Banking Credit Card real-world rate "MEP" transaction repo (Dec2023)

[StatusNomadicus]

agreed, i think the tech/security used is pretty outdated. this is one of the reasons Blockchain technology is taking over more and more areas, because it's an un-hackable chain of digital signatures. today's real-world MEP:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1754984024475611384

just got my 1-liter Quilmes IPA beers filled at Coto in Belgrano: 1,432.20 Pesos ($1.24 USD with MasterCard credit card). let's compare that to cheap craft beer in the USA, at Costco. it's $19.99 USD for a 24-pack of 12-oz beer cans. you can't get cheaper than this, unless you drinking expired Bud Light or ordering half or full kegs! but for normal people, a $1 USD beer can is amazing. 75 cents would be life-changing, when i was living in the southwest and midwest in the past 2 years.

one liter = 33.8 ounces, so there are 2.8 beer cans in each liter of Quilmes here in BsAs.

Costco price, assuming a conservative 7% sales tax, would be $21.38 USD per pack, or 89 cents per beer, or 7.4 cents per ounce (USA).

BsAs cost today, 06Feb2024? Coto in Belgrano 1-liter was $1.24 USD, no tax, divided by 33.8 ounces = 3.7 cents per ounce (Argentina).

not too shabby! sticks pretty well with the general guidance that life is at least half the cost of the average USA, in Buenos Aires (and i hear even more affordable outside of CABA). next month i'll be researching Cordoba for you guys. let me know if you have any requests : )

 

[Jenn]

agreed, i think the tech/security used is pretty outdated. this is one of the reasons Blockchain technology is taking over more and more areas, because it's an un-hackable chain of digital signatures. today's real-world MEP:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1754984024475611384

just got my 1-liter Quilmes IPA beers filled at Coto in Belgrano: 1,432.20 Pesos ($1.24 USD with MasterCard credit card). let's compare that to cheap craft beer in the USA, at Costco. it's $19.99 USD for a 24-pack of 12-oz beer cans. you can't get cheaper than this, unless you drinking expired Bud Light or ordering half or full kegs! but for normal people, a $1 USD beer can is amazing. 75 cents would be life-changing, when i was living in the southwest and midwest in the past 2 years.

one liter = 33.8 ounces, so there are 2.8 beer cans in each liter of Quilmes here in BsAs.

Costco price, assuming a conservative 7% sales tax, would be $21.38 USD per pack, or 89 cents per beer, or 7.4 cents per ounce (USA).

BsAs cost today, 06Feb2024? Coto in Belgrano 1-liter was $1.24 USD, no tax, divided by 33.8 ounces = 3.7 cents per ounce (Argentina).

not too shabby! sticks pretty well with the general guidance that life is at least half the cost of the average USA, in Buenos Aires (and i hear even more affordable outside of CABA). next month i'll be researching Cordoba for you guys. let me know if you have any requests : )

Thank you! If you go to Cordoba please let me know how the dog poop situation is there. I heard it's much more affordable vs. BA. Look forward to your report!

 

[Ted89]

agreed, i think the tech/security used is pretty outdated. this is one of the reasons Blockchain technology is taking over more and more areas, because it's an un-hackable chain of digital signatures. today's real-world MEP:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1754984024475611384

just got my 1-liter Quilmes IPA beers filled at Coto in Belgrano: 1,432.20 Pesos ($1.24 USD with MasterCard credit card). let's compare that to cheap craft beer in the USA, at Costco. it's $19.99 USD for a 24-pack of 12-oz beer cans. you can't get cheaper than this, unless you drinking expired Bud Light or ordering half or full kegs! but for normal people, a $1 USD beer can is amazing. 75 cents would be life-changing, when i was living in the southwest and midwest in the past 2 years.

one liter = 33.8 ounces, so there are 2.8 beer cans in each liter of Quilmes here in BsAs.

Costco price, assuming a conservative 7% sales tax, would be $21.38 USD per pack, or 89 cents per beer, or 7.4 cents per ounce (USA).

