March 19, 2025 • 35 mins
Living and Thriving in Mexico: Expat Life and Running a Business
Expat Life in Mexico: Downsizing, Living, and Working as an American! Join co-hosts Dennis Day and Judy Gratton in this thrilling episode of 'Getting Your Edge: How to Downsize Your Life,' as they chat with Ashley Werter, an adventurous spirit who traded Seattle for the sunny shores of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico! Tune in as Ashley, a talented professional photographer, opens up about her exhilarating journey as an American expat. Discover her first impressions of life in Mexico, the vibrant local culture, the surprising cost of living, and her son's educational adventures. Ashley shares the ups and downs of her exciting new life, her connections with both expats and locals, and how she navigates finances and healthcare in a new land. Don't miss part two, where we dive into the thrilling world of running a business in Mexico as a foreigner!
To View Ashley Werter's Professional Photography Website Click Here
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:17 Meet Ashley Werter: From Seattle to Puerto Vallarta
01:10 Life in Mexico: First Impressions and Daily Life
03:04 Language Barriers and Clientele
04:44 Cost of Living and Housing
10:03 Cultural Differences and Celebrations
13:42 Healthcare and Transportation
15:26 Residency and Legal Requirements
17:50 Social Life and Activities
30:46 Financial Tips and Banking
34:08 Final Thoughts and Advice
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Dennis Day (00:01):
Well, good day everyone.
It's great to have you here.
Thanks for joining.
Getting your Edge how toDownsize your Life.
I'm your co-host, dennis Day,and I'm here with Judy Gratton,
our other co-host.
Good day, judy.
And our special guest today isAshley Werder.
She's a former Northwest andhas moved to Mexico, puerto
(00:27):
Vallarta specifically, and she'shere to talk about two things
One, what it's like to live inMexico as an expat American, but
also to own a business and runthat business in Mexico, the
differences and so forth.
Little background Ashley is aprofessional photographer.
(00:48):
She ran classes at KenmoreCamera, where I live real close,
and I took some of her classes.
She started a Facebook groupwhich I have continued to
maintain for now six years Ican't believe it's been that
long and she got up and took offand while we were disappointed,
(01:08):
we were excited for heradventure.
So, ashley, tell us a littlebit about what you have done to
leave the Northwest and move toPuerto Vallarta.
Ashley Werter (01:17):
We were living in Seattle and I was just like
working all the time and my sonwas really young at the time and
I just felt like I didn't spendas much time with him as I
would have liked, as having myfirst young child, and so I was
just starting to think aboutwhat I could do differently with
my life.
And I have this aunt who cameto Mexico in the 70s for a
(01:42):
semester abroad and she justfell in love with it and my
whole life the last 30, 40 yearsshe's been coming to Mexico
every year almost, and she justalways was coming back and
saying go to Mexico, it's thebest place on earth.
And so I just thought maybeshe's right.
So I came down for a few daysto check it out, see what it was
(02:05):
like.
I had never been to Mexicobefore.
So I came to Puerto Vallartafor four days.
I spent three days in SanPancho and just getting massages
on the beach and eating lots offresh shrimp, and I took a food
tour in Puerto Vallarta and I,just at the end of the tour, was
like man, that was great.
We went around the city, we saweight or 10 different places and
(02:29):
learned all about it and I justthought I could do this with
photography.
So I decided to pick up andmove.
So I started with my workshops.
That's what was my main goalwhen I moved here and since then
I've transitioned more into theweddings and portraits side
because it's just, there's a lotmore of a customer base, but I
(02:51):
still enjoy doing both.
I volunteer every week at thelargest school for girls and I
teach some photography classesalso.
We have little exhibitions,what I'm keeping myself busy.
How exciting.
Dennis Day (03:04):
You speak Spanish before you travel there?
Ashley Werter (03:06):
I did take Spanish in high school.
I took two years of requiredSpanish and I lived in
California right after highschool.
But I didn't really use muchSpanish there and I lost it.
So when I moved here, I justremember, senora Zamora taught
me how to say to want, to haveand to need and she said if you
can conjugate these three verbsand know a little vocab, you'll
(03:30):
do pretty good.
And she was right.
But I think a lot of it cameback to me and I try to practice
it every day.
Judy Gratton (03:37):
Do you find that you speak Spanish more often
than English now?
Ashley Werter (03:41):
Most of my customers are still English
speakers.
I have a lot of customers fromCalifornia, texas, canada, so in
my daily life I definitelystill speak more English than I
do Spanish, but every time Ileave the house I'm going to be
speaking some Spanish, for sure.
Judy Gratton (03:59):
So are the majority of your clients then
from these other countries, ordo you also work within the
people who actually are fromMexico?
Ashley Werter (04:11):
Yeah, I do both.
A lot of my clients forweddings especially are
destination weddings and sothey're coming from California
or something where it's just farmore expensive to have a
wedding.
And a lot of my students aswell, I would say, are from
Canada and the United States.
But I do have plenty of localclients and it's a really
(04:33):
international city, so there arepeople here from the US, canada
, argentina, germany.
There's a lot of diversity inPuerto Vallarta, wow.
Judy Gratton (04:44):
So how does the cost of living compare I chuckle
about that with what it waslike when you lived in the
United.
Ashley Werter (04:51):
States.
It's been six and a half years,so I don't know what your guys'
current living prices are.
I know that every time I goback to visit it's a little bit
more expensive each time, but Ileft in 2018 and I was renting
an apartment in Seattle.
It was about $2,100 a month anda parking space and it was only
(05:11):
like 850 square feet.
Living in Mexico, I have athree bedroom, three bathroom
house and I pay $850.
Oh my goodness.
Judy Gratton (05:21):
So I would guess that's allowed you to improve
your lifestyle and that of yourson with.
Ashley Werter (05:27):
Yeah, definitely, definitely.
My money goes a lot fartherthan it did in the US and I can
have the ability to not worksometimes if I want a vacation
with my son or take a week off,if he has time off.
I don't feel as pressured tomake.
How old is your?
Judy Gratton (05:47):
son now I just turned eight, and so is he going
to local schools.
Ashley Werter (05:52):
a private, school or as foreigners.
He's not allowed to go to apublic school here.
He has to go to a privateschool.
It's in a private school, it'sa Montessori school.
It's actually about 50 feetfrom my house, oh wow, so that's
the length and it's a bilingualschool, so half of its classes
are in Spanish and half are inEnglish and it's just a.
(06:14):
Really I love the school.
Its teachers are really kindand dedicated and they have so
many celebrations and greatactivities.
I really am happy with himthere.
Judy Gratton (06:26):
Wonderful.
How did the homes compare tohomes in the United States in
terms of size, amenities?
I think affordability you justshowed us.
But in general, if someonewanted to either buy a home or
rent a home, what differenceswould they see coming from the
(06:46):
United States?
Ashley Werter (06:48):
This is one of the fastest growing cities in
Latin America, so we are gettinga lot of like new builds and
those look a lot like yourUnited States, like very nicely
finished apartments and condos,pools, gyms, all that kind of
thing.
So there's plenty of thoseoptions.
But if you're going for a morelocal area or just a build in
(07:11):
general, there are certainlysome differences.
The infrastructure in Mexico isvery different, so pretty much
we all have like cisterns on ourroof for water.
We don't have gas lines, sothey either deliver it in the
tank on the roof or like in acylinder.
We definitely have some morearchitectural things that are
(07:32):
different.
