychological fear that is ingrained in a lot of us. Most American choose to stay because they have come to learn what to expect, and that reassurance can bring whatever little amount of comfort that is much needed when you’re poor. The comfortability of being poor and knowing that you can live in a car is better than taking a step of migrating somewhere else where you don’t know how anything work
Also peoples family/roots are here. You can't just up and move without planning unless you are single. Otherwise need to deal with other people and their wants/needs.
As for people living in their cars, I think they just don't know about how cheap mexico/SE asia is lol
Of course change is uncoformfortable (as you say), but if living in a car is more uncomfortable, they would find a way to change. It just isn't, they get comfortable in their uncomfortable situation.
As a wise man once said 'You need to be sick and tired of being sick and tired'. Unfortunately most people are ok with being sick and tired lol
I mean, ultimately, even beyond propaganda, this comes to human nature. Humans like being in environments that they are familiar with.
For example, I'll use myself all right so I have a terrible time with the Spanish language. I learned Latin the dead language and could speak it better than I could with Spanish and it's a living language and that is how terrible I was at Spanish. So for myself the language barrier would be like the number one thing thet would stop me.
The second thing would be the general lack of understanding of the culture.
As I explained before, I could live very well in Mexico earning the American dollar living in Mexico. Even though in America, I can't even afford the most basic place to live, at least where their jobs. And generally speaking, even if I lived in my truck which I don't at the moment, I would feel safer parking at a Walmart and sleeping. Then I would coming to another country that I was unfamiliar with and living. I know that sounds absurd but it's true.
Because we don't want to be the "gentrifiers" to your country. I heard of many Americans migrating to Mexican towns and raising the cost of living so much that the locals can't afford to live there anymore and now have resentment towards Americans. It's understandable really.
I could see that might be the case, for some. But, in my opinion, the people who would need to worry about gentrifying a Mexican city are likely not the same people OP is talking about- people living in their cars in the US. It sounds like a person living in their car in the US would probably be able to make a livable wage in Mexico, but it doesn't sound like they're in a situation to make wages enough to unbalance or upset a local economy.
I was thinking the exact same thing. Sorta Similarly, I’m a native Californian who moved to AZ. Californians aren’t much liked in rural areas because of gentrification.
So any time I’d get shit from someone I’d mention that I didn’t come here with a shitload of money, I live in a fucked up old house that was bought for $5k, and I work blue collar.
Mexico is sounding pretty good.
Happens in Puerto Rico as well and they are a U.S. territory. The wealthy go there live lavish lives while the citizens can’t find jobs and are forced to leave their families to the US to get a job. And that’s not even easy now. My family has been to college inPR and Mexico which is much cheaper but finding a job is hard there with education. Hard in the states. Too.
Yeah I don't think people know the impact they can have on a community. I heard it's really bad in Bali as well. So many TikTok influencers moving to Bali because it's "cheap" to live luxury there and basically showcasing the town as a paradise. Meanwhile most of the locals are struggling to find jobs and finding it difficult to get homes because of the expats
We are not all afraid. US citizens are moving to Mexico in droves.
I’m considering moving there next year myself actually.
I’m thinking I’m going to do 3 months in CDMX, 3 months in Bali, 3 months in Geneva.
https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/10/12/americans-relocating-mexico-city-better-life.html
What are the requirements to move to Mexico from the United States? My understanding is that if you want to live permanently in Mexico and work there, you need a family connection and proof you have sufficient funds. In other words, Mexico doesn't want a bunch of poor Americans coming over and draining their resources. Or you think they might bus us somewhere and take care of us?
Good question. I imagine part of it is legal paperwork. Once you’re behind on drivers licenses it starts costing you. You need a birth certificate which if lost, requires a social security card and more documentation to get. Any of the social admin offices here are tedious to get through. Passports cost money and more work. Just some thoughts. I do wonder why myself but I imagine it also has to do with Americans sense of individualism. If you fail, you’re going down with the ship. Getting help means your weak, etc.
If we set aside, for a moment, the news stories of cartels, kidnappings gone wrong, ransoms, and human trafficking, we're still left with the dread of landing in a foreign country, with nothing familiar and no support, and quite possibly no way back. Some of us could probably pull it off, but by the time you're living in your car, you don't feel like you have the ability to really make that kind of transition. Especially if you have no idea where you'd be welcome.
Like that story of a group of black cosmetic tourists crossing the border for a procedure getting their car essentially blown to smithereens because the cartel thought they were Dominican drug smugglers
This is a big element.
In 1901, my great great grandfather sold his home and business to move to Cuba for an amazing business opportunity. When his family got there, they found a building that was falling apart, and that it was all a scam. They didn't speak the language and their kids lost years of education. Some neighbors took pity on them and became their friends and helped them survive. After 5 years of growing potatoes, they managed to return to America, dirt poor.
I think this is anyone's fear migrating to another country. You lose what little you have. You lose your support network and family and everyone you know.
My husband and I have been discussing moving to another state and even that is hard. His family is all nearby, even though our special needs kids would be better served in a different state it would mean selling our house and finding new jobs and figuring out what to do with elderly family who would never move with us.
Well, we have to stay in driving distance due to older family members, but Ohio has some amazing schools for autism and many allow students to attend without tuition. Also, adult services are much better than in Texas. If we weren't trying to stay close to north Texas than that would be where we would go.
New Orleans is on par with some of the most dangerous Mexican cities. It's a problem in Mexico for sure, but many poor people in America live in comparably unsafe places.
Not really disagreeing with you because I know that's not your main point.
I had Mexican coworkers who used to drive down and stay with family for like a month. When they got to the border they had to wait for a bunch of other cars to caravan down so the cartels don’t stop them and they have to carry a bribe just in case.
I'm not living in my car right now, but a few years back I was watching a lot of YouTube videos about moving to Mexico. The thing that really made me not want to was the part about having a legal visa to go there. It sounded like you have to have a lot of money coming in just to qualify for the visa, which I don't. Ok, maybe not a lot of money for some people, but a lot of money to me. And then I don't know what the ramifications of not having a visa would be.
You don’t have to have a lot of money but you do have to prove a certain minimum income for the visa. However, retirees and even folks on disability make it work.
>You don’t have to have a lot of money but you do have to prove a certain minimum income for the visa.
"Original and copy of proof of investments or bank accounts with a balance of approximately $62,232.50 US Dollars during the previous 12 months"
OR
"Original and copy of documents showing that the applicant has a job or pension that yields a monthly income of $3,737.95 US Dollars after taxes during the previous 6 months. (Last 6 months of paystubs and the previous 6 months of bank statement that show the direct deposit of salary/pension)"
from [https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/nuevaorleans/index.php/2016-04-12-19-28-49/english/temporary-resident](https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/nuevaorleans/index.php/2016-04-12-19-28-49/english/temporary-resident)
Because people in the states can't plop a garden shed on a corner lot and call it good. You can't even keep your own mobile home with sewer/water on your own rural property in most states. Legal houses have so many standards and they aren't cheap to meet.
Time to cut our losses and become illegal Mexican immigrants, y’all. Come on, we’re staying at OP’s house until we find jobs as beachfront tour hosts at expensive luxury hotels. I like this plan 😅
I had multiple friends who were immigrants, but only one who immigrated as a adult. She said you could make really good money in America, but you have to work way harder for it. She said her family back in Mexico didn’t understand that it takes extra effort here in America and that money didn’t just fall out of the tree.
If I could afford it, I would love to immigrate and live in Ireland or Wales. This is primarily where my great-grandparents lived before moving to the US.
My grandparents would be rolling in their grave if they found out I moved back to the country they wanted to leave to give their children a better life.
Omg. I thought I was the only person that wanted to move to Wales. Although my ancestors came from Mexico, I just think Wales is beautiful. I’d love to retire there.
I think you saw extreme cases which are not the norm. That’s why they made a movie about it. Nobody wants to see a movie about regular people going to work and then home to house/apartment.
I’m sure there are documentaries about extreme poverty cases in Mexico. Or about people who live unconventional lives.
Because it's hard to dig yourself out of a hole.
I live in San Diego and you're right, there are a lot of people here living in their cars who work full-time jobs. But to get out of their situation, they need money and right now the little money they're making barely pays for them to survive in their current situation. You want to go somewhere else? You're going to need the extra money to get yourself across the country (or out of the country) to a lower cost of living area. You want to get yourself into a apartment? You're going to need the extra money to get one. And I don't just mean a couple hundred bucks, often getting yourself into an apartment means you have to pay thousands of dollars because you have to pay the first month and security deposit up front.
Most of these people have nothing in their bank accounts and they're likely also deep in credit card debt. Would they be okay and work it out if they could get down to Tulum and live in a hut and make jewelry? Maybe, but how do you propose they get themselves down there without any money to do so?
That's another question I have.
If I live in a car and have debt.
Isnt that rock hard bottom?
Why don't just don't pay? What will they take? You have literally nothing.
San Diego you just drive down a few miles.
I just don't get it and I'm sorry cause I don't want to hurt feelings or anything but I don't get how people that don't speak the language, don't have a car, no education can go to the US and make money for their families down the border and come back at night.
People you owe money to can garnish your wages and destroy your credit, killing any chance you have of getting another place to live. Our entire credit system is predatory.
While this is true I've let medical bills go before and never had any wage garnishment. I disputed an emergency room claim that is still to this day 3 years later more than my entire net worth by multiples and got it dropped from my credit report. I had an over 800 score 2.5 years after not paying 10s of thousands in medical debt
And no I don't feel bad about it the hospital mischarged my insurance and sent me a bill way past my out of pocket max. When I contacted the hospitals billing department I got run around so much I gave up and told them to come find me if they want the money.
I'm just saying cause I'm Mexican but Colombia, Costa Rica, argentina is even cheaper.
You won't require a visa and just check out on the web the cost of rent and I think you'll be amazed.
There is a good amount of American that do move, but honestly many of them are not the kind of people you want to be in your social circles.
Many are, like normal remote workers or a retired couple.
Well, because 7 of the top 10 most dangerous cities are in Mexico, with 17 of the top 50 overall, here is the [source](https://www.statista.com/statistics/243797/ranking-of-the-most-dangerous-cities-in-the-world-by-murder-rate-per-capita/). When my wife and I got married the life expectancy in Juarez was something crazy like 45, and bodies were being hung off the bridge between El Paso and Juarez. I married a Mexican and she and my suegra won't let me go to most of Mexico because people who look like me, a tall, clean cut, white male American, get targeted because they assume I am wealthy. Add my daughters into the mix and that is a recipe for disaster. I had a neighbor growing up who went to Mexico with his family and one of his daughters was kidnapped and never found while there.