BsAs cost today, 06Feb2024? Coto in Belgrano 1-liter was $1.24 USD, no tax, divided by 33.8 ounces = 3.7 cents per ounce (Argentina).

not too shabby! sticks pretty well with the general guidance that life is at least half the cost of the average USA, in Buenos Aires (and i hear even more affordable outside of CABA). next month i'll be researching Cordoba for you guys. let me know if you have any requests : )

That is some pretty cheap beer! Thanks for the price data points.

 

[StatusNomadicus]

the dog poop situation

bruh. i always regret un-Muting you. please stop asking me about dog poop. i've responded wayyyyyy too many times about your obsession.

fun fact for everyone else here who isn't a fucking weirdo like her: Jenn has posted the phrase "dog poop" 24 times since she joined this forum 24 days ago. what a psycho!

 

[Jenn]

bruh. i always regret un-Muting you. please stop asking me about dog poop. i've responded wayyyyyy too many times about your obsession.

fun fact for everyone else here who isn't a fucking weirdo like her: Jenn has posted the phrase "dog poop" 24 times since she joined this forum 24 days ago. what a psycho!

I'm not sure why you would ignore me. I have valid concerns. You post daily about MEP and I don't say anything. I ask about dog poop (25 times now I know!) to not only help me but I must be helping many people that worry about it. I guess you can go back to ignoring me. But if you DO manage to go to Cordoba if you can please post about dog poop situation. Thanks!

 

[Avocado]

bruh. i always regret un-Muting you. please stop asking me about dog poop. i've responded wayyyyyy too many times about your obsession.

fun fact for everyone else here who isn't a fucking weirdo like her: Jenn has posted the phrase "dog poop" 24 times since she joined this forum 24 days ago. what a psycho!

I never thought I would agree with Status. Please stop asking about it. The situation is not that bad.

 

[FuturoBA]

agreed, i think the tech/security used is pretty outdated. this is one of the reasons Blockchain technology is taking over more and more areas, because it's an un-hackable chain of digital signatures. today's real-world MEP:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1754984024475611384

just got my 1-liter Quilmes IPA beers filled at Coto in Belgrano: 1,432.20 Pesos ($1.24 USD with MasterCard credit card). let's compare that to cheap craft beer in the USA, at Costco. it's $19.99 USD for a 24-pack of 12-oz beer cans. you can't get cheaper than this, unless you drinking expired Bud Light or ordering half or full kegs! but for normal people, a $1 USD beer can is amazing. 75 cents would be life-changing, when i was living in the southwest and midwest in the past 2 years.

one liter = 33.8 ounces, so there are 2.8 beer cans in each liter of Quilmes here in BsAs.

Costco price, assuming a conservative 7% sales tax, would be $21.38 USD per pack, or 89 cents per beer, or 7.4 cents per ounce (USA).

BsAs cost today, 06Feb2024? Coto in Belgrano 1-liter was $1.24 USD, no tax, divided by 33.8 ounces = 3.7 cents per ounce (Argentina).

not too shabby! sticks pretty well with the general guidance that life is at least half the cost of the average USA, in Buenos Aires (and i hear even more affordable outside of CABA). next month i'll be researching Cordoba for you guys. let me know if you have any requests : )

Great updates, especially perspective of equal comparisons, ounce to ounces, coming in half as much.

What's your average spending for a week and/or month here?

 

[Spend Thrift]

agreed, i think the tech/security used is pretty outdated. this is one of the reasons Blockchain technology is taking over more and more areas, because it's an un-hackable chain of digital signatures. today's real-world MEP:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1754984024475611384

just got my 1-liter Quilmes IPA beers filled at Coto in Belgrano: 1,432.20 Pesos ($1.24 USD with MasterCard credit card). let's compare that to cheap craft beer in the USA, at Costco. it's $19.99 USD for a 24-pack of 12-oz beer cans. you can't get cheaper than this, unless you drinking expired Bud Light or ordering half or full kegs! but for normal people, a $1 USD beer can is amazing. 75 cents would be life-changing, when i was living in the southwest and midwest in the past 2 years.

one liter = 33.8 ounces, so there are 2.8 beer cans in each liter of Quilmes here in BsAs.