Sometimes the windows don'tclose all the way, or it's an
open window with just an irongate, something like that.
Not every kitchen has a cabinet.
Sometimes it's just going to bea bare counter and there might
be shelves or something.
But there's just going to be abare counter and there might be
shelves or something.
But there's definitely going tobe some differences.
Maybe the power went out todayor I don't have very good
(07:53):
internet, or the water isrunning low or something.
There's some adjustments tomake with that.
So when you buy, the water.
Judy Gratton (08:02):
Is it water that you can drink, that is stored up
there?
Ashley Werter (08:05):
or do you have to ?
It depends.
In the newer builds thecisterns are really impeccable
and a lot of those people dodrink the water because it's not
really our water.
That's the problem.
It's the delivery systems,right.
So some people do drink theirwater, but no.
I use a water delivery serviceand I get three of those big
(08:25):
garrafons of water for about 100pesos, which is about five
bucks.
It lasts me for about 10 daysof cooking and drinking my water
, but for showering, brushingyour teeth, the tap water is
fine.
I have an electronic waterheater, but there are definitely
a lot of like Mexican fixes.
There's going to be a lot ofjerry rigrigging things, or it
(08:46):
just is what it is.
Some of those things justaren't so important culturally.
If you don't have airconditioning, you most
definitely have a ceiling fan oropen windows.
There's a lot of turretbuildings or some sort of part
of the building that was made sothat the hot air can be stored
up there and keep the rest of itcool.
Wow, it's a lot of concrete andbrick and it's just a little
(09:11):
bit different than the houses inthe US where it's like wood and
drywall and things like that.
But we do have both options forsure.
Judy Gratton (09:20):
Ah, okay, but you have to be flexible, would you
say.
Ashley Werter (09:25):
You should definitely come with an open
mind and know that, just likethe infrastructure is different
and the attitude on fixing it ispretty laid back.
Judy Gratton (09:35):
Moving to any country that you have to come
with an open mind.
Things are just.
I noticed we watch a lot ofBritish TV and I'm always amazed
.
We have this giant refrigeratorand nobody has giant
refrigerators.
They have much smallerrefrigerators, even in the TV
shows.
So flexibility would probablybe like almost a requirement.
(09:58):
If you want to make a move toMexico, would you say Okay?
Dennis Day (10:03):
Ashley, let's talk about some cultural differences
of living in a foreign countryand living in Mexico
specifically.
What did you notice when youfirst moved there that was
different culturally versus theUnited States?
Ashley Werter (10:17):
First of all, that people are so just like
naturally kind and welcoming andreally hospitable and it was
like just surprising being aforeigner and just being like so
welcome immediately and I thinkthat's like a big misconception
.
One of my trips outside ofMexico since I've been here I
went to New Orleans and the Uberdriver was like shocked when he
(10:40):
heard me say that the Mexicanpeople were so nice.
But they really genuinely areand there's just so much
celebration in Mexico.
There's all types of holidaysand there's always parades and
just like culturally it's veryrich and in lots of color and
celebrations.
There's all dancers and it'sjust been a really fun
(11:03):
experience and just littlethings like.
I feel like in the United Statesour idea of mariachi is like
one person singing and when yousee mariachis in like film or
cartoons, it's one drunk guysinging La Cusaracha, right.
But mariachis came from thestate that I live in now here in
(11:24):
Mexico and that's where theyoriginated and it's so beautiful
that there's usually 10 or 12of them.
They have just immaculateoutfits and they play the most
beautiful music and it's just sodifferent than what I expected
it to be and it's really such anart form and I feel like that's
just how everything has beenmoving.
(11:46):
To Mexico.
The Day of the Dead is justlike a week long celebration
with so many flowers andofrendas and just everyone
celebrating, and it's just.
They're just like a reallyfestive culture.
Dennis Day (11:59):
Now would you have you come across Americans who
are saying, yeah, but we can'tget anything done because
they're always celebrating.
Ashley Werter (12:06):
Yeah, there's definitely some grouches that I
hear.
I actually find and I thoughtthis was funny because growing
up in the United States, peoplewould always say, oh, if you're
going to travel, tell peoplethat you're Canadian, because
they like Canadians more.
Canadians are nicer, right,when in Mexican culture they
(12:29):
start at 10 pm and they'llfinish at 7 am and there will be
serenading and loud music andyou'll probably still see that
person at work the next day andit's just.
It is what it is.
But there are definitely a lotof people who complain about the
noise because it's a very loudculture and it's upsetting to
see because it's just.
(12:50):
I feel if you're going to movehere or if you came here for the
experience, that is that reallylaid back, loving lifestyle.
Like one of my favorite thingsseeing when I moved here was
that I could go into thepharmacy and my pharmacist has a
baby on her hip and she's goingto be that way all day and her
family is her priority and theyallow that to happen and that's
(13:13):
not really something you wouldget to see in the United States
and we move here for thosecertain things and then we
complain about the things thatwe lost and there has to be a
trade, a balance, and especiallywhen it's something that's not
malicious, like they don't playloud music just to keep you up
all night.
They're celebrating life withtheir family or whatever, and
(13:35):
it's sad to see people get upsetabout things like that.
Judy Gratton (13:38):
Yeah, Well, mentioning health care and
pharmacies that like for you.
How do you get health care?
How do you?
Ashley Werter (13:46):
Well, there's lots of private health care that
you can get.
So I just have a private healthcare plan, and that's a big
thing in Mexico is there'spharmacies on every corner and
everywhere you can imagine.
So the prices of medicine areless, the availability is more,
and some of the most surprisingthings moving here were going
(14:09):
into the doctor's office,because the doctor's offices are
usually in the States.
You walk in, there's a waitingroom, you wait in the waiting
room, you wait in the doctor'soffice, a few people come in and
ask you a question and then youget to see the doctor and you
have a few minutes with them andthen they send you to the lab
or whatever.
But in Mexico, once you getpast the waiting room, you're in
(14:32):
the doctor's office.
They have their exam room sideof the office and their desk
side of the office and theymight have an assistant in there
, but they're there with you thewhole time.
They do the whole exam andanswer all your questions and
it's just.
You can expect to leave havingpaid $30 and whether it's your
dentist or general doctor, butit's very surprising how good
(14:56):
the healthcare is.
Yeah, wow.
Dennis Day (14:59):
That's great.
Judy Gratton (14:59):
How do you get around?
Do you have a car or do you?
Ashley Werter (15:03):
I did have a car for a while.
I don't right now, so I justuse Uber, and it's between three
or twelve dollars a ride,depending on how far I'm going.
It's usually very affordableand the bus system is really
great and it costs 10 pesos,which is about 50 cents, and you
can get pretty much all overthe city like that and, yeah,
(15:24):
it's very accessible place.
Dennis Day (15:26):
Can I get practicality?
In order to reside in Mexico,did you have to have a specific
kind of visa, or can you justmove down there?
Ashley Werter (15:36):
Those rules are always changing, so definitely
you got to check with what thecurrent requirements are.
But there are some options forif you were to move into Mexico.
If you want a permanentresidency, there's requirements
that you have to fill.
You have to make a certainamount of money or have a
certain amount of money, and fora temporary resident it's the
(15:56):
same thing.
When I went into that officethe first time and said I wanted
to move to Mexico back inSeattle and they were asking me
oh, who do you know in Mexico?
What are you going to do there?
I was just like, so used tomoving to different places.
