how people live?

[trennod]

They are still doing the same here, in CF, Steve. Last Sunday I was at a Kiosco in Las Heras, and after paying with a 5 for a $4.50 bottle of water was given lollies instead of the 50 centavos. This happens frequently.

I guess it has improved but still has a fair way to go.

 

[chris]

It is indeed a myth that Argentines are not materialistic. Fashion is very important and lots of people spend a lot ln clothes, not just upper middle class people. Status and image are super important in BA and people work hard to keep up or outdo others. A lmited economy holds them back ... not sone sort of superior state of humanity or whatever you want to call it.

 

[satoko]

I've been wondering ... things made in ARG is expensive for poor quality, we pay double or triple for a product, but the salary of employee's of the company who make the products are half of other countries. Where the money goes?

I feel like I am super stupid who doesn't even understand simple math.

+ Someone told me that everything is so expensive, but still buying an apartment in BsAs is a good opportunity, is it?

 

[steveinbsas]

Someone told me that everything is so expensive, but still buying an apartment in BsAs is a good opportunity, is it?

That is a very good (and not at all stupid) question.

Just today there was a new thread about someone (a non-resident) who has to pay 14% tax on the sale of an apartment he has owned for five years, thereby "wiping out" all of his profit...though he probably saved a lot of money in those five years by not paying rent.

Still, I find it hard to believe that the apartment only increased in value by less than 15% in five years.

Something is wrong with this picture, Mr. DeMille.

 

[Napoleon]

Hi, I am kind of new in Buenos Aires, and a little curious how people [live].

To quote John Rambo in "First Blood", when Col. Trautman asked him how will he live-

"Day by day."

 

[steveinbsas]

To quote John Rambo in "First Blood", when Col. Trautman asked him how will he live-

"Day by day."

And if your'e out in the streets: "Minute by Minute."

(as sung by the Doobie Brothers...)

 

[alpac]

Yes! All of the things people in industrialised countries don't have time to care about because they are either working or shopping for things they really don't need: spending time with families and friends, enjoying an asado and a Sunday with the people you love most, etc. Oh, and it is all for free.

Jingoism, pure and simple. Get off your high horse, Che. Your defense of the supposedly highminded Argen-tiny lifestyle is consistent with the well earned reputation that Argen-tinys have for arrogance. Admit it, Che. The locals are not living well in comparison to industrialized nations because AR economic policy since not long after the end of WWII has been harmful to the well being of the great majority of its citizenry.

There you are, another Argentina 'expert' basing his observations on how people in Las Cañitas, Alto Palermo, etc live.

More sour grapes. Argen-tinys are no more highminded than any other nationality. Any emphasis on lofty, non-material values results from the relative inability to access things of a material nature (e.g. owned apts for young marrieds). Despite the relative difficulty in securing things material, one doesn't have to be a long time resident to observe the obsession with outward appearances manifested by the locals, especially the youth.

I'm well Next time hold the condescension please.

Asking the typical Argentiny (Porteno, at least) to hold the condescension is akin to asking the sun to rise in the west and set in the east. I suspect it comes from comparing themselves to Bolivianos, Paraguayanos, etc.

... but I can assure you that the many Argentines I know ...are not even nearly as obsessed as the average Northamerican or European. If you are unhappy about other things in the country, fine, but your statement does not make any sense.

Obsessed with what...you don't specify. Materiality, appearances, gadgets... you are kidding, right.

And most of my Arg friends say that you have to spend now , cos if you have surplus cash in the bank , you will lose 25% a year as inflation takes bite...
So it makes sense to spend.

This has been true for a long time.

 

[JoeGillis]

Bravo, alpac! I'm with you all the way here. There's one word that continuously comes to mind when thinking about or speaking of Argentina: Hubris.

 

[YanquiGallego]

The Argy spending mentality kind of reminds me of those fashionista women in NYC who just HAVE to HAVE that Gucci purse even if it means eating canned soups for the rest of the month because the purchase wiped them out.

Me I am by no means cheap, but do start to get nervous when my checking account balance falls below a certain amount.

My ex partner even had to have some sort of overdraft line on his account where the bank would give him almost like a payday loan for like 800 pesos to get by till the first of the month because he´d be wiped out around the 15th.

 

[citygirl]

I'm pretty sure Amagro is not Argentine.

Porteños are without question materialistic. Outside of Cap Fed, I find it less so but it's hardly this romantic fantasy of the gaucho living off the land and only valuing his family, friends and horse (not necessarily in that order)

Human nature being what it is, most people like toys - whatever it is that pleases them particularly - clothes, purses, cars, sporting goods, Ipod, a cellphone, etc, etc. That is true across the world and Argentina is certainly no exception to that.