Costco price, assuming a conservative 7% sales tax, would be $21.38 USD per pack, or 89 cents per beer, or 7.4 cents per ounce (USA).

BsAs cost today, 06Feb2024? Coto in Belgrano 1-liter was $1.24 USD, no tax, divided by 33.8 ounces = 3.7 cents per ounce (Argentina).

not too shabby! sticks pretty well with the general guidance that life is at least half the cost of the average USA, in Buenos Aires (and i hear even more affordable outside of CABA). next month i'll be researching Cordoba for you guys. let me know if you have any requests : )

Interesting to see price comparisons. Thanks for providing.

Great updates, especially perspective of equal comparisons, ounce to ounces, coming in half as much.

What's your average spending for a week and/or month here?

I think BA is a city you can ask 10 expats and get totally different answers and the 2 things that determine the budget for the most part is mostly how much you spend on Rent and on food. Also transportation can add up. I have a bad knee so I am in Ubers 4 or 5 times a day. I spend about $10 USD to sometimes $15 USD a day on Uber.

Rent is my #1 expense and I have not locked in a long term lease yet. Came close a few times but the owner has changed the deal on me a few times so I didn't feel comfortable doing long term lease. I am spending about $1,900 US a month on rent, dining out adds up another $1,500 or so a month and maybe more if I am going on dates. I spent over $500 US alone at Don Julio a few weeks ago! But without dates about that. I am spending about $4,000 US per month all included with groceries and transportation. I only take taxis and Ubers.

 

[Larry]

Interesting to see price comparisons. Thanks for providing.


I think BA is a city you can ask 10 expats and get totally different answers and the 2 things that determine the budget for the most part is mostly how much you spend on Rent and on food. Also transportation can add up. I have a bad knee so I am in Ubers 4 or 5 times a day. I spend about $10 USD to sometimes $15 USD a day on Uber.

Rent is my #1 expense and I have not locked in a long term lease yet. Came close a few times but the owner has changed the deal on me a few times so I didn't feel comfortable doing long term lease. I am spending about $1,900 US a month on rent, dining out adds up another $1,500 or so a month and maybe more if I am going on dates. I spent over $500 US alone at Don Julio a few weeks ago! But without dates about that. I am spending about $4,000 US per month all included with groceries and transportation. I only take taxis and Ubers.

This is a lot to spend on food. You can do it cheaper going to where the locals eat. I agree about rent being the biggest factor. Fortunately I bought a place already and don't have to worry about rent but prices are going up on everything.

 

[import export]

Interesting to see price comparisons. Thanks for providing.


I think BA is a city you can ask 10 expats and get totally different answers and the 2 things that determine the budget for the most part is mostly how much you spend on Rent and on food. Also transportation can add up. I have a bad knee so I am in Ubers 4 or 5 times a day. I spend about $10 USD to sometimes $15 USD a day on Uber.

Rent is my #1 expense and I have not locked in a long term lease yet. Came close a few times but the owner has changed the deal on me a few times so I didn't feel comfortable doing long term lease. I am spending about $1,900 US a month on rent, dining out adds up another $1,500 or so a month and maybe more if I am going on dates. I spent over $500 US alone at Don Julio a few weeks ago! But without dates about that. I am spending about $4,000 US per month all included with groceries and transportation. I only take taxis and Ubers.

This is about what I spend as well. But that includes going out to the bars, my cellphone plan and all monthly expenses. Usually spend between $3,500 USD and $4,000 USD per month here.

 

[StatusNomadicus]

I'm not sure why you would ignore me

i hit "Ignore" on you, because your entire existence here is:

1. no experience traveling outside of your tiny USA town.
2. posting 'i heard BsAs was cheap!'
3. then, 'oh no, there is dog poop on the ground in a city of 13 million people! this would be a deal-breaker!'
4. asking the same questions, over and over, despite me filming videos, addressing it in paragraphs of text, calling you out, telling you that you're a moron and just need to spend a week in your nearest city where you live (over 100k population or more) to see that all of these things aren't significant.
5. you ignore everything we say, and repeat steps 1-4.