I was like, oh, I'm just goingto go there and make it work.
They, I think, were a littlebit doubtful.
That's how it was going to goand that I maybe wasn't so
(16:19):
serious about it.
They do want to see, they wantto live and succeed in Mexico
and not just come here andeither bail or not contribute to
what they're doing.
But you do have options to be atourist in Mexico for 100 days
that's six months and then youcan go and come back.
But again, with the newadministration those are
(16:41):
changing and you should getthose requirements.
But me personally.
I came as a temporary resident.
I got one year as a temporaryresident and then, when that
ended, I got to reapply for athree-year temporary resident
and then at the end of the threeyears, I qualified to be a
permanent resident.
I applied to be permanentresident and now that's what I
(17:04):
am.
I'm a permanent resident.
I, at five years, was eligibleto apply for citizenship.
But that comes with a wholebunch of tests and I need to get
a little bit better at mySpanish before I try to perfect
that one.
But each stage comes with aprocess and some fines and some
charges, but it's definitelydoable.
Dennis Day (17:26):
So when you were preparing for this in Seattle,
were you speaking with the USconsulate or were you speaking
with the Mexican consulate inSeattle?
Ashley Werter (17:35):
We went to the US consulate in Seattle.
I will say that the Boise onewas far faster, so you might
want to check where your optionsare, because Seattle had like
months long waits.
We canceled our appointment orsomething.
There are options.
Judy Gratton (17:50):
What about social life?
What do you do for fun?
Ashley Werter (17:53):
Vallarta is a really social city.
There's always something goingon here.
Facebook is a huge way to getto do anything.
In Mexico, facebook andWhatsApp are like our main
things.
Most people won't have awebsite, but they'll have the
Facebook and there's groups foreverything, and especially for
cats or people who want to getto know new people and socialize
(18:16):
.
So there's always groups forkaraoke or reading clubs or
adventure adventure group orthere's always events going on
and something to do.
So there's lots of live musicand dancing and it's being like
a beach city.
It's also very active.
There's lots of adventure.
We have rainforests, there'shikes and waterfalls to go to,
(18:40):
we have tons of beautifulbeaches and working out is a
huge thing.
I train Muay Thai, so I do alot of that, but there's really
nothing for every Muay Thai.
It's like kickboxing oh mygoodness, wow.
Judy Gratton (18:52):
Cool yeah.
Dennis Day (18:54):
Are you interacting mostly with expats, or is it a
mixture of both?
Ashley Werter (18:59):
I would say a mixture of both.
There are definitely a lot ofexpats to come here or move here
and stick with mostly Englishspeaking groups and friends, but
I would say mine is about 50-50.
My Spanish allows me to be ableto communicate with both.
Yeah, I have like a lot ofactivities that I do, like my
Muay Thai, for example, isthey're all Mexicans in there
(19:22):
and so I have a lot of friendsfrom that activity that only
speak Spanish.
But then there's lots offriends who come here and have
businesses also.
So, like I have some friendswho own a bar, so we do lots of
events and things there.
So it's definitely a mix.
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Judy Gratton (20:16):
Are there any?
What do I want to call it?
Does the United States?
Do they reach out to you?
Do they have any requirementsfrom you as someone living in
another country?
Ashley Werter (20:28):
No, not really.
I really don't have any contactwith that kind of thing at all.
Judy Gratton (20:34):
Do you pay into Social Security or do you pay
taxes or anything like that?
Ashley Werter (20:39):
to the United States.
I pay Mexican taxes.
My business operates in Mexico,so I pay Mexican taxes.
I pay Mexican taxes.
My business operates in Mexico,so I pay Mexican taxes.
And if I do make US money Ifile for those taxes, but
primarily it's just Mexicantaxes.
We file every other month.
There's a lot of options forentrepreneurs in Mexico because
it is such a culture of nobodyjust asks you for money.
(21:02):
There's very few people who arejust like asking for change for
no reason.
They'll get on the bus and singand maybe people give them
change, or they will sellcandies or they'll open doors or
you know.
Everybody's really likehardworking and really willing
to work for their money.
And there are so many peoplethat have a cart and sell
(21:24):
churros on the street or haveany type of business, buying
Costco pies and selling them atmarkets, Like really they're
just very entrepreneurial andtheir system allows them to be
that way.
And the regime that I am in asa small business owner was like
the first year I paid 10% ofwhat I should have paid in taxes
(21:47):
and then each year it increases10% until 10 years in and then
I'm finally just like payingnormal taxes.
But I feel like that really wasa supportive move and is like
wanting their people to succeedand be able to profit and have a
good business, and I reallyappreciated that.
Dennis Day (22:07):
Good way to grow a small business.
Judy Gratton (22:09):
What would you say has been the most challenging
thing for you about making themove?
What was the biggest?
Ashley Werter (22:16):
how to climb over there was definitely a lot of
confusing situations.
That, when we first moved here,was how do we buy the foot
garbons with water?
Because the people were tellingus so we can only sell you the
water, not the bottle or justlittle things like that, and it
was just trying to figure outhow to work in all of their
(22:37):
systems and how they do thingsand definitely learning the
language as a a foreigner, Ivery often look like a tourist.
When I get into an Uber orsomething, or if I'm walking the
Malacombe, I look like atourist and everybody speaks to
me as if I am one, and then if Ican converse back with them,
(22:59):
it's always surprised, like, oh,your Spanish is so good and I'm
like it's not really that good.
But compared to all the touristswho come and don't speak
English, they're like oh, yourSpanish is so good and I'm like
it's not really that good.
But compared to all thetourists who come and don't
speak English, they're like, andthey're always just as Senora
Zamora in high school promisedme that they would be.
They are always extremelygrateful that I have learned
some language and can conversewith them, because typically the
(23:22):
exchange would be oh, I don'tspeak English, you have to speak
Spanish.
And then you speak Spanish andthey realize how terrible your
Spanish is and suddenly theyspeak English because they're
like oh, I don't speak very goodEnglish, but then their English
is way better than your Spanish, so they just help you out.
But there's a lot of Englishspeaking Mexicans and I feel
(23:42):
like it's definitely survivableif you don't learn the language,
but I feel like the gesture oflearning some and just how
helpful that is, it goes a longway.
Judy Gratton (23:54):
I've noticed that I've traveled in other places
where I don't speak the languageand just trying People
appreciate it.
Right, they do.
Ashley Werter (24:02):
Mexicans have a lot with their hands also, so
it's a little easier to getpoints across because they're
very demonstrative already.
And what are some of the thingsthat you've just thoroughly's
(24:38):
at school, he's safe means a lotto me to be prepared for
disasters that are notearthquakes and things like that
.
Like my son has earthquakedrills but he doesn't have to do
lockdown hide from an activeshooter drill because that's
just not something that happensin Mexico.
A lot of people, when I said Iwanted to move to Mexico, told
me hideous things oh, yourchild's going to be abducted or
(25:02):
molested or you're going to getshot or that cartel and
certainly there are cartelproblems.
But as a person living inSeattle you don't really worry
about the crimes happening inChicago, right, and in Seattle I
had a lot more run-ins withcrime than I do here in Mexico.
It's mostly just petty theft,like if you leave your wallet
(25:25):
you might not see it again, kindof things.
But definitely my number one isjust knowing that when I take
my son to school he's going tobe safe there and then just
honestly, just the people thatI've met and being able to do
what I love and be reallyaccepted by my community.