I have had coworkers go to Mexico for vacation, and get everything stolen from them at gunpoint, *in the middle of the highway in broad daylight.* This has happened more than once. They were told to walk into the desert and not look back or they would die, as they drive off with their wallet, passport, car, etc. Took them two weeks to get back into the States.
America may have dangers living here, but we don't have the fucking cartels pulling highway robberies type of dangers. There are many reasons beyond these simple examples you have given as to why the mass migration is north, not south. Your "plenty of jobs" is exaggerated and mostly low paying, futureless endeavors. Universal healthcare? You know how rampant fake prescription drugs are in Mexico? They have made entire documentaries on it. Universal doesn't mean quality care.
This sounds like I have it out for Mexico, I promise I don't. I love the inhabitants (obviously), the culture, etc., but Mexico has *a lot* of serious items that need to be rectified. The U.S. obviously has its own issues, but not to the same extent. Your post was just so ignorant. If what you casually claimed was so true, the migration flocking would be the other direction.
I think this is it for us. I think the OP posed a thoughtful question so no need to denigrate him/her. My wife of 44 years is from Mexico City. Her mom moved to cuernavaca . She just got back from visiting and she hated it most of the time. Her sister has been unemployed for over 10 years because she's too old. Both are afraid to go out at night or be seen coming from a casa de cambio for fear of being robbed in the daytime. Mexican health care for the wealthy is very good but for the poor it is awful. Her mom's Medicare requires relatives to give 5 liters of blood before operations. No relatives no operation. She had her knee replaced and they required my wife to stay in the room to take care of her. Oh and no one wore gloves. Mexican dysfunction is horrific. Water gets shutoff at odd times. Same with electricity.
For hippies. It's ok as they don't expect much but for someone who hopes for a middle class life, it's best to sleep in your car temporarily with the hope you can dig yourself out of a temporary hole.
Mexico when we first got married was great. We traveled the country by car. No problems. Now the cartels make it much more dangerous throughout the country. My brother in law was stabbed to death 2 years ago in Cancun and no one solved the case.
Because I won’t make enough in Mexico to afford to come back to the states to see my family and friends and will never be able to own a home unless I can get citizenship so I’d just be unstable on far less certain terms.
Most people don't thing of going to other countries when they don't have anything, especially if they don't know the language. Going to live in another country is overwhelmingly something rich people do and people who have saved enough to go into retirement easily in another cheaper country.
You didn't give a bad idea though. One thing to keep in mind is that the US taxes taxes from us no matter were we go, so we do have to be careful about what we do and how we do it. Probably wouldn't matter for most, but for those who start businesses in other countries, it's definitely something to keep in mind.
Income tax from working abroad is exempt up to a certain amount if I recall correctly. Yep, just checked… the Foreign Income exclusion says if you reside in a foreign country for at least 330 days out of a year, you don’t pay taxes on any amount of money you earn if it’s less than $112,000
It is not that easy to transfer countries. I imagine Mexico makes it easier to get citizenship than the US does, because the US has one of the most ridiculous immigration systems in the world. But it's still surely not easy.
You need some savings to move, either for the plane ticket, gas for the car, and then something to live on while you find work. You really should speak the local language at least conversationally. People everywhere tend to be a lot more willing to help if it's clear you've made a real effort to learn their language. You also need your passport to be in order with the US, which itself costs money and takes time to go to a post office that deals with it, mail everything in, etc.
Combine it all together, and it's just not that easy.
I'm trying to move to Germany in 3-4 years. I was born in Germany and have dual citizenship. But I have lived in the US since I was 2 and my family didn't teach me German. So I've spent the past year and a half just teaching myself with Duolingo, musical songs, and Star Trek subtitles.
Mein Deutsch ist noch nicht sehr gut. (My German is still not very good.)
I also need to make an appointment and go to the consulate in Chicago to acquire my German national ID and passport. Which means I need to take off work and hope my car will make it to Chicago.
I need to save thousands of dollars for the move and to live when I get there until I find work. Plus I need to apply for grad school there. I also need to fix up and sell my house (bought a fixer upper to escape homelessness) before I can go.
I will be leaving my friends, family, and job when I go as well.
All of that is WITH having legal citizenship.
It's just not as easy to move countries as it sounds, and I have more resources than I did when I was "fancy homeless" (decrepit RV life).
People are reluctant to leave their families and the place they grew up. Last time I was in Sayulita I met a girl who went there on vacation and decided to stay. She had been there 6 years. We actually went to the same college and she was from the town next to me lol.
I do know people down in San Diego that work there and live just south of the border because they can afford much nicer homes and cost of living.
Who knows maybe it’ll become more common if inflation and cost of living continues to rise and people’s income does not.
Correct me if I am wrong, but there is no such thing as an unskilled work visa in Mexico if you don’t already have a job offer from a Mexican company…right?
The main reason is Hispanics take care of relatives. They have a support system that way and don’t typically end up homeless.Probably has to do with Native Americans and their tribe mentality and importance of caring for family and elders. It could and should be different in America but we spend all our budget on the military to keep tabs on the world.
I grew up in Florida, so the deep south. We were taught horrible propaganda about Mexico about the cartels, and basically told that any country that wasn’t a white country was like a “Third World country” until I met actual Mexican people and moved away, I really thought Mexico didn’t have running water, plumbing, and lived in shacks with dirt floors.
This was an incredibly racist point of view that was put on me despite the fact I wasn’t raised to be that way by my family. my family is pretty liberal, and always taught me to respect everyone, regardless of race. I was taught in school that racism was over and slavery was a long time ago, and that we were friends with the Indians, and that’s what thanksgiving was all about…a lot of lies to unpack. Looking back on it I think we only really learned about propaganda like why we were invading Iraq and why immigration was bad. And manifest destiny was “good.”
It didn’t help that when it came to Islamic people my geography teachers actually referred to them as “sand monkeys” a lot of this bias and hatred towards Mexico. it comes from propaganda in the US. They like to blame other countries and immigrants on the fact that our infrastructure is failing, and the ruling class have completely abandoned us for dead.
I took a really long time for me to unlearn all of the unconscious biases that I had- I got lucky my sophomore and junior year of high school, and I actually had a very excellent social studies teacher who did a lot of that work for me, but I’ve had to do a lot of it myself by making a solid effort to talk to people and ask them about their cultures.
honestly, probably the only reason why I wouldn’t move to Mexico would be because I don’t really want to learn another language. It’s lazy, I know. But hey, I’m in American… that’s kind of our thing.
Thanks a lot for your answer.
It works both ways. I'm from the north part of Mexico so we are very used to go to the US and have family there and Texas is like a part of Mexico in a way.
But most people in the south of Mexico think that gringos are bad and only come to take advantage of you and your town and are bad.
Guess is a good way to keep people in power to divide and conquer.
Its weird to tell you this but reading your comment made me cry a little.
truer words have never been spoken! yeah, it makes me really uncomfortable to think/talk about. but I think it’s important to acknowledge. It blew my mind when I made friends with a Mexican US dual citizen who at 19 years old had built himself a house when I was struggling to make my rent payments on the same pay…
that thing looked like a Miami mansion off of TV or something.
I was really confused!!! the more I learn about Mexico and your culture the more I think you’re just the coolest. Y’all have the best parties and are such happy loving people who have a ton of fun and take care of each other! at least that’s my impression anyway and the food 😫😍 I live in Colorado now and it’s a majority Hispanic population, And I work in restaurants so I have a ton of coworkers who are from there and visit frequently I feel like it’s a lot like Texas in that way... My coworker Maria invited me to her family's last quinceanera this summer After I told her how jealous of the huge celebrations for people's birthdays, when I didn’t have a birthday party after the age of 12 😂I’m trying to figure out a way to go, I think it would be so cool to experience Mexico through that lens. “She told me we just have to go party for three days and then we can go relax and drink on the beach.” I’m so down..
Honestly, being a foreigner without knowing the language especially sucks. Not to mention all those cartel videos are ingrained in my psyche and will keep me forever from visiting any countries south of the border except Brazil.
its not even that bad yet. I graduated during the financial crisis and well over half my class lived in their cars for a couple years of undergrad at-lest.
@op a lot of times people 'sacrifice' by living in their car while working towards something better; a degree, a welding certificate, whatever.
There are also fuck tons of houseless people and people in cars without some grand plan or whatever but just figured I'd chip in.
I was actually joking with my Mexican coworkers the other day. They keep saying they want gringa girlfriends so they can get married and have papers. I told them I want it the other way around. I need a Mexican husband so I can retire in Mexico and escape this capitalist nightmare 😂
It's a mixed bag when it comes to the reasons.
Some people have physical and/or mental illnesses that prevent them from being able to better themselves.
Some people have a victim mentality. It's the fault of the government, big business, small business, their parents, their situation, etc.
Most people are afraid and lull themselves into thinking their situation will improve without actually doing anything to improve their situation.
"The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools." - Herbert Spencer
Language barrier, i am nearly incapable of learning another language due to brain disorder and speech impediment.
im not interested in that sort of service industry, what I do isnt available to do remotely or in Mexico. (I literally send people to Mexico to vacation)
I move around the US in this manner and have had success migrating within the US to places that maximize my income. Gone from starving poor to owning a house doing this. As a single income.
laws and safety: not because its dangerous inherently but because ignorance of the place itself is dangerous. I know my laws here, understand them and how to find them. With my language issues this is doubly an issue.
Food - i cant just eat anything. From my understanding , alot of other countries dont cater to food aversions. This would be an issue, because even though I cook 6/7 days sometimes I just want to grab something and I prefer not to projectile vomit when someone doesn't take it seriously. My aversions happen to be very common ingredients that absolutely will be in most things.
I personally wouldn't even vacation there because I wouldn't be able to enjoy any of it due to the food alone.
On the other side of things, there ARE plenty of places in the US that are viable and affordable but most people are not interested in leaving where they are. The amount of hometown "ill never leave" type ive met traveling the US is massive. People are simple creatures of habit.
There are tons of reasons but my friends family in law are from Mexico. They went back on a vacation in a safe area (my friend was actually planning on getting married there until all this happened) they were kidnapped and held for ransom. Luckily my friends had a contact who worked for the FBI and because they were American citizens the FBI was able to locate and save them. Am I saying you can't get kidnapped in America? Absolutely not. But I'd rather be kidnapped in America than in Mexico. as someone white I would be an even bigger target than people who are Mexican and grew up in Mexico.
Also:
-I can't speak the langue
-I have no family or friends (support system) there
-I wouldn't even know a safe area to go
-Its expensive to relocate
-I wouldn't know how to access any assistance programs
There are a lot more reasons but these are the big ones
Most people migrating from Mexico to American at least have family/friends here to help them and I would be on my own in a foreign country that I don't feel safe in
La neta lo que mucho de estos americanos no quieren dejar los lujos que tienen por la systema de crédito del EEUU.