thus, like i said in other threads, you're a dumbass and have no business in an Expats forum. you should post less, read more, and stop being such a psycho. you've insulated yourself from the real world this long, that you're quite creepy, and add no value here. try something else; go live life, away from this forum. or, keep posting on the old one, because maybe they won't mind your stupid sh*t as much. but your cringe posts were getting old 2 weeks ago, and here we are doing it again, and i'm sure you'll ignore everything i say...once again. any questions? people who have lived in 50 countries as Expats for 2 decades are telling you that the dog poop in BsAs isn't a big deal. WTF is your problem?

average spending for a week and/or month here?

i have a 90#/40kg dog, and i live with my girlfriend, but i'm frugal and like a good deal! so, experiences may vary. i don't drink hard alcohol (wine 1 bottle a week, and 1-liter of beer most nights from the grocery store, after the gym), and i'm around 40 so i don't waste hundreds of dollars at clubs/etc. - although i do enjoy the craft beer scene, and eating at new restaurants (not touristy ones)

not sure if you saw my grocery list (2 posts) earlier, @FuturoBA but here it is if not:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1746602223516164333

but, rough math in USD with a credit card monthly: rent $800 airbnb, $300 grocery store/butcher (my dog eats a kilo of raw meat daily), $450 restaurants/breweries, $0 cost to run/walk around Belgrano if you aren't fat, $40 Megatlon gym pass for all locations (Nunez has a lap pool), $5 SIM card and Movistar 6GB data plan, $50 each month in a new Airbnb buying a kettle or something missing...maybe something like $1,650/month living normally like a tourist/expat and eating out daily and feeding my dog and lady. if i was solo and being frugal and cooking more than twice a week, i'm sure $1,000/month would be doable. but i make great money on crypto, and i'm scouting-out Argentina and want to see as much as i can. that being said, i find the wasteful and decadent lifestyle of the wealthy people here to be very unappealing, so i don't participate in that. nor do i have the expenses of a single guy trying to get laid all the time, which surely would cost a lot of money every month (at least when i was single in the USA on Tinder, it did).

I think BA is a city you can ask 10 expats and get totally different answers and the 2 things that determine the budget for the most part is mostly how much you spend on Rent and on food

and if you insist on a King mattress and a huge penthouse that costs $2,500/month instead of less than $800

I am in Ubers 4 or 5 times a day. I spend about $10 USD to sometimes $15 USD a day on Uber.

oh, sh*t! i leave the house (walking 20 mins?) once per day to go to the gym and get groceries/fill my 1-liter beer bottle at Jumbo/Disco. then if i'm eating out, i walk nearby (Chinatown is only 16 mins away) and eat, then walk back. i don't count my steps on my phone, to give full data. but for those planning to come to Buenos Aires, if you can walk a little, you can save $300/month right away on Uber! obviously if you have knee issues work on those and don't hurt yourself, but i commented on another thread how i find it so strange people so they want to immerse themselves in a culture, they spend an hour a day in Ubers

This is a lot to spend on food

some people are foodies and don't mind. when the USA is $20 per meal per person, 2 meals a day, that's already $1,200 for regular-people meals, and @Spend Thrift is likely going to fancy places and buying meals for his dates, so that's obviously not going to be the same as a Digital Nomad type of Expat in their 20s-30s who is cooking and living "the grind" lifestyle.

prices are going up on everything.

larry, i hate you as much as i despise jenn. wtf is your problem with the Fear Porn about prices? prices in USD aren't really changing. this has been debunked a ton already on this new forum. why are you such a piece of sh*t liar that keeps spreading this? what's the ulterior motive? don't want more UK/USA/Canada folks coming here to live a better life?

i really really dislike liars and people who intentionally mislead others, if you haven't noticed. again, @Larry - prove prices are going up relative to USD, differently than the situation all of 2023. i'll wait here. if you can't...shut the f*ck up and stop wasting everyone's time here. it's detrimental to the Expat community.

