How's everyone hanging in there with the cost of living these days?

[daveholman]

We also discussed the consideration, some time back, that with high inflation, people preferred to spend their Peso income as soon as possible, rather than watch it shrink in their bank accounts. Difficult to say if it's the same now.

I looked in to putting some cash in to a savings account in Argentina when I move. But right now, with several recent reductions, interest rates are the same as the projected inflation rate for next year. So, no point in that right now.
Had I invested a year ago, I would have had a significant return today.

 

[on the brink]

Ah, hindsight....!

A USA realtor once told me that the best time to buy a house always is "yesterday".

 

[Rich One]

I just returned from the casino in Palermo. It was PACKED. And that's after many machines there were recently increased to A$2 with a minimum bet of 100 pesos. Most don't play minimum but more. That, coupled with the outdoor festival of asado and empanadas (which had prices high enough that even made me take notice) on the casino property, would make many wonder what's with all the doom and gloom.

In Palermo and Recoleta lives a 10 % ot total population 40,000 that are rich and will frequent expensive spots Whatsoever..! Enough to fill up most spots.

 

[LuckyLuke]

In the case of soy they will store their production in silo bolsas until a more attractive FX/tax regime emerges and will substitute future soy plantings for crops that they can sell in to the domestic market. Keep in mind that many farm exports also pay a substantial "retenciones" export tax (soy 33%, corn and wheat 12%, beef 9%, sunflower seed oil 7%). This percentage comes off the USD value of exported product.

Excellent points. From what I read, soy can be stored for up to 2 years at a temperature of 41–46°F, were talking large refrigeration costs. An outside silo has about 6 months before mold damages the soybeans. It doesn't seem like they can wait that long for a new regime.

I would agree with you that selling domestically would give the sector more leverage relief from export taxes, and argentines could certainly use some lower prices on their produce.

 

[devilclam]

Just curious: where is the spare located in your Toyota? Outside hanging from the back door or below? My 4Runner has the latter, and I have just realized it would be very easy to steal.

I moved to Buenos Aires from Detroit, and I can't help but think, why steal just the spare tire when you can put the car on blocks and steal four more?! And maybe the catalytic converter too while you're at it!

What these petty criminals lack is a growth mindset

 

[carride]

Excellent points. From what I read, soy can be stored for up to 2 years at a temperature of 41–46°F, were talking large refrigeration costs. An outside silo has about 6 months before mold damages the soybeans. It doesn't seem like they can wait that long for a new regime.

I would agree with you that selling domestically would give the sector more leverage relief from export taxes, and argentines could certainly use some lower prices on their produce.

I had always read the lower the humidity the longer they can store. They compare the 8% vs 10%. I guess that is still not like the hardshell 0% humidity we buy at the store.

I remember in 2020 when vandalism of the silo bags was blamed on La Cámpora fanatics who were angry at farmers for not selling.

http://web.archive.org/web/20201120120453/www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-20/night-time-raiders-are-destroying-100-000-soy-bags-in-argentina

2020:

“What the Argentine farmer produces is his property and his decision to sell the grain is a free and sovereign decision that must be made according to the needs and expectations,” CRA said.

Argentine farmers accuse Kirchnerite goons of vandalizing silo bags

Argentine farmer association CRA has expressed its concern over a recent wave of vandalism on silo bags that store grain and oilseeds on-farm.

en.mercopress.com

 

[Cordoba]

Expats can "opt out" of this if desired, and, as no medical services performed outside of the USA are covered by Medicare, most US expats do not have this deduction from their monthly benefit.

I was looking at the numbers and it seems like there would be about a 10-year breakeven if you would ever return the the USA and opt back in with the 10% penalty per year. So if you are gone 1 year or 20 years it would still take an extra 10 years of the extra penalty payments to be negative on what you saved by opting out.

Unless there is a definite return to the US or part year living situation I can't see much of a benefit to keeping it.

 

[steveinbsas]

I'm giving this thread a bump, hoping it will provide the new member known as "Candz" with useful information.

In mid-November of 2024, my monthly COL was just over $400USD (up from $165USD in January of 2024).

By the end of the year, my monthly COL was just under $500USD.

The only reason it isn't significantly higher now is that I switched from eating roast beef to eating chicken on a daily basis in January.

I think anyone considering moving to Argentina for work should seriously consider waiting for prices here to stabalize before deciding to make the move, unless they have a rock solid guarantee that their income will increase at least at the same rate as their COL.

 

[Che1990]

I'm giving this thread a bump, hoping it will provide the new member known as "Candz" with useful information.

In mid-November of 2024, my monthly COL was just over $400USD (up from $165USD in January of 2024).

By the end of the year, my monthly COL was just under $500USD.

The only reason it isn't significantly higher now is that I switched from eating roast beef to eating chicken on a daily basis in January.

I think anyone considering moving to Argentina for work should seriously consider waiting for prices here to stabalize before deciding to make the move, unless they have a rock solid guarantee that their income will increase at least at the same rate as their COL.

The situation is so utterly ridiculous right now. How was the inflation rate only 2.2% in February? How do prices keep going up when the dollar stays the same?

I was expecting a correction of prices, but this is utterly ridiculous.

We have our annual winter exodus to Colombia booked and are considering bringing the dates forward and staying put there a while until things calms down - or Milei finally stops lying to the nation and devalues to the $1800/2000 the peso is really worth.

Fortunately rent and services are still reasonably cheap, but anything else like food, furniture and clothes is unreasonably priced for the low quality it is.

And worst of all is the uncertainty that things keep on going up.

 

[Redpossum]

We have our annual winter exodus to Colombia booked and are considering bringing the dates forward and staying put there a while until things calms down - or Milei finally stops lying to the nation and devalues to the $1800/2000 the peso is really worth.

Even that may be somewhat over-optimistic. I would suggest 2500-3000 as being more realistic.