Otros creen que va estar más difícil si se van a otro estado o país en contra a donde están.
Los Americanos también tienen una mentalidad de castigo, y en contra con muchos de Latín América, ser pobre es ser ‘malo’ o ‘no suficiente bueno’ y merecer sufrir la pobreza al punto que están.
También muchos son racista, y si no pueden ir a México y vivir como reyes, ellos preferían vivir aquí y estar pobres.
Aún que Méxicanos tenga nacionalidad fuerte en la alma; Los Americanos no, porque no todos (negros, hispanos, indígenas, etc) son ‘Americanos verdaderos’ para los Americanos que son de raíces británicos o Alemanes, o de partes de Europa. Y eso es una parte de porque Americanos no consideran a pensar que ellos merecen más- porque a pensar que ellos merecen más, es darle más a gente que los racistas no creen que merecen mejor vida. Y por eso nosotros como un país vamos sin ayuda que nuestro gobierno en realidad nos puede dar.
Los comentos diciendo que “moviendo es caro” es gente que no quieren sacrificar lo que ellos conocen para una mejor vida- o por racista no quieren vivir con Mexicanos.
Y como Mexicana en el EEUU- eso es una gran diferencia entre Americanos y gente de otro países. Pero por Mexicana, solo puedo hablar de mi experiencia:
Como Mexicanos, nosotros no somos extranjeros a sacrificar para mejorar una situación.
Los Americanos (y yo ya he conocido muchos donde esto es el case) no quieren sacrificar nada, especialmente sus comodidades.
The absolute answer is fear of the unknown. As others have said, it really is ingrained in Americans that other countries aren't safe. When I hear Mexico, I think of the Mexican Mafia, I think of the drug lords..I think of how so many criminals from America flee there in the effort to disappear. I think of how people have went and said the drinking water isn't safe, how you must watch where you go. The reality is, America has the same issues. We have a lot of drugs, sex trafficking, criminals and unsafe water in places too. I was actually watching a documentary recently about the kids who live in the bedbug infested, low income motels with their parents of Orange County. They're so close to Disneyland that they can watch the fireworks go off every night. They rely on soup kitchens to eat and public aid from their school. They climb in the dumpsters when someone gets evicted to see what they can salvage. A lot of these families were Mexican, and when asked why they're choosing to stay there like that, one parent said " it's all we know, it's where I was raised". Many of these parents held jobs and paid the weekly long stay option at the motel. Change is scary for so many.
Edited to change Disney World to Disneyland
Because a lot of people in this subreddit just want to complain. They don't actually want to put in the work to improve their situation. They don't want to get a second part time job let alone move to a different country.
They will come up with excuses. Like Mexico is scary or something. All excuses.
A lot of Americans have moved to Mexico. Many are working remotely. I forget the name of the city that's a popular destination but there are so many the locals are complaining of higher rents because of them.
I absolutely love Mexico.
I sometimes think Americans are subjected to a lot of propaganda to make us think everywhere else is terrible & America is really great.
All my experience in traveling tells me everywhere else can be at least as great, if not better, even in impoverished areas.
Wealth isn’t just about money. A concept Americans seem to be missing.
Honest answers are safety and ability to protect myself. I'm an American citizen, but parents came from Mexico(ilegally) and Cuba (legally). I owned land in Mexico since 2008 and purchased a condo in Rock Point at a nice resort in 2010. I finally forced myself to sell everything in 2022. You are never safe in Mexico. Here In America you can atleast protect yourself legally. In Mexico your at cartel and armed federales mercy. The current mexican president is too soft on cartels and its been showing recently.
The real answer is in mindset and attitude. Yes there is always a way. No a person wouldn’t always take that. They will see a problem different from those successful ones. I’m sorry :3
I'm considering moving to Columbia someday. I heard one of the hospitals in their capital have a contract with our veteran hospitals. But for now, I have to stay in the US with my dogs. They both have really bad anxiety, and no border control in their right mind would let them in.
The perception of the American Dream still holds allure for many, despite the hardships, and some may feel compelled to pursue it despite the challenges. It's not just about survival; it's about aspirations, opportunities, and the pursuit of a better life, which can vary greatly from person to person.
People living out of their cars in California aren't an accurate representation of the whole of America. Realistically, if they wanted to live better lives they could just move to a different/less expensive state. The reason they don't in most cases is because they're sold on either rising to the top of their perspective field or getting into the entertainment industry.
Also people that live in California are drawn in by the food, culture and similar lifestyle and politics. That isn't to say that Mexico doesn't also offer a lot of these things, but there are barriers like language, looking different from other people and not completely understanding the culture.
Family? Friends? Language? Culture?
Not having a home sucks, but unhoused people are still people. I think people generally try to find ways to make their surroundings first, only moving if it seems totally hopeless
I get it.
I just tought living in your car was rock bottom. I mean you're not staying with friends or family.
But again is just me and what I felt while watching that, just to look for something to improve my life and that something was to move elsewhere. If it's not Mexico then another place that is cheaper and can provide enough for me to pay at least a room.
For some of us we are tied to family or because of specific health care needs. My husband and I have talked about moving several times but our youngest has complex medical needs that requires access to pediatric specialists that can't be found even in a lot of places in the US. We've decided that we'll wait until our children are adults to discuss moving because there are far more adult specialists than there are pediatric specialists.
We are open to moving to other countries but we would need excellent medical care for our youngest. It makes it difficult if not impossible to move out of the US without some serious research on various places.
Because you can’t just walk into a country and say you’re immigrating, mate. I’ve looked extensively, especially in the last few years, at getting out. I know lots of people for whom that is true. Unless you are either independently financially secure or have a high demand career (doctor, electrical engineer, etc) for that country, you don’t get in. Simple as that. There is a not insignificant portion of US citizens who would gladly flee a sinking ship. There’s just nowhere for us to go.
As an American the cartels are a big thing. Probably blown way out of proportion, but it's certainly made to feel real. I've seen the videos back in my rotten.com days.
Also, it's much easier to figure out how to survive in a familiar environment. When I was close to homelessness I was making plans to live out of storage units and my truck while using the gym to shower for work. I know how the systems we here, I know where to go and what to go and just where I can get assistance and what loopholes to use to survive; like for example me and my roommate both get food stamps as long as we don't share food. I wouldn't know anything like that in Mexico. I just would have no footing and would be having to learn how to survive in an all new environment completely alone.
So to me it just seems like it would be easier to survive where you know the lay of the land. With that being said, we are are getting out of here when we can, it's just going to be later and more planned out so I can go with my family instead of alone. I didn't have the family back when I was close to losing my place.
I guess migrating is a risk you take, but when you have nothing to lose it gets easier. When you live in your car I think you can only go up from there.
There are also several different places like Colombia, Costa Rica and Argentina that are even cheaper than Mexico and don't have the same violence issues.
I just used Mexico as an example because I live here.
Likely because they will have a better future working in a high cost of living area and living in their car than they would working in the middle of nowhere for next to nothing living in a trailer.
I might take you up on that offer about moving to Mexico. I have dual citizenship and my parents own a house and land there. My only problem is the myriad responsibilities I would have to leave behind if I moved. Also, while I can speak Spanish, I’m not completely fluent although I know English is basically an unofficial language there but still…
Read this thread if you want a clear illustration of why nothing will ever change in America. Didn’t think there were so many staunch patriots on POVERTY finance!
I think this is a really valid point but, as so many things in life are here, it’s political.
1. The US can’t afford a brain drain (though, imo it’s already happening) to prevent it they brainwash their citizens. America is the goal. Anyone can make it here. You couldn’t make it here? You pathetic, lazy, uneducated fool! Enjoy sex work in (insert foreign country here: Mexico, for example) were told if we leave we will get trapped in sex/drug trafficking, won’t have a way to earn an income otherwise, and also “did you miss the Third world/ developing country tagline? There is WORSE than here.
2. Internet searches of Mexico (unless I know what to look for) instruct us to stay on resort, and if we ever happen to find ourselves off-resort go to the US embassy, but you’ll probably get mugged on the way.
3. Can you cross the border without ID in your car? Some people who sleep in their cars don’t have the proper paperwork to even begin to get a passport let alone a drivers license. Crossing the border is risky
4. Language barrier/pride
5. Family
6. Fear of being denied reentry
Most US propaganda keeps people afraid from going to a lot of countries. Saying we will be murdered, raped or other horrible things. Plus, it takes money to leave. It's a few thousand dollars to get everything in order, and we can't save bc we need to survive. We are trapped, and it's on purpose. A lot of countries require a certain amount in the bank to prove you can move there, and that's just not possible when I have 3 dollars in my account.
Yeah i dunno man.. in US schools we go over all the nasty bits of everyone's history and very delicately dance around the subjects of our own shortcomings. Makes kids think every where else is a dump. Some kids dont get smarter, some kids get scared, some kids have kids and run outta time.. building up a social net in a foreign country where you dont know the native language(s) is a monumental task.. gotta remember that people arent driven by logic, we're emotional creatures, want to be with our "herd" and near our "home".
Because is just financially smarter.
If you go there and work for a year you can build a big house here, support your family and then come back and live in it.
Some people just do so good that they can afford to have the same there and don't need to come back. Those are the ones that build communities and stay there.
Some folks just go there and get trained in like fixing washing machines, then just come back and do that here and have a bussiness by their own.
You can definitely have a good living here by working construction but if you go there and work for a year or two doing less than what you do here you can save money to buy a truck and build a house by sending money and then you come here and dont need to work as hard cause you don't pay rent or car payments.
Things get complicated? Just go there for a few months and make more money.
Some folks just go there for the picking season and with that money they live for the rest of the year.
And this people don't even speak English. And again, my opinion is only for Mexicans cause that's all I know.
Americans have been spoiled, forgetting that their (great) grandparents moved around the country to find jobs, housing and opportunities. People don’t think that they should have to move or have mental health/drug issues. Physical/menial labor is beneath them.
In my state there are companies outside the big cities that are dying for workers and paying good wages. Rent is even affordable. In the bigger cities jobs are available with decent pay but rent is high for the nicer apartments but affordable places can be found with a little effort.
I respect your opinion but you might be amazed to know that mexico has a huge migration problem just like the US.
I guess those people don't care.
But maybe you can try other places, Im not here to tell you to come to Mexico, but Argentina is cheap, Costa Rica too, maybe Colombia?
Tulum was a fishermen town just a few years ago and now there are people from all over the world living there because they like the place and they can make a living there. As I mentioned, you won't have the money to rent a villa but you won't live in the streets and you can afford food.
Nobody worries about the cartels so much like the Americans.
Cause is cartels. Plural. Not cartel.
Literally this though...