Usually spend between $3,500 USD and $4,000 USD per month here.

living like a king no doubt! i remember when i lived in Thailand 3 months i was only spending like 1,000 USD/month and was loving life (regular existence, training martial arts and staying in one town). i met Brits/USA folks partying there for a month at a time on summer break/etc. and they were spending a similar amount as you, and these were prices around ten years ago! i was baffled at first by the 3-4k spends, but then i saw their housing, lifestyle, etc.

for them, it was like a resort stay. of course in Sandals Jamaica you're not getting a 'good deal' but you're getting to live a life you want. in Thailand i had a tiny studio on top of a restaurant, and i was very happy and living within my means long-term, but those Brits had huge penthouses, had a new Thai girl (or girls) over every night, ate at the fanciest restaurants, took expensive tours, etc.

it was a lifestyle that would require making $500,000 USD salary, but they did it as dudes only making $80,000 USD or so, because it was temporary and was their break from the real world.

 

[FuturoBA]

but, rough math in USD with a credit card monthly: rent $800 airbnb, $300 grocery store/butcher (my dog eats a kilo of raw meat daily), $450 restaurants/breweries, $0 cost to run/walk around Belgrano if you aren't fat, $40 Megatlon gym pass for all locations (Nunez has a lap pool), $5 SIM card and Movistar 6GB data plan, $50 each month in a new Airbnb buying a kettle or something missing...maybe something like $1,650/month living normally like a tourist/expat and eating out daily and feeding my dog and lady. if i was solo and being frugal and cooking more than twice a week, i'm sure $1,000/month would be doable. but i make great money on crypto, and i'm scouting-out Argentina and want to see as much as i can. that being said, i find the wasteful and decadent lifestyle of the wealthy people here to be very unappealing, so i don't participate in that. nor do i have the expenses of a single guy trying to get laid all the time, which surely would cost a lot of money every month (at least when i was single in the USA on Tinder, it did).

Likewise I live on the lean/modest side. Biggest expense would be location, and as long as things work, size nor newest things need not apply. I'm comfortable using a hammock or one of those roll up mattresses or hell even my couch. Did it for years, despite making ok money. Casual, local restaurants are my go to, and with youtube never been easier to learn how to cook.

I have trouble spending $4k here in the US and that was when I was making regular outings to the strip clubs and for those spending that in BA more power to yall.

 

[StatusNomadicus]

spending $4k here in the US

just depends where, i guess, because cheap life in NYC or SanFran would be $3,000+ alone in rent and the cheapest food!

but in the Midwest etc. for sure with $1,200 rent and affordable eating/prices, 4k is a ton. and in BsAs it would go twice as far. i forget if you wrote when your "futuro" is for CABA - you coming this year? first time? lemme know if you need some specific info...got about 3 weeks left in Belgrano. meeting with Agustin Beaudean tonight to talk prices on residencies/citizenships, so standby @Canada Goose and whoever else is planning to do the same

also, unrelated but i just saw this part:

You post daily about MEP and I don't say anything.

i really wonder if you have mental delays. i'd feel bad if so, but wow you're just so stunningly stupid. this is a thread for the actual MEP rate. why are you here, then? several people have appreciated my posts and the Twitter i made. i'm proving a service, for free, that takes me about 30 minutes a day. no one else is doing this, that i've seen online. what, exactly, would you "say" about my Peso/Dollar research, @Jenn ? do you even understand why www.x.com/ArgentinaMEP exists? again: you write so much and read so little, and it makes all of us dumber being around you.

 

[FuturoBA]

just depends where, i guess, because cheap life in NYC or SanFran would be $3,000+ alone in rent and the cheapest food!

but in the Midwest etc. for sure with $1,200 rent and affordable eating/prices, 4k is a ton. and in BsAs it would go twice as far. i forget if you wrote when your "futuro" is for CABA - you coming this year? first time? lemme know if you need some specific info...got about 3 weeks left in Belgrano. meeting with Agustin Beaudean tonight to talk prices on residencies/citizenships, so standby @Canada Goose and whoever else is planning to do the same

also, unrelated but i just saw this part:


i really wonder if you have mental delays. i'd feel bad if so, but wow you're just so stunningly stupid. this is a thread for the actual MEP rate. why are you here, then? several people have appreciated my posts and the Twitter i made. i'm proving a service, for free, that takes me about 30 minutes a day. no one else is doing this, that i've seen online. what, exactly, would you "say" about my Peso/Dollar research, @Jenn ? do you even understand why www.x.com/ArgentinaMEP exists? again: you write so much and read so little, and it makes all of us dumber being around you.

