Keeping US bank cards while living in Argentina?

[wineguy999]

Perhaps you may eventually need to get an upgrade on your card credit limit? I needed one and I got an increase after I moved abroad. Besides, you should “never say never” because you just don’t know the strange turns of life and you may just have to go back at some point. This already happened to me, I had to return to a place where I had already sworn to never go back…. Hehehe.

I just went back to a place I said I would never return to, except in the winter - Houston - miserable. I'm planning to head to Spain soon, will be selling the apartment in BA eventually. At 67 years of age, my plans don't involve returning to USA, and quite frankly, they can burn it down as far as I'm concerned. Except for what I have coming in Social Security, I believe I'd happily surrender my US citizenship. TMI maybe, but now you know why I asked.

 

[wineguy999]

Last month, thanks to my credit score, I was able to get a $15,000 balance transfer from a credit card offering 12 month financing at 0%. I invite you to look for similar financing down here. You won't find anything close. It's very helpful to have that kind of affordable credit access for emergencies, small business start ups, or even buying a car.

Got my business plan for a wine & tapas bar in Spain - all I need is there.

 

[sergio]

I just went back to a place I said I would never return to, except in the winter - Houston - miserable. I'm planning to head to Spain soon, will be selling the apartment in BA eventually. At 67 years of age, my plans don't involve returning to USA, and quite frankly, they can burn it down as far as I'm concerned. Except for what I have coming in Social Security, I believe I'd happily surrender my US citizenship. TMI maybe, but now you know why I asked.

Why are you leaving Argentina? High COL?

 

[steveinbsas]

Why are you leaving Argentina? High COL?

Unless wineguy has found a smaller and cheaper location in Spain, if the "high COL" is the reason is the reason he would leave Argentina, why would he or anyone else set their sights on any city in Spain that might be comparable to Buenos Aires?

Especially if the following is accurate:

Cost of Living in Buenos Aires is 18.9% lower than in Madrid (excluding rent)

Cost of Living Including Rent in Buenos Aires is 31.6% lower than in Madrid

Rent Prices in Buenos Aires are 56.8% lower than in Madrid

Restaurant Prices in Buenos Aires are 2.4% lower than in Madrid

Groceries Prices in Buenos Aires are 15.4% lower than in Madrid

Local Purchasing Power in Buenos Aires is 56.4% lower than in Madrid

You would need around 3,285.0€ (3,850.2$) in Buenos Aires to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 4,800.0€ in Madrid (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Cost of Living Plus Rent Index to compare the cost of living and assume net earnings (after income tax).

Source: numbeo.com

 

[LuckyLuke]

Got my business plan for a wine & tapas bar in Spain - all I need is there.

Sounds like a wonderful idea!

 

[steveinbsas]

Regarding the original topic of this thread, I just want to add the fact that I have not had physical possession of the last two debit cards and never asked my sister-in-law to send them to me in Argentina. I only use the US bank account to recieve my monthly Social Security benefits and to transfer those funds to my Argentine bank account via Western Union. My Santander Rio account serves me very well here.

 

[wineguy999]

Why are you leaving Argentina? High COL?

More due to the lack of stability and capriciousness of God-knows-what next administration.

 

[wineguy999]

Unless wineguy has found a smaller and cheaper location in Spain, if the "high COL" is the reason is the reason he would leave Argentina, why would he or anyone else set their sights on any city in Spain that might be comparable to Buenos Aires?

Especially if the following is accurate:

Cost of Living in Buenos Aires is 18.9% lower than in Madrid (excluding rent)

Cost of Living Including Rent in Buenos Aires is 31.6% lower than in Madrid

Rent Prices in Buenos Aires are 56.8% lower than in Madrid

Restaurant Prices in Buenos Aires are 2.4% lower than in Madrid

Groceries Prices in Buenos Aires are 15.4% lower than in Madrid

Local Purchasing Power in Buenos Aires is 56.4% lower than in Madrid

You would need around 3,285.0€ (3,850.2$) in Buenos Aires to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 4,800.0€ in Madrid (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Cost of Living Plus Rent Index to compare the cost of living and assume net earnings (after income tax).

Source: numbeo.com

As noted, more stability is a good thing to have. It probably won't be Madrid, but even there is acceptable for us (after NorCal, everywhere is cheap). But factor into the COL things like health insurance ($800 annually for me) and the scales start to tip. Another huge factor is Spain's aggressive support of small business, from the fed all the way down to the city level - lots of financial support available.

 

[Silvie]

More due to the lack of stability and capriciousness of God-knows-what next administration.

It’s been like this since I was born, nothing new….
By the way, I could live on sangria and tapas. We should come to visit you someday

 

[RichardAlem]

I took Lucky Luke's advice and subscribed to Traveling Mailbox. It was a great decision. They will open and scan mail, and deposit checks if necessary. They will forward all bank cards here, and have done so. The GUI is easy to follow. No complaints. Much better than the UPS store which, instead of sending a renewed divers license to Armenia, Colombia by UPS, sent it to the country of Armenia where it is probably being used as illicit identification. I am quite satisfied with Traveling Mailbox. Thanks Luke.