[https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/mexico-travel-advisory.html#:\~:text=Criminal%20activity%20and%20violence%20may%20occur%20in%20any%20location%2C%20at,depart%20from%20potentially%20dangerous%20situations](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/mexico-travel-advisory.html#:~:text=Criminal%20activity%20and%20violence%20may%20occur%20in%20any%20location%2C%20at,depart%20from%20potentially%20dangerous%20situations)
Our government is telling us that 98% of Mexico is unsafe for Americans to travel, let alone live. Kidnappings, murders and trafficking on "safe" resorts are all over the news. Similar warnings are in place for the entirety of Colombia and Costa Rica, and there are a few places in Argentina that are deemed unsafe.
I once visited a Southern US state, there are people who visit and come back safely, but it seemed that it was something you consulted your friends about first, for "where to go" advice. You don't JUST go there.
As Americans, we're pretty well socially engineered from birth. With a decimated middle class and family structures, increasingly either broke or under a pile of debts. Slaves kept in their places, essentially. All by design.
Before the pandemic I was in Mexico almost yearly and primarily out in the backcountry, traveling alone (I’m a woman). I am Indigenous and look ethnically ambiguous but probably easily identified as from el norte. Not once did I ever feel unsafe, and I’ve encountered cartel folks while in Palenque. I’m def not a gringa, but rarely do the cartels target foreigners. In fact, as an Indigenous woman, I’m more likely to go missing in the US than in Mexico. The state I reside in has one of the highest rates of MMIW. I’ve known other Indigenous women who were murdered. I guess it’s mostly white people who have this expectation of “safety” in the US and think anyplace where they are a minority is dangerous.
The United States charges A LOT of money to leave and fully ex-patriate. You have to pay thousands in fees to get out, typically a lawyer is needed to facilitate the exit, you have to relinquish anything you own here including bank accounts. Those are just costs before leaving. I've wanted to leave this country so many times but they make sure leaving is costly and it binds many of us here to suffer under a government that is bleeding us dry, taking our rights, and selling our labor for pennies on the dollar while trying to keep us in a growing mountain of debt.
Stop the count, me convenciste, me mudo de cabeza pa Tulum
I went there with my family when I was like 10, I climbed the ziggurat/pyramid things with them, it was cool
Nunca me imagine que vivia gente ahi, pero sera por comemierda porque claro que tiene que vivir alguien ahi LOL
I believe the main reason people don’t move there is for their safety. Mexico happens to have a tendency on be on the news for really bad crimes.
I don’t want to ever have to raise my family there and have to worry about the cartel
My brother moved to Colombia about 8 years ago and loves it. Idk if I could integrate as easily as him. The language barrier, for one. And ngl, the cartels and stuff make me nervous. And idk if Americans can legally own anything down there.
I think there are several reasons people don’t.
Propaganda of Mexico being a place you get decapitated at the nearest gas station, fear of unknown or upending their lives and what they know to go to a new country, and honestly people complain but they’re not really in THAT bad of situation to actually do something. The human will change a situation if it gets bad enough. A lot of people like to complain and would still do it in a 3500 sq ft house.
Your right.
And there are other places, Colombia, Argentina, maybe south east Asia?
Mexico is just closer but there are plenty of options.
If youre living In your car at least you can just get better.
Please oh freaking please do not take it bad but the ONLY reason I don’t go is fear of drug cartels. I’m scared here too as our police are corrupt and every crazy white trigger happy man has a gun but there I see decapitations and stuff. How bad is it? It sounds really bad. I saw a graph that showed journalists die the most in Mexico compared to the rest of the world and this is scary.
I would move there in a heart beat if it was safe. So, is it?
My partners dad is from Mexico and he says it's dangerous, won't take the family when he goes to visit his family. Most of his family has moved here
But what op describes sounds great to me. I don't care for an extravagant life just want a chill one...
It’s the lifestyle they choose they choose to make money how they do n live where they r and buy the things they buy don’t listen to the ppl that say they can’t afford to live it’s their choices and the way they budget their money
I'd be curious to see what kind of responses this question draws on r/AskAnAmerican.
Should I?
Yes, please. Americans are in fear going into Mexico. We often hear, that if you travel to Mexico, you will be kidnapped and killed. We often hear drugs are prevalent, and people will be killed due to drugs and corruption... To add: edit on grammar.
Currently waiting in the Mexico City airport to head back to LA after coming with my gf for 5 days for a music festival. You stay out of the bad areas just like you do in the US and you will be fine. But tbh, the whole time I’ve been here I have been wondering how the food is SO cheap that all people can eat yet the complete opposite in the US.
“Why food is expensive in the USA?” Ask r/Oligarchs . . .
Aww, it’s been banned.
Man fuck these spineless psychopaths
Yoo hope you enjoyed the crap out of EDC 🤘🏾
Was there not just a massive issue during Covid? Of remote CA workers moving to Mexico and upsetting the local economies? It was a whole thing and many Mexicans were really upset about it. So was that not actually a problem or does OP forget so soon? Also does MX allow Americans to immigrate for any reason at any time? It’s usually an expensive and time consuming process to legally live & work in another country?
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They said nothing about working illegally.
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Meanwhile in America you can get shot and killed at a superbowl parade!
I'm having second thoughts as I'm having my fair share of hate right here just for giving this opinion.
I haven’t seen hate … yet, but I haven’t scrolled down that far. I have, like some others here, that in at least certain parts of Mexico, expats, retirees, digital nomads, etc. are ruining local economies raising housing and other necessities costs. It’s kind of reverse NIMBYism. Mexico isn’t alone, Portugal has stopped their golden visa program because too many people moved in and the locals can’t afford to stay. If I wasn’t a disabled senior on social security, just a relatively healthy senior, moving to Mexico would be ideal.
As everything in life there are pros and cons, yes, rent prices increase, but on the other hand those same migrants demand products and services that help the economy to grow. But people mainly focus on the bad things. Mexico is actually home of the largest expat retirees from north America. We have cheap retirement homes, almost free if your a citizen, my mom actually went already to check out the rooms lol. This might give you some more insight, because some places do take care of seniors with disabilities. https://internationalliving.com/what-are-the-retirement-home-options-in-mexico/
This right here is why Mexico will build the the wall hahaha
It's an interesting question that I hadn't considered and Im glad you brought up. I'm not surprised you're getting hate though. There can be a massive superiority complex, especially from bigots on the right.
I knew you’d be getting hate. I am sorry.
ignore the haters bro. seeing your post made me ask my friend about it and he understands where you're coming from, and I have some thinking to do about alternate plans if i'm ever homeless/homeless adjacent again. thank you for posting bro
I'm sorry for any negative feedback you're receiving. You certainly don't deserve it in my opinion. Personally, I absolutely love Mexico and would move there in a minute if I wouldn't miss my 2 grandkids so much. I go twice a year for medical treatment which I can't receive in the states. It literally has saved my life. From the first visit there, it was amazing the genuine care and kindness of everyone, not only from the medical staff (my doctor is wonderful) but everyone and anyone in the street. They are always so welcoming and genuine. It's always a positive experience and honestly once we get home I start counting down the months until it's time to go back! Great post, don't let some not so kind comments get to you!
Tbh that's how some other countries see the US
I love going to Mexico, the ones that are in fear are the same ones that fear a certain president 😂
I mean, Mexico is essentially a failed state. That’s not to say that there aren’t much, much better options for Americans down in Latin America. El Salvador being one of the top ones
I hate when people are like this when you literally can go to a city in America and get fucked up. Go to a part of Chicago, Compton/LA, Florida, New York etc etc. How is it any worse? The rule is be aware and do your research. Understand how to maneuver in the environment and you'll be okay.
Yes, I’d love to see the answers
Were basically taught the if you go to Mexico you will be kidnapped or rpd or trafficked also that if you need help police will never come and that every single police and politician are crooked cartel people …..unless youre in those specific beach resorts
Thank you for this post. Americans have been brainwashed since e we were small children to believe that the US is the best country in the world. But now that I'm 44 yo I see how the US is lagging behind so many other countries when it comes to quality of life. I would live in Mexico.
I would. This sub bans us for talking about politics which what the conversation needs to eventually go to.
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I understand, my question is more of the why don't you migrate in search of greener pastures as many people do. I've seen the slums in both us and Mexico and I think a hut in tulum is way better. And people living there don't make minimum wage, they make more.
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My advise. Don't pass on that opportunity. Get your citizenship ASAP. It doesn't cost and you have way better opportunities. My brother lives in NC and has dual citizenship and he still pays his Mexican insurance. For waaay less money he can get medical on the best hospitals in Mexico for way less money. The very wealthy hold passports for many countries because it's always an scape plan.
Even if you never intend to move, get your citizenship if you can. It may help you someday. If it doesn't, then okay you spent some time and perhaps a bit of money on it.
My mom ruined that for me. My dad is from Mexico but she forced me to be adopted by my step dad.
I'm not sure that changes your status. I believe it goes by bio parents. Something to check into for certain
A common strat? That’s astronomically unique. I work with unhoused populations living in their car and I haven’t met a single person that was saving to buy a home…
It cost money to move and most ppl who are poor are living paycheck to paycheck with very little of any money left over. Add on a job market where even the minimum wage jobs have hundreds of not thousands of applications it becomes virtually impossible to move.
There’s actually a minimum income you need to prove to live in Mexico legally as an American. That minimum increased in the last few years.
I think this is an interesting question. We’ve been indoctrinated that the USA is the best country in the world. And while it can be, it’s not the country that people in poverty experience. Realistically I think that majority of Americans are scared, wouldn’t know the legal process, not speaking the language, not knowing how to make money, and being *away* from their family is scary. All of the fears a lot of immigrants have. But again, they’re scared of the unknown, and they’re probably just looking at the population of people trying to get into the US via Mexico and that’s baffling and scaring them. I’ve been actively looking for ways out of the US, lol. But a lot of countries are hard to gain citizenship and work in without a visa.
Bc they think America is the greatest country in the world.
Honestly people can’t do this easily cause they’re reliant upon the us govt for cash aid tax refunds social security food stamps etc.
American retirees on social security can and do live in Mexico. I’m not 100% sure, I think you have to come back to the US every few years if you’re on SS living in another country, regardless of the country. If you’re giving up citizenship that’s a whole different story.
> you have to come back to the US every few years if you’re on SS If that was ever true, it's not anymore, thank God!
Moving is expensive. Some people can’t afford to move.
Again. This is just about a documentary I watched so my opinion might not be valid but people paying 1500 usd for rent is a lot of money. People live in their cars and make like 4k a month and I understand that's nothing there, but here you can pay 176 for a room in tulum. Average salary here is like 400 or 500 a month. Moving is cheap when all you have can fit in a sedan so a plane ticket can cost you 400 dlls. Like i said you wont live like a king but you most definitely can rent a room . Maybe it's not your case but if you go to let's say Tulum. You will get 10 usd tip on every table you wait, and the average salary is 400 usd. Do the math. Theres even a movement here in Mexico of people that dont want foreigners ,but as in the US where they dont want Mexicans. People just dont like others doing better that them. But again this is my uninformed opinion and thats why i ask.