I try to be really active in it.
(25:46):
I volunteer and I am involvedin my son's school and I do a
lot of events around town andit's just so nice to be so
welcomed.
Dennis Day (25:57):
Sounds fabulous to me.
Judy Gratton (25:58):
Is there anything you really miss about the United
?
Ashley Werter (26:00):
States.
My family certainly my familyall lives in Washington with the
cousins getting it about.
It's definitely the people.
But there are a lot ofconveniences like oh man, I miss
bathtubs.
We don't have bathtubs.
It's extremely rare, I love thatthere's little things like that
I miss and those are also thelittle things that when my son
(26:22):
visits the US carpetingeverywhere and night light
switches and drinking fountainsthose are all things that make
him go wow, my God, this placeis amazing and there are little
comforts like that I miss forsure.
In like newer hotels or condos,you might get a bathtub.
We have like outdoor bathtubs Alot of people do like ice baths
(26:43):
here but it's like not plastic,but like a plastic-ish.
It's going to be in your housesome porcelain bathtub, unless
you have a new build and you putthat in your request because
it's just not a thing that theydo.
But the things that I gainedversus what I lost, it was
definitely worth it.
Dennis Day (27:03):
Are you renting now?
Ashley Werter (27:04):
I do, I rent.
Dennis Day (27:06):
So let's ask would there ever be the opportunity
for you to buy a home in Mexico?
Ashley Werter (27:10):
There's definitely lots of affordable
homes in Mexico for people ofall different price ranges.
And then there's just like someI don't I'm not familiar with
all of them, but there are somerequirements like foreigners
can't own property within acertain distance from the ocean.
They don't want ocean propertyto go to foreigners.
But that, when it comes to ifyou're going to build an entire
(27:33):
condo building, I'm sure thatwould be a little different, but
there's little rules like thatand there's definitely some
processes to go through.
But it's definitely options tobuy Mexico, absolutely to go
through.
Dennis Day (27:44):
But it's definitely options to buy Mexico,
absolutely.
You live in a tourist, let mesay a tourist venue, a city
that's based on tourism.
Do you feel like this is moreexpensive than other parts of
Mexico?
Have you traveled to maybe someplaces?
Ashley Werter (28:01):
Okay, my area is still pretty affordable.
It definitely has been going upevery year because it is
growing so fast.
We're getting a new cruise shipdock, we're getting a new
airport dock, we're gettingcondos popping up all over the
place.
It's really a growing city, butin other places in Mexico it's
(28:22):
absolutely much cheaper.
There's some mountain towns afew hours from here.
I just went there for my son'sbirthday and we spent the
weekend there and Even just alittle thing like the
convenience store we bought forthe three of us some snacks and
some drinks and what I ended uppaying, I was like, wow, that
would have gotten me one snackin Mexico.
(28:44):
That would be helpful to thoseof us who are not there but are
considering moving to Mexico.
It doesn't necessarily meantomorrow, but it means not today
.
(29:16):
Now it's something to get usedto, because I'm very
entrepreneurial and I'm alwaysdoing something and I'm like
ready to get it done now and Ihad to curb that a little bit.
So my washing machine needsrepaired and I've been waiting
for four tomorrows, and it iswhat it is To understand that
(29:36):
the flexibility of those peopledidn't follow through on their
commitments because theyprioritized something else, like
their family or whatever it was, and that I also had that
ability and that I could not beso structured and tight into my
routines and my ways and that Ican like okay, I don't have to
(29:58):
get this all done today, we cantake our time.
Like it is what it is.
Judy Gratton (30:03):
And your stress level.
To look at life that way.
Ashley Werter (30:07):
I'm still always hustling.
I have to, I have to make allof my own work, I have to tell
people when they need to hire me.
But as far as a case of life,absolutely, it's nice to be like
, yeah, you know what, and takeoff the evening and go watch the
sunset on the beach, and itdoesn't matter if I'm 20 minutes
(30:28):
late, they're not going tostart yet anyways, because I
have spent a lot of time showingup early, which to me is on
time and then it starts twohours later and it's just, it's
just more laid back, and so itwill force you to be more laid
back also.
Judy Gratton (30:44):
How about financial things like banking or
anything along those lines thatyou would you have any
information on or would carethink that?
Ashley Werter (30:54):
I'm not sure how it would work for a tourist to
have a bank account, but as atemporary and permanent resident
, I was able to make a bankaccount for myself easily.
I have my Mexican bank accountsthat I use for debit cards and
daily usings and paying people Iwork with or whatever it is.
And then I have my US bankaccounts and I just use WISE.
(31:17):
I use TransferWise to paymyself money and I can do it in
minutes.
You want to be a little techsavvy on that app, askbank to
come down here, because I didjust see somebody post in one of
the groups that like, oh, asusual, they did a wire transfer
and this time the money didn'tshow up and they never had a
(31:38):
problem with that before.
And we're asking for advice andI don't have to do any of that.
I can transfer money to myselfat any point no matter where I
am, it's wise.
There are lots of options.
There's probably 10 differentfinancial apps like that where
you can transfer money, but it'sextremely helpful and I
(31:58):
definitely would recommend beingup to date on that, because
there are mistakes and differentsystems.
Judy Gratton (32:08):
I know my brother had real issues getting money
from the States and I think itwas being wired.
I don't think he was looking atapps, the idea of using apps
putting it in an Americanaccount and then using an app to
transfer it into his Mexicanaccount.
Ashley Werter (32:27):
It takes a lot of time and stress.
Dennis Day (32:30):
The United States has really become almost a
cashless society.
If people ask me for money onthe street, I don't have cash in
my pocket anymore.
How is it?
Is it a cashless society inMexico, or is it still a mix of
both?
Ashley Werter (32:44):
It's definitely not a cashless society.
There are plenty of places thatdon't accept credit cards and
you can only pay in cash, evenif you're like, oh, this is a
big, popular restaurant, whydon't you take cards?
And I'm going to just assumethat that has some tax reasons,
but you definitely want to beable to have pesos here.
You can spend dollars, butyou're not going to get a good
(33:06):
conversion rate if you do spenddollars.
I get paid in dollars quiteoften from clients and I usually
just spend that at Costco,honestly, because they have a
really good conversion rate.
So if I just save my dollars,usually just spend that at
Costco, honestly, because theyhave a really good conversion
rate.
So if I just save my dollars,I'll spend them at Costco and
that works for me.
Office Depot also has a reallygood one, but for the most part
(33:27):
they're going to give youseveral dollars less for the
exchange rate than normal, evenif you go to an exchange, a bank
or something.
You can go to a bank to do itas just like a foreigner without
an account, definitely, but theexchange rate is not going to
be the official exchange ratebecause they're always in a.
A lot of people always askshould I bring dollars or pesos?
(33:49):
You should definitely bringpesos and you should have the
ability to get pesos whileyou're here, but the ATMs will
take your US cards and give youpesos.
You just have to make sure youchoose the right option and
you're picking a thousand pesosand not a thousand dollars kind
of thing, but because that's abig difference.
Dennis Day (34:08):
Ashley, this has been a wealth of information for
somebody who's contemplating,Even as a tourist.
I would think you're going tospend an extended time.
We really appreciate you comingon.
Have you got any final wordsfor anybody who's considering
coming to Mexico for an extendedor long-term stay?
