Live Better South of the Border: Practical Advice for Living and Working in Mexico and Central America

I just bought this book, it's a newer edition ( third edition),I found it not only full of useful information but the organization and quality excellent. I now find myself dreaming of living in Mexico.

If there is a more enthusiastic and engaging publicist for the charms of living in that magic land south of the border, I don't know who it is. "Mexico Mike" Nelson has lived and worked in Mexico off and on for several decades, having operated an import and export business there in addition to driving and travelling over much of the country, and he brings that vast experience to this book.First, I should mention my own situation. I've visited Mexico several times in the past, and have driven across Baja once, but have no experience actually living there. I just started to think about living and retiring early down there. I am 51 years old, "semi-retired," and am living in a place in the U.S. where the cost of living is cheap, but am wondering if I can get more for my money in Mexico. If I can find the right situation there, it's possible I might never need to work again, although I'd be on a budget, although not a draconian one. So I was looking for a primer on Mexico to see if my dream of retiring there permanently was realistic and Mike's book seemed to fit the bill.That having been said, this book is geared more toward those who are interested in living in Mexico for an extended period of time but perhaps aren't quite ready to retire there yet. This includes international business people who have been transferred there, artists and writers wanting to live cheaply while they concentrate on that masterwork, and those just starting to investigate Mexico as a possible retirement option.He's not shy about discussing the negatives, however, and you will find much practical advice on finding a safe place to live, what the crime is like in a given area, and how to avoid risks and be safe in both the big city and in rural areas. That having been said, Mike is very clear that in most areas of Mexico you are actually safer than in big American cities, you just need to know what the differences are and act accordingly.He's also very clear about the costs of living in many areas of Mexico. First, the bad news. Gone are the days when you could live like a king on $300 a month. Most places in Mexico will cost you $900-$1200 a month to live, including rent, utilities, and food and entertainment, which means a decent but not huge or luxurious house or apartment in one of the preferred areas by Americans. If you are willing to live outside "Gringolandia," which means in a smaller town where most of your neighbors will be Mexicans rather than Americans, you can live for half that if you're willing to economize.If you're willing to rent a small house on the edge of a small town, which means you might be taking cold showers and cooking your meals on a dual-burner propane stove, you can live on $400 to $600 a month if you're careful about expenses. He found a place like this when he first moved to Mexico and loved it. He got a lot of writing done and there were very few distractions. On the other hand, he admits that now he would prefer not to live without quite so

I've travelled for years using the old Sanborn's drivingguidesand when I saw Mexico Mike had written this book, I ordered acopy... My book was I have friends who have made the move and told me they found his advice saved them some money when they looked for a place to live. For myself, I carefully read his advice to single women. END

This is a great book for anyone who is considering relocating to Mexico. Most other books are directed only at retirees. The information here is relevant to anyone of any age. The author briefly covers immigration issues such as getting your FM3 visa and car permits. He also discusses the issue of working. I was surprised to find out that work permits are not all that difficult to obtain. I have talked to expatriates who have confirmed this. There is an extensive list of cities with the pros and cons of choosing each. The bottom line is this book will help you decide if Mexico is right for you.