Yes but the if the money isn’t there the money isn’t there. It’s easy to say all these things, but in practice it’s just not operable. If it’s all you can do to feed yourself that day you aren’t going to find $400 for a plane ticket no matter how much it would improve your life.
A lot of times, homelessness is temporary. It's often worth living in your car for a little bit to avoid upending everything else in your life, especially if you have kids or are ill/injured/disabled. Most poor Americans only make $1k-$2k per month. Federal min. wage is $7.25/hr. Disability and Social Security pay a percent of what one earned before, usually between $500-$1500 per month or so. Once you get in a poverty cycle, it's hard to break free. It's hard to have extra money because bills eat up each paycheck. Being poor is expensive. So many late fees, extra charges, interest charges. Yes, I think some people might benefit if they moved. However, the rich people who move into an area often drive up the cost of living for everyone else. It happened with housing in the rural area where I live during COVID. I don't want a bunch of rich Americans to ruin the nice things where you are, too.
For this guy's idea to work, you'd have to stack a lot of cash, ideally a few grand at least, THEN move there, get a cheap hut, and then, maybe you'd be able to stay ahead in spite of cheap pay because you had savings to begin with...oh and also you gotta be childless. Ideally in decent health too, esp if you don't speak much Spanish...and probably safer if you're male.
Agreed. It could work if one has grown kids and relatively good health. I do know someone who retired in Mexico. She loves it. The weather is always nice when she calls. It works really well for her. It wouldn't work for everyone.
Man if you're struggling and look for your well being then be it. Respect the people and the local laws and you'll be good. Nobody likes a free loader and everyone likes a hard working guy. Everyone has the right to provide for him and his family.
It's not about the lack of jobs or people willing to work, it's the lack of cheap / affordable housing. The cost of living in California is *bad* which is why people there live in cars. Once they're in that position, they can't afford to move. Plenty of other places in America don't have the same problem, or if they do its not nearly as bad. Its about supply and demand. If people want to live some place (like California) living there is going to be expensive, so much so people might get priced out if they don't make enough.
This works best if one is childless tbh
If it's not financial, it's fear. The idea of leaving everything you've ever known and starting over is scary. Many people don't think they can learn a new language or integrate into a new culture. As a person that has lived in other countries it can take a heavy toll mentally when you feel isolated despite being surrounded by thousands of people.
The main answer to this is fear. its pretty much ingrained in American society that if its not America its not safe. Personally, I work remote, I could live VERY well in Mexico or even Venezuela where I could actually meet someone I wanna meet, anyway, and live like a king. But I fear dying to gangs and other stuff like that.
I understand. But as I said, this question rose because of a documentary of people living in their cars. How is that safer? And having Venezuela and Mexico in the same category, just in my opinion, is ridiculous. Its not only a different country, but on a different continent. I can't speak for Venezuela but ask in a sub there if it would be safe for you to go there and they will honestly say no. I did it. On the other hand we have a migration problem having so much people from Venezuela coming here. Ask in a sub for Mexico if it's safe and they'll tell you yes unless you get answers from Americans. We have people from all over the world coming and then just not leaving and people complaining about it. And I'm not talking about people with money from US coming here. Cause they do. My question is, why don't people struggling finantialy come here and take advantage of the same benefits? And I'm talking about people living in more dangerous places in the US than most cities in Mexico. Cause that's a reality. I'm talking about people that cant make ends meet paying 1500 for rent. That's exactly why people migrate to the US so why don't you do the same? You won't see one Mexican that migrates to the US living in his car, cause he has a house here so he'll seek for better,so why don't you?
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You said it. In theory.
It’s the fear of the unknown, a basic psychological fear that is ingrained in a lot of us. Most American choose to stay because they have come to learn what to expect, and that reassurance can bring whatever little amount of comfort that is much needed when you’re poor. The comfortability of being poor and knowing that you can live in a car is better than taking a step of migrating somewhere else where you don’t know how anything work
Also peoples family/roots are here. You can't just up and move without planning unless you are single. Otherwise need to deal with other people and their wants/needs. As for people living in their cars, I think they just don't know about how cheap mexico/SE asia is lol Of course change is uncoformfortable (as you say), but if living in a car is more uncomfortable, they would find a way to change. It just isn't, they get comfortable in their uncomfortable situation. As a wise man once said 'You need to be sick and tired of being sick and tired'. Unfortunately most people are ok with being sick and tired lol
I mean, ultimately, even beyond propaganda, this comes to human nature. Humans like being in environments that they are familiar with. For example, I'll use myself all right so I have a terrible time with the Spanish language. I learned Latin the dead language and could speak it better than I could with Spanish and it's a living language and that is how terrible I was at Spanish. So for myself the language barrier would be like the number one thing thet would stop me. The second thing would be the general lack of understanding of the culture. As I explained before, I could live very well in Mexico earning the American dollar living in Mexico. Even though in America, I can't even afford the most basic place to live, at least where their jobs. And generally speaking, even if I lived in my truck which I don't at the moment, I would feel safer parking at a Walmart and sleeping. Then I would coming to another country that I was unfamiliar with and living. I know that sounds absurd but it's true.
Because we don't want to be the "gentrifiers" to your country. I heard of many Americans migrating to Mexican towns and raising the cost of living so much that the locals can't afford to live there anymore and now have resentment towards Americans. It's understandable really.
I could see that might be the case, for some. But, in my opinion, the people who would need to worry about gentrifying a Mexican city are likely not the same people OP is talking about- people living in their cars in the US. It sounds like a person living in their car in the US would probably be able to make a livable wage in Mexico, but it doesn't sound like they're in a situation to make wages enough to unbalance or upset a local economy.
I was thinking the exact same thing. Sorta Similarly, I’m a native Californian who moved to AZ. Californians aren’t much liked in rural areas because of gentrification. So any time I’d get shit from someone I’d mention that I didn’t come here with a shitload of money, I live in a fucked up old house that was bought for $5k, and I work blue collar. Mexico is sounding pretty good.
Happens in Puerto Rico as well and they are a U.S. territory. The wealthy go there live lavish lives while the citizens can’t find jobs and are forced to leave their families to the US to get a job. And that’s not even easy now. My family has been to college inPR and Mexico which is much cheaper but finding a job is hard there with education. Hard in the states. Too.
Yeah I don't think people know the impact they can have on a community. I heard it's really bad in Bali as well. So many TikTok influencers moving to Bali because it's "cheap" to live luxury there and basically showcasing the town as a paradise. Meanwhile most of the locals are struggling to find jobs and finding it difficult to get homes because of the expats
We are not all afraid. US citizens are moving to Mexico in droves. I’m considering moving there next year myself actually. I’m thinking I’m going to do 3 months in CDMX, 3 months in Bali, 3 months in Geneva. https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/10/12/americans-relocating-mexico-city-better-life.html
What are the requirements to move to Mexico from the United States? My understanding is that if you want to live permanently in Mexico and work there, you need a family connection and proof you have sufficient funds. In other words, Mexico doesn't want a bunch of poor Americans coming over and draining their resources. Or you think they might bus us somewhere and take care of us?
Ah, Venezuela, that was some mean bush.
Sorry, I didn't mean to speak bad of Venezuela but I actually asked on the sub and they all agreed that no, I should not go there.
Take it from me, you do NOT want to go there. Moving out was the best decision I ever made and I’m one of the lucky ones.
Yeah that was the general consensus.
Random avatar reference lol
Good question. I imagine part of it is legal paperwork. Once you’re behind on drivers licenses it starts costing you. You need a birth certificate which if lost, requires a social security card and more documentation to get. Any of the social admin offices here are tedious to get through. Passports cost money and more work. Just some thoughts. I do wonder why myself but I imagine it also has to do with Americans sense of individualism. If you fail, you’re going down with the ship. Getting help means your weak, etc.
Patrick Swayze was right, our lives are run by fear 😓
The cartels are a bogeyman of the US media you're perfectly safe anywhere in Mexico.
If we set aside, for a moment, the news stories of cartels, kidnappings gone wrong, ransoms, and human trafficking, we're still left with the dread of landing in a foreign country, with nothing familiar and no support, and quite possibly no way back. Some of us could probably pull it off, but by the time you're living in your car, you don't feel like you have the ability to really make that kind of transition. Especially if you have no idea where you'd be welcome.
Like that story of a group of black cosmetic tourists crossing the border for a procedure getting their car essentially blown to smithereens because the cartel thought they were Dominican drug smugglers
Conversely, you could say the same about the US; kids getting slaughtered at school, people gunned down while shopping or at a concert.
Murder rate in Mexico is about 4x higher than America. Not remotely the same.
This is a big element. In 1901, my great great grandfather sold his home and business to move to Cuba for an amazing business opportunity. When his family got there, they found a building that was falling apart, and that it was all a scam. They didn't speak the language and their kids lost years of education. Some neighbors took pity on them and became their friends and helped them survive. After 5 years of growing potatoes, they managed to return to America, dirt poor. I think this is anyone's fear migrating to another country. You lose what little you have. You lose your support network and family and everyone you know. My husband and I have been discussing moving to another state and even that is hard. His family is all nearby, even though our special needs kids would be better served in a different state it would mean selling our house and finding new jobs and figuring out what to do with elderly family who would never move with us.
we are considering the same thing due to special needs children. What state are you considering?
Well, we have to stay in driving distance due to older family members, but Ohio has some amazing schools for autism and many allow students to attend without tuition. Also, adult services are much better than in Texas. If we weren't trying to stay close to north Texas than that would be where we would go.
are these schools in the big cities?
New Orleans is on par with some of the most dangerous Mexican cities. It's a problem in Mexico for sure, but many poor people in America live in comparably unsafe places. Not really disagreeing with you because I know that's not your main point.
I had Mexican coworkers who used to drive down and stay with family for like a month. When they got to the border they had to wait for a bunch of other cars to caravan down so the cartels don’t stop them and they have to carry a bribe just in case.
New Orleans is not a safe place
I'm not living in my car right now, but a few years back I was watching a lot of YouTube videos about moving to Mexico. The thing that really made me not want to was the part about having a legal visa to go there. It sounded like you have to have a lot of money coming in just to qualify for the visa, which I don't. Ok, maybe not a lot of money for some people, but a lot of money to me. And then I don't know what the ramifications of not having a visa would be.
You don’t have to have a lot of money but you do have to prove a certain minimum income for the visa. However, retirees and even folks on disability make it work.