Plan is to come around the Fall and work w Rubilar for the citizenship route. Not sure how familiar you are with the FIRE(financial independence retire early) movement, but if things go right I may hit my numbers for a lean FIRE to cover bare necessities and will do remote/part time for discretionary spending. And keep us updated on how your meeting with Agustin goes.

 

[StatusNomadicus]

Rubilar for the citizenship route

got it; i'd be happy to keep ya updated as i go, since i'll be about 9 months ahead of your timeline. i'm tracking on FIRE; my girlfriend is sort of trying that, and i sold my house in the southwest USA and bought cryptocurrency, that i'm living off of now, so...i'm not in that category, but aiming to be free from a 9-5 (depending on how World War 3 goes lol)

lawyers here in BsAs won't criticize each other (at least the honorable ones). meeting went well, although he told me what i didn't want to hear; that he doesn't think my Trust or LLC or Savings Account method of getting Rentista will work. if you can prove house deeds and on-the-books income, around 1500-2000 USD right now monthly, you should be good for 1-year Rentista temporary residency. where my gf will struggle is that she gets Airbnb bookings but then converts them to month-to-month using Zelle after the initial booking (avoiding a ton of taxes and Airbnb fees for her 3-11 month long-term bookings). so, showing $2,000 USD per month via Zelle/CashApp/etc. might be hard

i will write what i've learned about Rubilar these past weeks, but i'm personally going to go the route of other lawyers. there was a warning on the old forum about many of Rubilar's cases being stagnant for years, since not all the judges may agree with his Roman Law interpretations. Agustin wouldn't say precisely because he seems pretty honorable, but he said he has had a few new clients come from "other law firms" that were promised citizenship, but ended up never even getting permanent residency because they didn't qualify for their application.

i wish Rubilar would come on this forum and clear things up. but even his posts on BAExpats.org are cryptic and scattered. the biggest reason why i didn't even do a Consultation with him was because he wants the initial 3,500 USD (half up-front, half when citizenship granted) in cash, and he won't accept Zelle, PayPal, Crypto, nada
i just didn't want to go to Western Union and take out 3,500 USD and carry it to his office. why not just allow a bank transfer or WU online transfer? if anyone already paid him, ask him to come to this forum to clear things up! i'm sure he'd get more business, worst-case.

anyway, i came here to post this:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1755391005623275703

do not rely on ATM withdrawals with Visa right now!! you are losing 225 Pesos per dollar, or 20%! @BuySellBA @Betsy Ross - of course, the day i need to pay this lawyer for a consult, i take out cash twice...and it's somehow calculated WAY LOWER than it was any other day! #%&@%#$! hahahah. the past 2 times i've used an ATM it has given me the same as the Visa real-world credit MEP, or one less Peso per dollar. but i just lost 20% of $77 USD, so definitely use Western Union right now!! it's 1244

 

[StatusNomadicus]

do not rely on ATM withdrawals with Visa right now!! you are losing 225 Pesos per dollar, or 20%! @BuySellBA @Betsy Ross - of course, the day i need to pay this lawyer for a consult, i take out cash twice...and it's somehow calculated WAY LOWER than it was any other day! #%&@%#$! hahahah. the past 2 times i've used an ATM it has given me the same as the Visa real-world credit MEP, or one less Peso per dollar. but i just lost 20% of $77 USD, so definitely use Western Union right now!! it's 1244

ignore this last post ... i can't delete it!
(i calculated the ATM rate without subtracting the 8500 Peso ATM fee; apologies! it's been a while since i did that math)

 

[StatusNomadicus]

yesterday's corrected rate with ATM rate:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1755726067116163130

 

[GraceHill]

Plan is to come around the Fall and work w Rubilar for the citizenship route. Not sure how familiar you are with the FIRE(financial independence retire early) movement, but if things go right I may hit my numbers for a lean FIRE to cover bare necessities and will do remote/part time for discretionary spending. And keep us updated on how your meeting with Agustin goes.