Ashley Werter (34:31):
Yeah, I would just say have an open mind,
learn a few phrases in Spanishand have a good time, because we
have so much to offer in Mexicothe people and the food, and
the culture, and the beaches andthe mountains it's really you
can't not have a good time.
But you should also just notexpect it to be the same as the
United States, and then it'sgoing to be great.
Dennis Day (34:53):
Thank you so much, really appreciate this.
We're going to do part twoabout running a business in
Mexico, which is very differentthan just living there off, say,
social Security or something,and we really want to find that
information.
So that'll be.
Our next podcast is running abusiness in Mexico as a
(35:13):
foreigner.
Thanks for attending.
We wish you the best and thanksfor watching Getting your Edge
how to Downsize your Home andLife.
Thanks again, take care, bye.
Well, good day everyone.
It's great to have you here.
Thanks for joining.
Getting your Edge how toDownsize your Life.
I'm your co-host, dennis Day,and I'm here with Judy Gratton,
our other co-host.
Good day, judy.
And our special guest today isAshley Werder.
She's a former Northwest andhas moved to Mexico, puerto
(00:27):
Vallarta specifically, and she'shere to talk about two things
One, what it's like to live inMexico as an expat American, but
also to own a business and runthat business in Mexico, the
differences and so forth.
Little background Ashley is aprofessional photographer.
(00:48):
She ran classes at KenmoreCamera, where I live real close,
and I took some of her classes.
She started a Facebook groupwhich I have continued to
maintain for now six years Ican't believe it's been that
long and she got up and took offand while we were disappointed,
(01:08):
we were excited for heradventure.
So, ashley, tell us a littlebit about what you have done to
leave the Northwest and move toPuerto Vallarta.
Ashley Werter (01:17):
We were living in Seattle and I was just like
working all the time and my sonwas really young at the time and
I just felt like I didn't spendas much time with him as I
would have liked, as having myfirst young child, and so I was
just starting to think aboutwhat I could do differently with
my life.
And I have this aunt who cameto Mexico in the 70s for a
(01:42):
semester abroad and she justfell in love with it and my
whole life the last 30, 40 yearsshe's been coming to Mexico
every year almost, and she justalways was coming back and
saying go to Mexico, it's thebest place on earth.
And so I just thought maybeshe's right.
So I came down for a few daysto check it out, see what it was
(02:05):
like.
I had never been to Mexicobefore.
So I came to Puerto Vallartafor four days.
I spent three days in SanPancho and just getting massages
on the beach and eating lots offresh shrimp, and I took a food
tour in Puerto Vallarta and I,just at the end of the tour, was
like man, that was great.
We went around the city, we saweight or 10 different places and
(02:29):
learned all about it and I justthought I could do this with
photography.
So I decided to pick up andmove.
So I started with my workshops.
That's what was my main goalwhen I moved here and since then
I've transitioned more into theweddings and portraits side
because it's just, there's a lotmore of a customer base, but I
(02:51):
still enjoy doing both.
I volunteer every week at thelargest school for girls and I
teach some photography classesalso.
We have little exhibitions,what I'm keeping myself busy.
How exciting.
Dennis Day (03:04):
You speak Spanish before you travel there?
Ashley Werter (03:06):
I did take Spanish in high school.
I took two years of requiredSpanish and I lived in
California right after highschool.
But I didn't really use muchSpanish there and I lost it.
So when I moved here, I justremember, senora Zamora taught
me how to say to want, to haveand to need and she said if you
can conjugate these three verbsand know a little vocab, you'll
(03:30):
do pretty good.
And she was right.
But I think a lot of it cameback to me and I try to practice
it every day.
Judy Gratton (03:37):
Do you find that you speak Spanish more often
than English now?
Ashley Werter (03:41):
Most of my customers are still English
speakers.
I have a lot of customers fromCalifornia, texas, canada, so in
my daily life I definitelystill speak more English than I
do Spanish, but every time Ileave the house I'm going to be
speaking some Spanish, for sure.
Judy Gratton (03:59):
So are the majority of your clients then
from these other countries, ordo you also work within the
people who actually are fromMexico?
Ashley Werter (04:11):
Yeah, I do both.
A lot of my clients forweddings especially are
destination weddings and sothey're coming from California
or something where it's just farmore expensive to have a
wedding.
And a lot of my students aswell, I would say, are from
Canada and the United States.
But I do have plenty of localclients and it's a really
(04:33):
international city, so there arepeople here from the US, canada
, argentina, germany.
There's a lot of diversity inPuerto Vallarta, wow.
Judy Gratton (04:44):
So how does the cost of living compare I chuckle
about that with what it waslike when you lived in the
United.
Ashley Werter (04:51):
States.
It's been six and a half years,so I don't know what your guys'
current living prices are.
I know that every time I goback to visit it's a little bit
more expensive each time, but Ileft in 2018 and I was renting
an apartment in Seattle.
It was about $2,100 a month anda parking space and it was only
(05:11):
like 850 square feet.
Living in Mexico, I have athree bedroom, three bathroom
house and I pay $850.
Oh my goodness.
Judy Gratton (05:21):
So I would guess that's allowed you to improve
your lifestyle and that of yourson with.
Ashley Werter (05:27):
Yeah, definitely, definitely.
My money goes a lot fartherthan it did in the US and I can
have the ability to not worksometimes if I want a vacation
with my son or take a week off,if he has time off.
I don't feel as pressured tomake.
How old is your?
Judy Gratton (05:47):
son now I just turned eight, and so is he going
to local schools.
Ashley Werter (05:52):
a private, school or as foreigners.
He's not allowed to go to apublic school here.
He has to go to a privateschool.
It's in a private school, it'sa Montessori school.
It's actually about 50 feetfrom my house, oh wow, so that's
the length and it's a bilingualschool, so half of its classes
are in Spanish and half are inEnglish and it's just a.
(06:14):
Really I love the school.
Its teachers are really kindand dedicated and they have so
many celebrations and greatactivities.
I really am happy with himthere.
Judy Gratton (06:26):
Wonderful.
How did the homes compare tohomes in the United States in
terms of size, amenities?
I think affordability you justshowed us.
But in general, if someonewanted to either buy a home or
rent a home, what differenceswould they see coming from the
(06:46):
United States?
Ashley Werter (06:48):
This is one of the fastest growing cities in
Latin America, so we are gettinga lot of like new builds and
those look a lot like yourUnited States, like very nicely
finished apartments and condos,pools, gyms, all that kind of
thing.
So there's plenty of thoseoptions.
But if you're going for a morelocal area or just a build in
(07:11):
general, there are certainlysome differences.
The infrastructure in Mexico isvery different, so pretty much
we all have like cisterns on ourroof for water.
We don't have gas lines, sothey either deliver it in the
tank on the roof or like in acylinder.
We definitely have some morearchitectural things that are
(07:32):
different.
Sometimes the windows don'tclose all the way, or it's an
open window with just an irongate, something like that.
Not every kitchen has a cabinet.
Sometimes it's just going to bea bare counter and there might
be shelves or something.
But there's just going to be abare counter and there might be
shelves or something.
But there's definitely going tobe some differences.
Maybe the power went out todayor I don't have very good
(07:53):
internet, or the water isrunning low or something.
There's some adjustments tomake with that.
So when you buy, the water.
Judy Gratton (08:02):
Is it water that you can drink, that is stored up
there?
Ashley Werter (08:05):
or do you have to ?
It depends.
In the newer builds thecisterns are really impeccable
and a lot of those people dodrink the water because it's not
really our water.