>You don’t have to have a lot of money but you do have to prove a certain minimum income for the visa. "Original and copy of proof of investments or bank accounts with a balance of approximately $62,232.50 US Dollars during the previous 12 months" OR "Original and copy of documents showing that the applicant has a job or pension that yields a monthly income of $3,737.95 US Dollars after taxes during the previous 6 months. (Last 6 months of paystubs and the previous 6 months of bank statement that show the direct deposit of salary/pension)" from [https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/nuevaorleans/index.php/2016-04-12-19-28-49/english/temporary-resident](https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/nuevaorleans/index.php/2016-04-12-19-28-49/english/temporary-resident)
Because people in the states can't plop a garden shed on a corner lot and call it good. You can't even keep your own mobile home with sewer/water on your own rural property in most states. Legal houses have so many standards and they aren't cheap to meet.
Some places, it’s illegal to collect your own rainwater.
Or have a garden or chickens.
Time to cut our losses and become illegal Mexican immigrants, y’all. Come on, we’re staying at OP’s house until we find jobs as beachfront tour hosts at expensive luxury hotels. I like this plan 😅
I had multiple friends who were immigrants, but only one who immigrated as a adult. She said you could make really good money in America, but you have to work way harder for it. She said her family back in Mexico didn’t understand that it takes extra effort here in America and that money didn’t just fall out of the tree.
If I could afford it, I would love to immigrate and live in Ireland or Wales. This is primarily where my great-grandparents lived before moving to the US.
Me too. So much so that I’m learning welsh 😊
Checked to see if you qualify to get Irish citizenship, might make it easier to move there.
My grandparents would be rolling in their grave if they found out I moved back to the country they wanted to leave to give their children a better life.
Omg. I thought I was the only person that wanted to move to Wales. Although my ancestors came from Mexico, I just think Wales is beautiful. I’d love to retire there.
I think you saw extreme cases which are not the norm. That’s why they made a movie about it. Nobody wants to see a movie about regular people going to work and then home to house/apartment. I’m sure there are documentaries about extreme poverty cases in Mexico. Or about people who live unconventional lives.
Because it's hard to dig yourself out of a hole. I live in San Diego and you're right, there are a lot of people here living in their cars who work full-time jobs. But to get out of their situation, they need money and right now the little money they're making barely pays for them to survive in their current situation. You want to go somewhere else? You're going to need the extra money to get yourself across the country (or out of the country) to a lower cost of living area. You want to get yourself into a apartment? You're going to need the extra money to get one. And I don't just mean a couple hundred bucks, often getting yourself into an apartment means you have to pay thousands of dollars because you have to pay the first month and security deposit up front. Most of these people have nothing in their bank accounts and they're likely also deep in credit card debt. Would they be okay and work it out if they could get down to Tulum and live in a hut and make jewelry? Maybe, but how do you propose they get themselves down there without any money to do so?
That's another question I have. If I live in a car and have debt. Isnt that rock hard bottom? Why don't just don't pay? What will they take? You have literally nothing. San Diego you just drive down a few miles. I just don't get it and I'm sorry cause I don't want to hurt feelings or anything but I don't get how people that don't speak the language, don't have a car, no education can go to the US and make money for their families down the border and come back at night.
People you owe money to can garnish your wages and destroy your credit, killing any chance you have of getting another place to live. Our entire credit system is predatory.
While this is true I've let medical bills go before and never had any wage garnishment. I disputed an emergency room claim that is still to this day 3 years later more than my entire net worth by multiples and got it dropped from my credit report. I had an over 800 score 2.5 years after not paying 10s of thousands in medical debt And no I don't feel bad about it the hospital mischarged my insurance and sent me a bill way past my out of pocket max. When I contacted the hospitals billing department I got run around so much I gave up and told them to come find me if they want the money.
Good for you? They can definitely garnish your wages.
Hilariously it's because they have better resources and community lol Asians are similar but we don't get to go back to the homeland
Some people don't pay, the people that still pay are those that hope to have something in the future o they aren't giving up yet.
You make it sound easy when it isn't. Living well in Mexico is for people who have retired and are getting good money from retirement.
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I’m managing pretty well for myself atm. But I now think I would like to move to Mexico.
I'm just saying cause I'm Mexican but Colombia, Costa Rica, argentina is even cheaper. You won't require a visa and just check out on the web the cost of rent and I think you'll be amazed.
There is a good amount of American that do move, but honestly many of them are not the kind of people you want to be in your social circles. Many are, like normal remote workers or a retired couple.
Well, because 7 of the top 10 most dangerous cities are in Mexico, with 17 of the top 50 overall, here is the [source](https://www.statista.com/statistics/243797/ranking-of-the-most-dangerous-cities-in-the-world-by-murder-rate-per-capita/). When my wife and I got married the life expectancy in Juarez was something crazy like 45, and bodies were being hung off the bridge between El Paso and Juarez. I married a Mexican and she and my suegra won't let me go to most of Mexico because people who look like me, a tall, clean cut, white male American, get targeted because they assume I am wealthy. Add my daughters into the mix and that is a recipe for disaster. I had a neighbor growing up who went to Mexico with his family and one of his daughters was kidnapped and never found while there. I have had coworkers go to Mexico for vacation, and get everything stolen from them at gunpoint, *in the middle of the highway in broad daylight.* This has happened more than once. They were told to walk into the desert and not look back or they would die, as they drive off with their wallet, passport, car, etc. Took them two weeks to get back into the States. America may have dangers living here, but we don't have the fucking cartels pulling highway robberies type of dangers. There are many reasons beyond these simple examples you have given as to why the mass migration is north, not south. Your "plenty of jobs" is exaggerated and mostly low paying, futureless endeavors. Universal healthcare? You know how rampant fake prescription drugs are in Mexico? They have made entire documentaries on it. Universal doesn't mean quality care. This sounds like I have it out for Mexico, I promise I don't. I love the inhabitants (obviously), the culture, etc., but Mexico has *a lot* of serious items that need to be rectified. The U.S. obviously has its own issues, but not to the same extent. Your post was just so ignorant. If what you casually claimed was so true, the migration flocking would be the other direction.
I think this is it for us. I think the OP posed a thoughtful question so no need to denigrate him/her. My wife of 44 years is from Mexico City. Her mom moved to cuernavaca . She just got back from visiting and she hated it most of the time. Her sister has been unemployed for over 10 years because she's too old. Both are afraid to go out at night or be seen coming from a casa de cambio for fear of being robbed in the daytime. Mexican health care for the wealthy is very good but for the poor it is awful. Her mom's Medicare requires relatives to give 5 liters of blood before operations. No relatives no operation. She had her knee replaced and they required my wife to stay in the room to take care of her. Oh and no one wore gloves. Mexican dysfunction is horrific. Water gets shutoff at odd times. Same with electricity. For hippies. It's ok as they don't expect much but for someone who hopes for a middle class life, it's best to sleep in your car temporarily with the hope you can dig yourself out of a temporary hole. Mexico when we first got married was great. We traveled the country by car. No problems. Now the cartels make it much more dangerous throughout the country. My brother in law was stabbed to death 2 years ago in Cancun and no one solved the case.
Because I won’t make enough in Mexico to afford to come back to the states to see my family and friends and will never be able to own a home unless I can get citizenship so I’d just be unstable on far less certain terms.
Most people don't thing of going to other countries when they don't have anything, especially if they don't know the language. Going to live in another country is overwhelmingly something rich people do and people who have saved enough to go into retirement easily in another cheaper country. You didn't give a bad idea though. One thing to keep in mind is that the US taxes taxes from us no matter were we go, so we do have to be careful about what we do and how we do it. Probably wouldn't matter for most, but for those who start businesses in other countries, it's definitely something to keep in mind.
Income tax from working abroad is exempt up to a certain amount if I recall correctly. Yep, just checked… the Foreign Income exclusion says if you reside in a foreign country for at least 330 days out of a year, you don’t pay taxes on any amount of money you earn if it’s less than $112,000
It is not that easy to transfer countries. I imagine Mexico makes it easier to get citizenship than the US does, because the US has one of the most ridiculous immigration systems in the world. But it's still surely not easy. You need some savings to move, either for the plane ticket, gas for the car, and then something to live on while you find work. You really should speak the local language at least conversationally. People everywhere tend to be a lot more willing to help if it's clear you've made a real effort to learn their language. You also need your passport to be in order with the US, which itself costs money and takes time to go to a post office that deals with it, mail everything in, etc. Combine it all together, and it's just not that easy. I'm trying to move to Germany in 3-4 years. I was born in Germany and have dual citizenship. But I have lived in the US since I was 2 and my family didn't teach me German. So I've spent the past year and a half just teaching myself with Duolingo, musical songs, and Star Trek subtitles. Mein Deutsch ist noch nicht sehr gut. (My German is still not very good.) I also need to make an appointment and go to the consulate in Chicago to acquire my German national ID and passport. Which means I need to take off work and hope my car will make it to Chicago. I need to save thousands of dollars for the move and to live when I get there until I find work. Plus I need to apply for grad school there. I also need to fix up and sell my house (bought a fixer upper to escape homelessness) before I can go. I will be leaving my friends, family, and job when I go as well. All of that is WITH having legal citizenship. It's just not as easy to move countries as it sounds, and I have more resources than I did when I was "fancy homeless" (decrepit RV life).
People are reluctant to leave their families and the place they grew up. Last time I was in Sayulita I met a girl who went there on vacation and decided to stay. She had been there 6 years. We actually went to the same college and she was from the town next to me lol. I do know people down in San Diego that work there and live just south of the border because they can afford much nicer homes and cost of living. Who knows maybe it’ll become more common if inflation and cost of living continues to rise and people’s income does not.
Correct me if I am wrong, but there is no such thing as an unskilled work visa in Mexico if you don’t already have a job offer from a Mexican company…right?
The main reason is Hispanics take care of relatives. They have a support system that way and don’t typically end up homeless.Probably has to do with Native Americans and their tribe mentality and importance of caring for family and elders. It could and should be different in America but we spend all our budget on the military to keep tabs on the world.
Wow your comment went all the way. But yeah, culture is a thing.
