And the countdown begins…
After the Labor Day holiday weekend, we’re all sick and tired of the heat and humidity and the October countdown starts. Next month will bring us cooler temperatures and a full events calendar. Hopefully Mother Nature will be kind to us this year and break our temperature the first part of October…woohoo! Peñasco will be packed this Labor Day so drive carefully and have lots of fun. The border is still open until 10PM on Friday(s), but no word yet as to whether or not the Friday border hours will be extended past the current October end date. When we get something official, we’ll let you know.
I meant to tell y’all this a while ago and forgot ☹ If you are importing items into Mexico at our border, you can no longer pay cash at the bank. They only accept credit and debit cards. I had heard this, but didn’t stop to verify until I imported a television I had purchased last Christmas. Truth was told to me…Cash is no longer accepted…so make sure you have a debit or credit card. I have to say that I was super pleased with the streamlined importation process. I used to import a lot back in the day and sometimes it was such a hassle, not to mention the long wait when you get stuck behind a few “segunda” trucks – ugh…IYKYK These days Peñasco has just about everything I need and want, and I make so many trips north that what little I do bring down is always under my limit. Anyhoo, the flow of traffic is clearly marked with arrows, so when you pass the fence and pull to the left, you just follow the arrows and park behind the last vehicle and wait for the officer to come and inspect your load. There was one dude in front of me with an SUV packed to the hilt and his importation was as easy as mine. After he was taken care of, the officer came to my vehicle. I showed him my printed receipt, the TV, and he calculated the tax and showed me what I would be paying. I went to the window outside, and he went inside to process my payment and print my receipt and then I was on my way. There are signs all around that say they do not accept cash, and everything is self-explanatory in English. This minor adjustment to the importation process is wonderful. (Remember to have printed receipts as you’re not allowed to use your phone at the border.)
I recently learned from a little birdie that our local Walmart has very good prices on TVs and while they are a little higher than the deals you may find in the U.S., the time and importation savings are probably worth it in the long run. Same goes with appliances and furniture – between our furniture stores, the big box stores and even the segundas – you can surely find whatever you need. I always opt for the least amount of hassle and had my new TV not been collecting dust for 8 months, I would’ve probably browsed Walmart and had them deliver me one. Oh, and the same little birdie told me that Walmart is NO LONGER accepting U.S. dollars. I haven’t shopped at Walmart so cannot say from first-hand experience, but this little birdie is very reliable. I don’t know if it’s a temporary or permanent thing and, of course, it’s subject to change at any time. One might expect Sam’s Club and Bodega to follow suit since they are all in the same corporate family, but we shall see. So just be prepared and carry pesos and dollars and a credit and debit card so you cover all bases. Personally, I would prefer everything to be in the national currency, but it’s obviously advantageous for businesses to accept dollars since we are a tourist town so close to the U.S. border. and options are always good 😊 Check your local bank and compare their exchange rate with our local casa de cambios and see if you want to exchange your money before you come down or while you’re here. A lot of people use the local ATM machines too.
Speaking of money…yikes, bank issues for the past few months. Not for me, but for many I know. I have a personal (peso) account at Intercam and have had zero problems. My money is still there, my debit card is still working, and I’m not worried as banks are insured just like in the U.S.. If you had a dollar account, and didn’t move your money to another bank, it would be converted to pesos so that had some scrambling to open accounts at other banks, which came with a whole other set of issues. It was a little bit messy, but I think everything has calmed down now. Most of the time living in Mexico is easy peasy and very calm and relaxed, but every now and then someone kicks the hornet’s nest. It’s not the first time and won’t be the last either, but life is definitely better here at the beach! Hope you all are considering investing in Mexico – some deals are to be had right now so it’s a good time to come down and take a looksee.
Happy September…See you at the beach!