That's the problem.
It's the delivery systems,right.
So some people do drink theirwater, but no.
I use a water delivery serviceand I get three of those big
(08:25):
garrafons of water for about 100pesos, which is about five
bucks.
It lasts me for about 10 daysof cooking and drinking my water
, but for showering, brushingyour teeth, the tap water is
fine.
I have an electronic waterheater, but there are definitely
a lot of like Mexican fixes.
There's going to be a lot ofjerry rigrigging things, or it
(08:46):
just is what it is.
Some of those things justaren't so important culturally.
If you don't have airconditioning, you most
definitely have a ceiling fan oropen windows.
There's a lot of turretbuildings or some sort of part
of the building that was made sothat the hot air can be stored
up there and keep the rest of itcool.
Wow, it's a lot of concrete andbrick and it's just a little
(09:11):
bit different than the houses inthe US where it's like wood and
drywall and things like that.
But we do have both options forsure.
Judy Gratton (09:20):
Ah, okay, but you have to be flexible, would you
say.
Ashley Werter (09:25):
You should definitely come with an open
mind and know that, just likethe infrastructure is different
and the attitude on fixing it ispretty laid back.
Judy Gratton (09:35):
Moving to any country that you have to come
with an open mind.
Things are just.
I noticed we watch a lot ofBritish TV and I'm always amazed
.
We have this giant refrigeratorand nobody has giant
refrigerators.
They have much smallerrefrigerators, even in the TV
shows.
So flexibility would probablybe like almost a requirement.
(09:58):
If you want to make a move toMexico, would you say Okay?
Dennis Day (10:03):
Ashley, let's talk about some cultural differences
of living in a foreign countryand living in Mexico
specifically.
What did you notice when youfirst moved there that was
different culturally versus theUnited States?
Ashley Werter (10:17):
First of all, that people are so just like
naturally kind and welcoming andreally hospitable and it was
like just surprising being aforeigner and just being like so
welcome immediately and I thinkthat's like a big misconception
.
One of my trips outside ofMexico since I've been here I
went to New Orleans and the Uberdriver was like shocked when he
(10:40):
heard me say that the Mexicanpeople were so nice.
But they really genuinely areand there's just so much
celebration in Mexico.
There's all types of holidaysand there's always parades and
just like culturally it's veryrich and in lots of color and
celebrations.
There's all dancers and it'sjust been a really fun
(11:03):
experience and just littlethings like.
I feel like in the United Statesour idea of mariachi is like
one person singing and when yousee mariachis in like film or
cartoons, it's one drunk guysinging La Cusaracha, right.
But mariachis came from thestate that I live in now here in
(11:24):
Mexico and that's where theyoriginated and it's so beautiful
that there's usually 10 or 12of them.
They have just immaculateoutfits and they play the most
beautiful music and it's just sodifferent than what I expected
it to be and it's really such anart form and I feel like that's
just how everything has beenmoving.
(11:46):
To Mexico.
The Day of the Dead is justlike a week long celebration
with so many flowers andofrendas and just everyone
celebrating, and it's just.
They're just like a reallyfestive culture.
Dennis Day (11:59):
Now would you have you come across Americans who
are saying, yeah, but we can'tget anything done because
they're always celebrating.
Ashley Werter (12:06):
Yeah, there's definitely some grouches that I
hear.
I actually find and I thoughtthis was funny because growing
up in the United States, peoplewould always say, oh, if you're
going to travel, tell peoplethat you're Canadian, because
they like Canadians more.
Canadians are nicer, right,when in Mexican culture they
(12:29):
start at 10 pm and they'llfinish at 7 am and there will be
serenading and loud music andyou'll probably still see that
person at work the next day andit's just.
It is what it is.
But there are definitely a lotof people who complain about the
noise because it's a very loudculture and it's upsetting to
see because it's just.
(12:50):
I feel if you're going to movehere or if you came here for the
experience, that is that reallylaid back, loving lifestyle.
Like one of my favorite thingsseeing when I moved here was
that I could go into thepharmacy and my pharmacist has a
baby on her hip and she's goingto be that way all day and her
family is her priority and theyallow that to happen and that's
(13:13):
not really something you wouldget to see in the United States
and we move here for thosecertain things and then we
complain about the things thatwe lost and there has to be a
trade, a balance, and especiallywhen it's something that's not
malicious, like they don't playloud music just to keep you up
all night.
They're celebrating life withtheir family or whatever, and
(13:35):
it's sad to see people get upsetabout things like that.
Judy Gratton (13:38):
Yeah, Well, mentioning health care and
pharmacies that like for you.
How do you get health care?
How do you?
Ashley Werter (13:46):
Well, there's lots of private health care that
you can get.
So I just have a private healthcare plan, and that's a big
thing in Mexico is there'spharmacies on every corner and
everywhere you can imagine.
So the prices of medicine areless, the availability is more,
and some of the most surprisingthings moving here were going
(14:09):
into the doctor's office,because the doctor's offices are
usually in the States.
You walk in, there's a waitingroom, you wait in the waiting
room, you wait in the doctor'soffice, a few people come in and
ask you a question and then youget to see the doctor and you
have a few minutes with them andthen they send you to the lab
or whatever.
But in Mexico, once you getpast the waiting room, you're in
(14:32):
the doctor's office.
They have their exam room sideof the office and their desk
side of the office and theymight have an assistant in there
, but they're there with you thewhole time.
They do the whole exam andanswer all your questions and
it's just.
You can expect to leave havingpaid $30 and whether it's your
dentist or general doctor, butit's very surprising how good
(14:56):
the healthcare is.
Yeah, wow.
Dennis Day (14:59):
That's great.
Judy Gratton (14:59):
How do you get around?
Do you have a car or do you?
Ashley Werter (15:03):
I did have a car for a while.
I don't right now, so I justuse Uber, and it's between three
or twelve dollars a ride,depending on how far I'm going.
It's usually very affordableand the bus system is really
great and it costs 10 pesos,which is about 50 cents, and you
can get pretty much all overthe city like that and, yeah,
(15:24):
it's very accessible place.
Dennis Day (15:26):
Can I get practicality?
In order to reside in Mexico,did you have to have a specific
kind of visa, or can you justmove down there?
Ashley Werter (15:36):
Those rules are always changing, so definitely
you got to check with what thecurrent requirements are.
But there are some options forif you were to move into Mexico.
If you want a permanentresidency, there's requirements
that you have to fill.
You have to make a certainamount of money or have a
certain amount of money, and fora temporary resident it's the
(15:56):
same thing.
When I went into that officethe first time and said I wanted
to move to Mexico back inSeattle and they were asking me
oh, who do you know in Mexico?
What are you going to do there?
I was just like, so used tomoving to different places.
I was like, oh, I'm just goingto go there and make it work.
They, I think, were a littlebit doubtful.
That's how it was going to goand that I maybe wasn't so
(16:19):
serious about it.
They do want to see, they wantto live and succeed in Mexico
and not just come here andeither bail or not contribute to
what they're doing.
But you do have options to be atourist in Mexico for 100 days
that's six months and then youcan go and come back.
But again, with the newadministration those are
(16:41):
changing and you should getthose requirements.
But me personally.
I came as a temporary resident.
I got one year as a temporaryresident and then, when that
ended, I got to reapply for athree-year temporary resident
and then at the end of the threeyears, I qualified to be a
permanent resident.