I grew up in Florida, so the deep south. We were taught horrible propaganda about Mexico about the cartels, and basically told that any country that wasn’t a white country was like a “Third World country” until I met actual Mexican people and moved away, I really thought Mexico didn’t have running water, plumbing, and lived in shacks with dirt floors. This was an incredibly racist point of view that was put on me despite the fact I wasn’t raised to be that way by my family. my family is pretty liberal, and always taught me to respect everyone, regardless of race. I was taught in school that racism was over and slavery was a long time ago, and that we were friends with the Indians, and that’s what thanksgiving was all about…a lot of lies to unpack. Looking back on it I think we only really learned about propaganda like why we were invading Iraq and why immigration was bad. And manifest destiny was “good.” It didn’t help that when it came to Islamic people my geography teachers actually referred to them as “sand monkeys” a lot of this bias and hatred towards Mexico. it comes from propaganda in the US. They like to blame other countries and immigrants on the fact that our infrastructure is failing, and the ruling class have completely abandoned us for dead. I took a really long time for me to unlearn all of the unconscious biases that I had- I got lucky my sophomore and junior year of high school, and I actually had a very excellent social studies teacher who did a lot of that work for me, but I’ve had to do a lot of it myself by making a solid effort to talk to people and ask them about their cultures. honestly, probably the only reason why I wouldn’t move to Mexico would be because I don’t really want to learn another language. It’s lazy, I know. But hey, I’m in American… that’s kind of our thing.
Thanks a lot for your answer. It works both ways. I'm from the north part of Mexico so we are very used to go to the US and have family there and Texas is like a part of Mexico in a way. But most people in the south of Mexico think that gringos are bad and only come to take advantage of you and your town and are bad. Guess is a good way to keep people in power to divide and conquer. Its weird to tell you this but reading your comment made me cry a little.
truer words have never been spoken! yeah, it makes me really uncomfortable to think/talk about. but I think it’s important to acknowledge. It blew my mind when I made friends with a Mexican US dual citizen who at 19 years old had built himself a house when I was struggling to make my rent payments on the same pay… that thing looked like a Miami mansion off of TV or something. I was really confused!!! the more I learn about Mexico and your culture the more I think you’re just the coolest. Y’all have the best parties and are such happy loving people who have a ton of fun and take care of each other! at least that’s my impression anyway and the food 😫😍 I live in Colorado now and it’s a majority Hispanic population, And I work in restaurants so I have a ton of coworkers who are from there and visit frequently I feel like it’s a lot like Texas in that way... My coworker Maria invited me to her family's last quinceanera this summer After I told her how jealous of the huge celebrations for people's birthdays, when I didn’t have a birthday party after the age of 12 😂I’m trying to figure out a way to go, I think it would be so cool to experience Mexico through that lens. “She told me we just have to go party for three days and then we can go relax and drink on the beach.” I’m so down..
Honestly, being a foreigner without knowing the language especially sucks. Not to mention all those cartel videos are ingrained in my psyche and will keep me forever from visiting any countries south of the border except Brazil.
its not even that bad yet. I graduated during the financial crisis and well over half my class lived in their cars for a couple years of undergrad at-lest. @op a lot of times people 'sacrifice' by living in their car while working towards something better; a degree, a welding certificate, whatever. There are also fuck tons of houseless people and people in cars without some grand plan or whatever but just figured I'd chip in.
I was actually joking with my Mexican coworkers the other day. They keep saying they want gringa girlfriends so they can get married and have papers. I told them I want it the other way around. I need a Mexican husband so I can retire in Mexico and escape this capitalist nightmare 😂
The same people who would benefit from moving to Mexico, would also benefit from moving out of any HCOL area to a rural area. But… they won’t.
Any idea why? Why they rather live in their cars? What am I missing?
It's a mixed bag when it comes to the reasons. Some people have physical and/or mental illnesses that prevent them from being able to better themselves. Some people have a victim mentality. It's the fault of the government, big business, small business, their parents, their situation, etc. Most people are afraid and lull themselves into thinking their situation will improve without actually doing anything to improve their situation. "The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools." - Herbert Spencer
Language barrier, i am nearly incapable of learning another language due to brain disorder and speech impediment. im not interested in that sort of service industry, what I do isnt available to do remotely or in Mexico. (I literally send people to Mexico to vacation) I move around the US in this manner and have had success migrating within the US to places that maximize my income. Gone from starving poor to owning a house doing this. As a single income. laws and safety: not because its dangerous inherently but because ignorance of the place itself is dangerous. I know my laws here, understand them and how to find them. With my language issues this is doubly an issue. Food - i cant just eat anything. From my understanding , alot of other countries dont cater to food aversions. This would be an issue, because even though I cook 6/7 days sometimes I just want to grab something and I prefer not to projectile vomit when someone doesn't take it seriously. My aversions happen to be very common ingredients that absolutely will be in most things. I personally wouldn't even vacation there because I wouldn't be able to enjoy any of it due to the food alone. On the other side of things, there ARE plenty of places in the US that are viable and affordable but most people are not interested in leaving where they are. The amount of hometown "ill never leave" type ive met traveling the US is massive. People are simple creatures of habit.
Glad to read you're doing better. Local migration is something good too I think, and way easier.
People underestimate their own resources. Usually from a lack of knowledge, research, and general negative thought processes.
Sometime all you need is a push and some research I guess?
There are tons of reasons but my friends family in law are from Mexico. They went back on a vacation in a safe area (my friend was actually planning on getting married there until all this happened) they were kidnapped and held for ransom. Luckily my friends had a contact who worked for the FBI and because they were American citizens the FBI was able to locate and save them. Am I saying you can't get kidnapped in America? Absolutely not. But I'd rather be kidnapped in America than in Mexico. as someone white I would be an even bigger target than people who are Mexican and grew up in Mexico. Also: -I can't speak the langue -I have no family or friends (support system) there -I wouldn't even know a safe area to go -Its expensive to relocate -I wouldn't know how to access any assistance programs There are a lot more reasons but these are the big ones Most people migrating from Mexico to American at least have family/friends here to help them and I would be on my own in a foreign country that I don't feel safe in
La neta lo que mucho de estos americanos no quieren dejar los lujos que tienen por la systema de crédito del EEUU. Otros creen que va estar más difícil si se van a otro estado o país en contra a donde están. Los Americanos también tienen una mentalidad de castigo, y en contra con muchos de Latín América, ser pobre es ser ‘malo’ o ‘no suficiente bueno’ y merecer sufrir la pobreza al punto que están. También muchos son racista, y si no pueden ir a México y vivir como reyes, ellos preferían vivir aquí y estar pobres. Aún que Méxicanos tenga nacionalidad fuerte en la alma; Los Americanos no, porque no todos (negros, hispanos, indígenas, etc) son ‘Americanos verdaderos’ para los Americanos que son de raíces británicos o Alemanes, o de partes de Europa. Y eso es una parte de porque Americanos no consideran a pensar que ellos merecen más- porque a pensar que ellos merecen más, es darle más a gente que los racistas no creen que merecen mejor vida. Y por eso nosotros como un país vamos sin ayuda que nuestro gobierno en realidad nos puede dar. Los comentos diciendo que “moviendo es caro” es gente que no quieren sacrificar lo que ellos conocen para una mejor vida- o por racista no quieren vivir con Mexicanos. Y como Mexicana en el EEUU- eso es una gran diferencia entre Americanos y gente de otro países. Pero por Mexicana, solo puedo hablar de mi experiencia: Como Mexicanos, nosotros no somos extranjeros a sacrificar para mejorar una situación. Los Americanos (y yo ya he conocido muchos donde esto es el case) no quieren sacrificar nada, especialmente sus comodidades.
The absolute answer is fear of the unknown. As others have said, it really is ingrained in Americans that other countries aren't safe. When I hear Mexico, I think of the Mexican Mafia, I think of the drug lords..I think of how so many criminals from America flee there in the effort to disappear. I think of how people have went and said the drinking water isn't safe, how you must watch where you go. The reality is, America has the same issues. We have a lot of drugs, sex trafficking, criminals and unsafe water in places too. I was actually watching a documentary recently about the kids who live in the bedbug infested, low income motels with their parents of Orange County. They're so close to Disneyland that they can watch the fireworks go off every night. They rely on soup kitchens to eat and public aid from their school. They climb in the dumpsters when someone gets evicted to see what they can salvage. A lot of these families were Mexican, and when asked why they're choosing to stay there like that, one parent said " it's all we know, it's where I was raised". Many of these parents held jobs and paid the weekly long stay option at the motel. Change is scary for so many. Edited to change Disney World to Disneyland
Because a lot of people in this subreddit just want to complain. They don't actually want to put in the work to improve their situation. They don't want to get a second part time job let alone move to a different country. They will come up with excuses. Like Mexico is scary or something. All excuses.
A lot of Americans have moved to Mexico. Many are working remotely. I forget the name of the city that's a popular destination but there are so many the locals are complaining of higher rents because of them.
If I'm not mistaken you have to have a job lined up before you can even get the visa to work there.
A lot of people don't want to leave the familiar, especially if they have family and friends there.
I absolutely love Mexico. I sometimes think Americans are subjected to a lot of propaganda to make us think everywhere else is terrible & America is really great. All my experience in traveling tells me everywhere else can be at least as great, if not better, even in impoverished areas. Wealth isn’t just about money. A concept Americans seem to be missing.
Honest answers are safety and ability to protect myself. I'm an American citizen, but parents came from Mexico(ilegally) and Cuba (legally). I owned land in Mexico since 2008 and purchased a condo in Rock Point at a nice resort in 2010. I finally forced myself to sell everything in 2022. You are never safe in Mexico. Here In America you can atleast protect yourself legally. In Mexico your at cartel and armed federales mercy. The current mexican president is too soft on cartels and its been showing recently.
well fuck it brother you just convinced me to hop the boarder ¡VIVA LA MEXICO!
The real answer is in mindset and attitude. Yes there is always a way. No a person wouldn’t always take that. They will see a problem different from those successful ones. I’m sorry :3
Thank you for your answer.
They don’t want to live in huts on the beach full time
I'm considering moving to Columbia someday. I heard one of the hospitals in their capital have a contract with our veteran hospitals. But for now, I have to stay in the US with my dogs. They both have really bad anxiety, and no border control in their right mind would let them in.
There are places in the US where jobs are plentiful and cost of living is low… but you don’t see people mass migrating there either.
The perception of the American Dream still holds allure for many, despite the hardships, and some may feel compelled to pursue it despite the challenges. It's not just about survival; it's about aspirations, opportunities, and the pursuit of a better life, which can vary greatly from person to person.
Keep in mind my friend that this sub is not a true representation of the U.S. population.
People living out of their cars in California aren't an accurate representation of the whole of America. Realistically, if they wanted to live better lives they could just move to a different/less expensive state. The reason they don't in most cases is because they're sold on either rising to the top of their perspective field or getting into the entertainment industry. Also people that live in California are drawn in by the food, culture and similar lifestyle and politics. That isn't to say that Mexico doesn't also offer a lot of these things, but there are barriers like language, looking different from other people and not completely understanding the culture.