Does this lawyer give you any refund if he can't get Citizenship on that initial fee? I assume not. He sounds like the only lawyer taking that approach. I wonder how successful he is?

 

[FuturoBA]

Does this lawyer give you any refund if he can't get Citizenship on that initial fee? I assume not. He sounds like the only lawyer taking that approach. I wonder how successful he is?

He used to post regularly on the old forum and the FB forum. I doubt there's a refund, and heard it could take 30 mos to another poster stating 5 yrs. IIRC he once posted if one wants to pay fee after gaining citizenship it would be 3x more.

 

[Spend Thrift]

got it; i'd be happy to keep ya updated as i go, since i'll be about 9 months ahead of your timeline. i'm tracking on FIRE; my girlfriend is sort of trying that, and i sold my house in the southwest USA and bought cryptocurrency, that i'm living off of now, so...i'm not in that category, but aiming to be free from a 9-5 (depending on how World War 3 goes lol)

lawyers here in BsAs won't criticize each other (at least the honorable ones). meeting went well, although he told me what i didn't want to hear; that he doesn't think my Trust or LLC or Savings Account method of getting Rentista will work. if you can prove house deeds and on-the-books income, around 1500-2000 USD right now monthly, you should be good for 1-year Rentista temporary residency. where my gf will struggle is that she gets Airbnb bookings but then converts them to month-to-month using Zelle after the initial booking (avoiding a ton of taxes and Airbnb fees for her 3-11 month long-term bookings). so, showing $2,000 USD per month via Zelle/CashApp/etc. might be hard

i will write what i've learned about Rubilar these past weeks, but i'm personally going to go the route of other lawyers. there was a warning on the old forum about many of Rubilar's cases being stagnant for years, since not all the judges may agree with his Roman Law interpretations. Agustin wouldn't say precisely because he seems pretty honorable, but he said he has had a few new clients come from "other law firms" that were promised citizenship, but ended up never even getting permanent residency because they didn't qualify for their application.

i wish Rubilar would come on this forum and clear things up. but even his posts on BAExpats.org are cryptic and scattered. the biggest reason why i didn't even do a Consultation with him was because he wants the initial 3,500 USD (half up-front, half when citizenship granted) in cash, and he won't accept Zelle, PayPal, Crypto, nada
i just didn't want to go to Western Union and take out 3,500 USD and carry it to his office. why not just allow a bank transfer or WU online transfer? if anyone already paid him, ask him to come to this forum to clear things up! i'm sure he'd get more business, worst-case.

anyway, i came here to post this:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1755391005623275703

do not rely on ATM withdrawals with Visa right now!! you are losing 225 Pesos per dollar, or 20%! @BuySellBA @Betsy Ross - of course, the day i need to pay this lawyer for a consult, i take out cash twice...and it's somehow calculated WAY LOWER than it was any other day! #%&@%#$! hahahah. the past 2 times i've used an ATM it has given me the same as the Visa real-world credit MEP, or one less Peso per dollar. but i just lost 20% of $77 USD, so definitely use Western Union right now!! it's 1244

What do you get for that $3,500 fee? I really like BA and think it would be a good place long term. I will just do the border runs for now. Seems to be the cheapest and easiest thing for now. But if I can pay $3,500 USD and there is some legal method of staying in Argentina until the Citizenship comes. Can you come and go from Argentina during the process?

Likewise I live on the lean/modest side. Biggest expense would be location, and as long as things work, size nor newest things need not apply. I'm comfortable using a hammock or one of those roll up mattresses or hell even my couch. Did it for years, despite making ok money. Casual, local restaurants are my go to, and with youtube never been easier to learn how to cook.

I have trouble spending $4k here in the US and that was when I was making regular outings to the strip clubs and for those spending that in BA more power to yall.

Living beneath your means is a great method to retire early. Good on you for doing that. Strip clubs can get expensive. Decades ago before I figured out I was gay I spent a lot on strip clubs. My downfall is dining out but I don't like to cook. But I am gearing away from touristy places and more local places and that is better for my budget.