I applied to be permanentresident and now that's what I
(17:04):
am.
I'm a permanent resident.
I, at five years, was eligibleto apply for citizenship.
But that comes with a wholebunch of tests and I need to get
a little bit better at mySpanish before I try to perfect
that one.
But each stage comes with aprocess and some fines and some
charges, but it's definitelydoable.
Dennis Day (17:26):
So when you were preparing for this in Seattle,
were you speaking with the USconsulate or were you speaking
with the Mexican consulate inSeattle?
Ashley Werter (17:35):
We went to the US consulate in Seattle.
I will say that the Boise onewas far faster, so you might
want to check where your optionsare, because Seattle had like
months long waits.
We canceled our appointment orsomething.
There are options.
Judy Gratton (17:50):
What about social life?
What do you do for fun?
Ashley Werter (17:53):
Vallarta is a really social city.
There's always something goingon here.
Facebook is a huge way to getto do anything.
In Mexico, facebook andWhatsApp are like our main
things.
Most people won't have awebsite, but they'll have the
Facebook and there's groups foreverything, and especially for
cats or people who want to getto know new people and socialize
(18:16):
.
So there's always groups forkaraoke or reading clubs or
adventure adventure group orthere's always events going on
and something to do.
So there's lots of live musicand dancing and it's being like
a beach city.
It's also very active.
There's lots of adventure.
We have rainforests, there'shikes and waterfalls to go to,
(18:40):
we have tons of beautifulbeaches and working out is a
huge thing.
I train Muay Thai, so I do alot of that, but there's really
nothing for every Muay Thai.
It's like kickboxing oh mygoodness, wow.
Judy Gratton (18:52):
Cool yeah.
Dennis Day (18:54):
Are you interacting mostly with expats, or is it a
mixture of both?
Ashley Werter (18:59):
I would say a mixture of both.
There are definitely a lot ofexpats to come here or move here
and stick with mostly Englishspeaking groups and friends, but
I would say mine is about 50-50.
My Spanish allows me to be ableto communicate with both.
Yeah, I have like a lot ofactivities that I do, like my
Muay Thai, for example, isthey're all Mexicans in there
(19:22):
and so I have a lot of friendsfrom that activity that only
speak Spanish.
But then there's lots offriends who come here and have
businesses also.
So, like I have some friendswho own a bar, so we do lots of
events and things there.
So it's definitely a mix.
Dennis Day (19:41):
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Judy Gratton (20:16):
Are there any?
What do I want to call it?
Does the United States?
Do they reach out to you?
Do they have any requirementsfrom you as someone living in
another country?
Ashley Werter (20:28):
No, not really.
I really don't have any contactwith that kind of thing at all.
Judy Gratton (20:34):
Do you pay into Social Security or do you pay
taxes or anything like that?
Ashley Werter (20:39):
to the United States.
I pay Mexican taxes.
My business operates in Mexico,so I pay Mexican taxes.
I pay Mexican taxes.
My business operates in Mexico,so I pay Mexican taxes.
And if I do make US money Ifile for those taxes, but
primarily it's just Mexicantaxes.
We file every other month.
There's a lot of options forentrepreneurs in Mexico because
it is such a culture of nobodyjust asks you for money.
(21:02):
There's very few people who arejust like asking for change for
no reason.
They'll get on the bus and singand maybe people give them
change, or they will sellcandies or they'll open doors or
you know.
Everybody's really likehardworking and really willing
to work for their money.
And there are so many peoplethat have a cart and sell
(21:24):
churros on the street or haveany type of business, buying
Costco pies and selling them atmarkets, Like really they're
just very entrepreneurial andtheir system allows them to be
that way.
And the regime that I am in asa small business owner was like
the first year I paid 10% ofwhat I should have paid in taxes
(21:47):
and then each year it increases10% until 10 years in and then
I'm finally just like payingnormal taxes.
But I feel like that really wasa supportive move and is like
wanting their people to succeedand be able to profit and have a
good business, and I reallyappreciated that.
Dennis Day (22:07):
Good way to grow a small business.
Judy Gratton (22:09):
What would you say has been the most challenging
thing for you about making themove?
What was the biggest?
Ashley Werter (22:16):
how to climb over there was definitely a lot of
confusing situations.
That, when we first moved here,was how do we buy the foot
garbons with water?
Because the people were tellingus so we can only sell you the
water, not the bottle or justlittle things like that, and it
was just trying to figure outhow to work in all of their
(22:37):
systems and how they do thingsand definitely learning the
language as a a foreigner, Ivery often look like a tourist.
When I get into an Uber orsomething, or if I'm walking the
Malacombe, I look like atourist and everybody speaks to
me as if I am one, and then if Ican converse back with them,
(22:59):
it's always surprised, like, oh,your Spanish is so good and I'm
like it's not really that good.
But compared to all the touristswho come and don't speak
English, they're like oh, yourSpanish is so good and I'm like
it's not really that good.
But compared to all thetourists who come and don't
speak English, they're like, andthey're always just as Senora
Zamora in high school promisedme that they would be.
They are always extremelygrateful that I have learned
some language and can conversewith them, because typically the
(23:22):
exchange would be oh, I don'tspeak English, you have to speak
Spanish.
And then you speak Spanish andthey realize how terrible your
Spanish is and suddenly theyspeak English because they're
like oh, I don't speak very goodEnglish, but then their English
is way better than your Spanish, so they just help you out.
But there's a lot of Englishspeaking Mexicans and I feel
(23:42):
like it's definitely survivableif you don't learn the language,
but I feel like the gesture oflearning some and just how
helpful that is, it goes a longway.
Judy Gratton (23:54):
I've noticed that I've traveled in other places
where I don't speak the languageand just trying People
appreciate it.
Right, they do.
Ashley Werter (24:02):
Mexicans have a lot with their hands also, so
it's a little easier to getpoints across because they're
very demonstrative already.
And what are some of the thingsthat you've just thoroughly's
(24:38):
at school, he's safe means a lotto me to be prepared for
disasters that are notearthquakes and things like that
.
Like my son has earthquakedrills but he doesn't have to do
lockdown hide from an activeshooter drill because that's
just not something that happensin Mexico.
A lot of people, when I said Iwanted to move to Mexico, told
me hideous things oh, yourchild's going to be abducted or
(25:02):
molested or you're going to getshot or that cartel and
certainly there are cartelproblems.
But as a person living inSeattle you don't really worry
about the crimes happening inChicago, right, and in Seattle I
had a lot more run-ins withcrime than I do here in Mexico.
It's mostly just petty theft,like if you leave your wallet
(25:25):
you might not see it again, kindof things.
But definitely my number one isjust knowing that when I take
my son to school he's going tobe safe there and then just
honestly, just the people thatI've met and being able to do
what I love and be reallyaccepted by my community.
I try to be really active in it.
(25:46):
I volunteer and I am involvedin my son's school and I do a
lot of events around town andit's just so nice to be so
welcomed.
Dennis Day (25:57):
Sounds fabulous to me.
Judy Gratton (25:58):
Is there anything you really miss about the United
?
Ashley Werter (26:00):
States.
My family certainly my familyall lives in Washington with the
cousins getting it about.
It's definitely the people.
But there are a lot ofconveniences like oh man, I miss
bathtubs.
We don't have bathtubs.
It's extremely rare, I love thatthere's little things like that
I miss and those are also thelittle things that when my son
(26:22):
visits the US carpetingeverywhere and night light
switches and drinking fountainsthose are all things that make
him go wow, my God, this placeis amazing and there are little
comforts like that I miss forsure.