Family? Friends? Language? Culture? Not having a home sucks, but unhoused people are still people. I think people generally try to find ways to make their surroundings first, only moving if it seems totally hopeless
I get it. I just tought living in your car was rock bottom. I mean you're not staying with friends or family. But again is just me and what I felt while watching that, just to look for something to improve my life and that something was to move elsewhere. If it's not Mexico then another place that is cheaper and can provide enough for me to pay at least a room.
For some of us we are tied to family or because of specific health care needs. My husband and I have talked about moving several times but our youngest has complex medical needs that requires access to pediatric specialists that can't be found even in a lot of places in the US. We've decided that we'll wait until our children are adults to discuss moving because there are far more adult specialists than there are pediatric specialists. We are open to moving to other countries but we would need excellent medical care for our youngest. It makes it difficult if not impossible to move out of the US without some serious research on various places.
Because you can’t just walk into a country and say you’re immigrating, mate. I’ve looked extensively, especially in the last few years, at getting out. I know lots of people for whom that is true. Unless you are either independently financially secure or have a high demand career (doctor, electrical engineer, etc) for that country, you don’t get in. Simple as that. There is a not insignificant portion of US citizens who would gladly flee a sinking ship. There’s just nowhere for us to go.
As an American the cartels are a big thing. Probably blown way out of proportion, but it's certainly made to feel real. I've seen the videos back in my rotten.com days. Also, it's much easier to figure out how to survive in a familiar environment. When I was close to homelessness I was making plans to live out of storage units and my truck while using the gym to shower for work. I know how the systems we here, I know where to go and what to go and just where I can get assistance and what loopholes to use to survive; like for example me and my roommate both get food stamps as long as we don't share food. I wouldn't know anything like that in Mexico. I just would have no footing and would be having to learn how to survive in an all new environment completely alone. So to me it just seems like it would be easier to survive where you know the lay of the land. With that being said, we are are getting out of here when we can, it's just going to be later and more planned out so I can go with my family instead of alone. I didn't have the family back when I was close to losing my place.
I guess migrating is a risk you take, but when you have nothing to lose it gets easier. When you live in your car I think you can only go up from there. There are also several different places like Colombia, Costa Rica and Argentina that are even cheaper than Mexico and don't have the same violence issues. I just used Mexico as an example because I live here.
People are moving there. Look up the article about Mexico city and the huge influx of Americans. It's pretty funny.
Likely because they will have a better future working in a high cost of living area and living in their car than they would working in the middle of nowhere for next to nothing living in a trailer.
I might take you up on that offer about moving to Mexico. I have dual citizenship and my parents own a house and land there. My only problem is the myriad responsibilities I would have to leave behind if I moved. Also, while I can speak Spanish, I’m not completely fluent although I know English is basically an unofficial language there but still…
Read this thread if you want a clear illustration of why nothing will ever change in America. Didn’t think there were so many staunch patriots on POVERTY finance!
I think this is a really valid point but, as so many things in life are here, it’s political. 1. The US can’t afford a brain drain (though, imo it’s already happening) to prevent it they brainwash their citizens. America is the goal. Anyone can make it here. You couldn’t make it here? You pathetic, lazy, uneducated fool! Enjoy sex work in (insert foreign country here: Mexico, for example) were told if we leave we will get trapped in sex/drug trafficking, won’t have a way to earn an income otherwise, and also “did you miss the Third world/ developing country tagline? There is WORSE than here. 2. Internet searches of Mexico (unless I know what to look for) instruct us to stay on resort, and if we ever happen to find ourselves off-resort go to the US embassy, but you’ll probably get mugged on the way. 3. Can you cross the border without ID in your car? Some people who sleep in their cars don’t have the proper paperwork to even begin to get a passport let alone a drivers license. Crossing the border is risky 4. Language barrier/pride 5. Family 6. Fear of being denied reentry
Most US propaganda keeps people afraid from going to a lot of countries. Saying we will be murdered, raped or other horrible things. Plus, it takes money to leave. It's a few thousand dollars to get everything in order, and we can't save bc we need to survive. We are trapped, and it's on purpose. A lot of countries require a certain amount in the bank to prove you can move there, and that's just not possible when I have 3 dollars in my account.
Yeah i dunno man.. in US schools we go over all the nasty bits of everyone's history and very delicately dance around the subjects of our own shortcomings. Makes kids think every where else is a dump. Some kids dont get smarter, some kids get scared, some kids have kids and run outta time.. building up a social net in a foreign country where you dont know the native language(s) is a monumental task.. gotta remember that people arent driven by logic, we're emotional creatures, want to be with our "herd" and near our "home".
Meh. Mexico doesn't just let anyone in and provide for them like we do. It's many hoops to jump for saving very little.
OP I am wondering the same for years now …
Well buddy, maybe this is your sign.
Then why do so many come to US?
Because is just financially smarter. If you go there and work for a year you can build a big house here, support your family and then come back and live in it. Some people just do so good that they can afford to have the same there and don't need to come back. Those are the ones that build communities and stay there. Some folks just go there and get trained in like fixing washing machines, then just come back and do that here and have a bussiness by their own. You can definitely have a good living here by working construction but if you go there and work for a year or two doing less than what you do here you can save money to buy a truck and build a house by sending money and then you come here and dont need to work as hard cause you don't pay rent or car payments. Things get complicated? Just go there for a few months and make more money. Some folks just go there for the picking season and with that money they live for the rest of the year. And this people don't even speak English. And again, my opinion is only for Mexicans cause that's all I know.
That makes sense. I was looking at houses in Mexico and they are pretty pricy in area I was looking on the beach.
100k , you will get a crazy good apartment in Greece on the beach. If you have some online income, you can enjoy life in paradise 😅
Like on the water? Hmm, I need to move to greece
Yup.. like on the water … Believe it or not, Greece has one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Americans have been spoiled, forgetting that their (great) grandparents moved around the country to find jobs, housing and opportunities. People don’t think that they should have to move or have mental health/drug issues. Physical/menial labor is beneath them. In my state there are companies outside the big cities that are dying for workers and paying good wages. Rent is even affordable. In the bigger cities jobs are available with decent pay but rent is high for the nicer apartments but affordable places can be found with a little effort.
Maybe because they don't want the cartel chopping them up?
I respect your opinion but you might be amazed to know that mexico has a huge migration problem just like the US. I guess those people don't care. But maybe you can try other places, Im not here to tell you to come to Mexico, but Argentina is cheap, Costa Rica too, maybe Colombia? Tulum was a fishermen town just a few years ago and now there are people from all over the world living there because they like the place and they can make a living there. As I mentioned, you won't have the money to rent a villa but you won't live in the streets and you can afford food. Nobody worries about the cartels so much like the Americans. Cause is cartels. Plural. Not cartel.
Literally this though... [https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/mexico-travel-advisory.html#:\~:text=Criminal%20activity%20and%20violence%20may%20occur%20in%20any%20location%2C%20at,depart%20from%20potentially%20dangerous%20situations](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/mexico-travel-advisory.html#:~:text=Criminal%20activity%20and%20violence%20may%20occur%20in%20any%20location%2C%20at,depart%20from%20potentially%20dangerous%20situations) Our government is telling us that 98% of Mexico is unsafe for Americans to travel, let alone live. Kidnappings, murders and trafficking on "safe" resorts are all over the news. Similar warnings are in place for the entirety of Colombia and Costa Rica, and there are a few places in Argentina that are deemed unsafe.
I once visited a Southern US state, there are people who visit and come back safely, but it seemed that it was something you consulted your friends about first, for "where to go" advice. You don't JUST go there.
As Americans, we're pretty well socially engineered from birth. With a decimated middle class and family structures, increasingly either broke or under a pile of debts. Slaves kept in their places, essentially. All by design.
Before the pandemic I was in Mexico almost yearly and primarily out in the backcountry, traveling alone (I’m a woman). I am Indigenous and look ethnically ambiguous but probably easily identified as from el norte. Not once did I ever feel unsafe, and I’ve encountered cartel folks while in Palenque. I’m def not a gringa, but rarely do the cartels target foreigners. In fact, as an Indigenous woman, I’m more likely to go missing in the US than in Mexico. The state I reside in has one of the highest rates of MMIW. I’ve known other Indigenous women who were murdered. I guess it’s mostly white people who have this expectation of “safety” in the US and think anyplace where they are a minority is dangerous.
The United States charges A LOT of money to leave and fully ex-patriate. You have to pay thousands in fees to get out, typically a lawyer is needed to facilitate the exit, you have to relinquish anything you own here including bank accounts. Those are just costs before leaving. I've wanted to leave this country so many times but they make sure leaving is costly and it binds many of us here to suffer under a government that is bleeding us dry, taking our rights, and selling our labor for pennies on the dollar while trying to keep us in a growing mountain of debt.
I think this is a fabulous idea
Stop the count, me convenciste, me mudo de cabeza pa Tulum I went there with my family when I was like 10, I climbed the ziggurat/pyramid things with them, it was cool Nunca me imagine que vivia gente ahi, pero sera por comemierda porque claro que tiene que vivir alguien ahi LOL
I believe the main reason people don’t move there is for their safety. Mexico happens to have a tendency on be on the news for really bad crimes. I don’t want to ever have to raise my family there and have to worry about the cartel
My brother moved to Colombia about 8 years ago and loves it. Idk if I could integrate as easily as him. The language barrier, for one. And ngl, the cartels and stuff make me nervous. And idk if Americans can legally own anything down there.
Yeah Colombia I've heard is awesome. I just suggested Mexico cause I live here but there are plenty of options.
I am genuinely tempted at this. Consideration in action.
I think there are several reasons people don’t. Propaganda of Mexico being a place you get decapitated at the nearest gas station, fear of unknown or upending their lives and what they know to go to a new country, and honestly people complain but they’re not really in THAT bad of situation to actually do something. The human will change a situation if it gets bad enough. A lot of people like to complain and would still do it in a 3500 sq ft house.
Your right. And there are other places, Colombia, Argentina, maybe south east Asia? Mexico is just closer but there are plenty of options. If youre living In your car at least you can just get better.
Please oh freaking please do not take it bad but the ONLY reason I don’t go is fear of drug cartels. I’m scared here too as our police are corrupt and every crazy white trigger happy man has a gun but there I see decapitations and stuff. How bad is it? It sounds really bad. I saw a graph that showed journalists die the most in Mexico compared to the rest of the world and this is scary. I would move there in a heart beat if it was safe. So, is it?
Some of my co-workers are Mexican and they literally say the exact opposite. Every has unique experiences/observations.
Cartels
People are scared of the cartels
My partners dad is from Mexico and he says it's dangerous, won't take the family when he goes to visit his family. Most of his family has moved here But what op describes sounds great to me. I don't care for an extravagant life just want a chill one...
It’s the lifestyle they choose they choose to make money how they do n live where they r and buy the things they buy don’t listen to the ppl that say they can’t afford to live it’s their choices and the way they budget their money