In like newer hotels or condos,you might get a bathtub.
We have like outdoor bathtubs Alot of people do like ice baths
(26:43):
here but it's like not plastic,but like a plastic-ish.
It's going to be in your housesome porcelain bathtub, unless
you have a new build and you putthat in your request because
it's just not a thing that theydo.
But the things that I gainedversus what I lost, it was
definitely worth it.
Dennis Day (27:03):
Are you renting now?
Ashley Werter (27:04):
I do, I rent.
Dennis Day (27:06):
So let's ask would there ever be the opportunity
for you to buy a home in Mexico?
Ashley Werter (27:10):
There's definitely lots of affordable
homes in Mexico for people ofall different price ranges.
And then there's just like someI don't I'm not familiar with
all of them, but there are somerequirements like foreigners
can't own property within acertain distance from the ocean.
They don't want ocean propertyto go to foreigners.
But that, when it comes to ifyou're going to build an entire
(27:33):
condo building, I'm sure thatwould be a little different, but
there's little rules like thatand there's definitely some
processes to go through.
But it's definitely options tobuy Mexico, absolutely to go
through.
Dennis Day (27:44):
But it's definitely options to buy Mexico,
absolutely.
You live in a tourist, let mesay a tourist venue, a city
that's based on tourism.
Do you feel like this is moreexpensive than other parts of
Mexico?
Have you traveled to maybe someplaces?
Ashley Werter (28:01):
Okay, my area is still pretty affordable.
It definitely has been going upevery year because it is
growing so fast.
We're getting a new cruise shipdock, we're getting a new
airport dock, we're gettingcondos popping up all over the
place.
It's really a growing city, butin other places in Mexico it's
(28:22):
absolutely much cheaper.
There's some mountain towns afew hours from here.
I just went there for my son'sbirthday and we spent the
weekend there and Even just alittle thing like the
convenience store we bought forthe three of us some snacks and
some drinks and what I ended uppaying, I was like, wow, that
would have gotten me one snackin Mexico.
(28:44):
That would be helpful to thoseof us who are not there but are
considering moving to Mexico.
It doesn't necessarily meantomorrow, but it means not today
.
(29:16):
Now it's something to get usedto, because I'm very
entrepreneurial and I'm alwaysdoing something and I'm like
ready to get it done now and Ihad to curb that a little bit.
So my washing machine needsrepaired and I've been waiting
for four tomorrows, and it iswhat it is To understand that
(29:36):
the flexibility of those peopledidn't follow through on their
commitments because theyprioritized something else, like
their family or whatever it was, and that I also had that
ability and that I could not beso structured and tight into my
routines and my ways and that Ican like okay, I don't have to
(29:58):
get this all done today, we cantake our time.
Like it is what it is.
Judy Gratton (30:03):
And your stress level.
To look at life that way.
Ashley Werter (30:07):
I'm still always hustling.
I have to, I have to make allof my own work, I have to tell
people when they need to hire me.
But as far as a case of life,absolutely, it's nice to be like
, yeah, you know what, and takeoff the evening and go watch the
sunset on the beach, and itdoesn't matter if I'm 20 minutes
(30:28):
late, they're not going tostart yet anyways, because I
have spent a lot of time showingup early, which to me is on
time and then it starts twohours later and it's just, it's
just more laid back, and so itwill force you to be more laid
back also.
Judy Gratton (30:44):
How about financial things like banking or
anything along those lines thatyou would you have any
information on or would carethink that?
Ashley Werter (30:54):
I'm not sure how it would work for a tourist to
have a bank account, but as atemporary and permanent resident
, I was able to make a bankaccount for myself easily.
I have my Mexican bank accountsthat I use for debit cards and
daily usings and paying people Iwork with or whatever it is.
And then I have my US bankaccounts and I just use WISE.
(31:17):
I use TransferWise to paymyself money and I can do it in
minutes.
You want to be a little techsavvy on that app, askbank to
come down here, because I didjust see somebody post in one of
the groups that like, oh, asusual, they did a wire transfer
and this time the money didn'tshow up and they never had a
(31:38):
problem with that before.
And we're asking for advice andI don't have to do any of that.
I can transfer money to myselfat any point no matter where I
am, it's wise.
There are lots of options.
There's probably 10 differentfinancial apps like that where
you can transfer money, but it'sextremely helpful and I
(31:58):
definitely would recommend beingup to date on that, because
there are mistakes and differentsystems.
Judy Gratton (32:08):
I know my brother had real issues getting money
from the States and I think itwas being wired.
I don't think he was looking atapps, the idea of using apps
putting it in an Americanaccount and then using an app to
transfer it into his Mexicanaccount.
Ashley Werter (32:27):
It takes a lot of time and stress.
Dennis Day (32:30):
The United States has really become almost a
cashless society.
If people ask me for money onthe street, I don't have cash in
my pocket anymore.
How is it?
Is it a cashless society inMexico, or is it still a mix of
both?
Ashley Werter (32:44):
It's definitely not a cashless society.
There are plenty of places thatdon't accept credit cards and
you can only pay in cash, evenif you're like, oh, this is a
big, popular restaurant, whydon't you take cards?
And I'm going to just assumethat that has some tax reasons,
but you definitely want to beable to have pesos here.
You can spend dollars, butyou're not going to get a good
(33:06):
conversion rate if you do spenddollars.
I get paid in dollars quiteoften from clients and I usually
just spend that at Costco,honestly, because they have a
really good conversion rate.
So if I just save my dollars,usually just spend that at
Costco, honestly, because theyhave a really good conversion
rate.
So if I just save my dollars,I'll spend them at Costco and
that works for me.
Office Depot also has a reallygood one, but for the most part
(33:27):
they're going to give youseveral dollars less for the
exchange rate than normal, evenif you go to an exchange, a bank
or something.
You can go to a bank to do itas just like a foreigner without
an account, definitely, but theexchange rate is not going to
be the official exchange ratebecause they're always in a.
A lot of people always askshould I bring dollars or pesos?
(33:49):
You should definitely bringpesos and you should have the
ability to get pesos whileyou're here, but the ATMs will
take your US cards and give youpesos.
You just have to make sure youchoose the right option and
you're picking a thousand pesosand not a thousand dollars kind
of thing, but because that's abig difference.
Dennis Day (34:08):
Ashley, this has been a wealth of information for
somebody who's contemplating,Even as a tourist.
I would think you're going tospend an extended time.
We really appreciate you comingon.
Have you got any final wordsfor anybody who's considering
coming to Mexico for an extendedor long-term stay?
Ashley Werter (34:31):
Yeah, I would just say have an open mind,
learn a few phrases in Spanishand have a good time, because we
have so much to offer in Mexicothe people and the food, and
the culture, and the beaches andthe mountains it's really you
can't not have a good time.
But you should also just notexpect it to be the same as the
United States, and then it'sgoing to be great.
Dennis Day (34:53):
Thank you so much, really appreciate this.
We're going to do part twoabout running a business in
Mexico, which is very differentthan just living there off, say,
social Security or something,and we really want to find that
information.
So that'll be.
Our next podcast is running abusiness in Mexico as a
(35:13):
foreigner.
Thanks for attending.
We wish you the best and thanksfor watching Getting your Edge
how to Downsize your Home andLife.
Thanks again, take care, bye.
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