Gay Americans in Argentina: August 2014

Friday, August 8, 2014

Check Out 2014's Argentine Product Pricing Comparison

So the international rumor mill suggests that Argentina’s economy is hitting an all-time low. So I decided to do a bit of pricing comparison with products I spot-checked last year versus the actual cost today. Have the prices dropped? Do they ever in any part of the world? The answer would be no. However, are things really that drastic? Let’s find out.

On July 29^th, 2014, the cost of the US dollar in Argentine pesos was: 8.19

On August 1^st, 2014, the cost of the US dollar in Argentine pesos was: 8.23

On August 4^th, 2014, the cost of the US dollar in Argentine pesos was: 8.26

On August 8^th, 2014, the cost of the US dollar in Argentine pesos was: 8.27

On August 24^th, 2014, the cost of the US dollar in Argentine pesos was: 8.39

On September 2nd, 2014, the cost of the US dollar in Argentine pesos was: 8.40

The photo on the left is the cost of the product from a year ago. The one on the right is the current price.

Yikes! There's a 3.10 increase in Argentine pesos. In US dollars this would cost you $1.04.

Wait! What? Can it be? No. That's not possible. He must have switched the images around. Sorry to disappoint you folks, but the prices on these products are correct. The Gatorade on the left was once 9.50 Argentine pesos and a year later it has dropped to 7.25 Argentine pesos. That's a 2.25 drop. In US dollars this would be .88 cents.

Activia's liquid yogurt might give you the runs, but you'll be 51 Argentine cents richer. The price went down from 15.50 to 14.99. In US dollars this would be $1.81.

Oh man! I was really looking forward to cleaning the wax out of my ears this weekend. Q-soft, which is basically a Q-tip has risen by 2.30 Argentine pesos. In US dollars this would be $1.69.

Oh ... SUGAR! The cost of cereal has definitely jumped in a year by a whopping 18.14 Argentine pesos. In US dollars this would be $4.41. Don't fret boys and girls! There are plenty of generic brands on sale at local supermarkets that taste just the same, but at a more affordable price.

Hellmann's Ketchup has a nicer looking package, but the price has gone up from 8.65 to 11.45 Argentine pesos That's a 2.80 markup. In US dollars, that's $1.39.

Now you're probably wondering what the big deal is. After all, as long as expats have U.S. dollars, the prices are more affordable in Argentina than they are in the States. That's a good point, but you need to consider the fact that every expat has a different financial situation. Those who continue to earn money in US dollars are better off than those who have depleted their supply of dollars (like yours truly) and are now solely dependent on Argentine pesos.

I should point out that a lot of these items have generic brands or have Argentine equivalent products that are (in most cases) cheaper. As far what the future holds for product pricing, we'll just have to wait and see.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Expat Report: 26 months Later

I'd like to start by thanking the readers who have shown their love and support for my expat blog. And if you haven’t yet—don’t worry, there’s still time to join the journey.

I'm nearly two months late writing this, but I felt it was important to reflect on and honor the past two years of my life in Argentina.

One of the things that has helped us cope with homesickness is food. For instance, I'm happy to report that McDonald’s here recently started offering a more American-style breakfast: bacon, scrambled eggs, and two pieces of bread that come surprisingly close to the texture of a bagel—minus the shape and the hole in the middle.

Walmart stores in Argentina now sell bacon that tastes just like the kind back home. Zach was kind enough to make some for me—thankfully, since I have absolutely no talent for cooking.

The public hospital in Córdoba no longer charges the already minimal outpatient fee, which is great—but on the downside, getting an appointment with a doctor has become much more difficult. I’ll talk more about that in a future post.

Some of you already know that I’ve struggled with social anxiety and depression. Thankfully, I’ve been able to get treatment through Argentina’s free healthcare system. As my 37th birthday approached, I decided to try managing my condition on my own—without therapy or anti-anxiety medication. It’s been two months, and I’ve had my ups and downs. I wasn’t fully prepared for the mood swings or the unexpected anxiety attacks. These days, I find myself staying indoors a lot more. To compensate, I try to invite friends over—when there’s enough money for snacks and drinks.

A lot of people have asked how college is going, so let me rip off the band-aid: I quit. It wasn’t an easy decision, but I didn’t feel the university was the right fit for me. I could go on about the reasons why, but I’ve already covered that in a previous entry—and this post is about something else.

Before anyone judges me for stepping away from school, there’s more to the story. When Zach and I first arrived, my family did their best to support us. But they have their own struggles, and the last thing we wanted was to become a financial burden. So, we made the difficult choice to cut the proverbial umbilical cord.

Now, my time is fully devoted to freelance writing. My income depends entirely on how consistently I get assignments—which, unfortunately, is out of my control. I currently work with two freelance handlers who provide just enough articles each month to make ends meet… but just barely.

Zach has also joined the freelance writing team, though his true passion has always been in the kitchen. He recently launched his own website where people can order some of his incredible pastries. You can check it out at:
Zach’s Bake Shop – http://darkecloude.wix.com/zachsbakeshop

Here are some photos of the amazing things he bakes.

In addition, Zach created a group called English & Muffins, where expats and Argentinians gather at a hostel to play fun and lively games. It’s a great way for non-native English speakers to practice their language skills while enjoying delicious muffins and cakes.

I also celebrated my 37th birthday in July with Zach and two new friends who surprised me with a party. Usually, I’m the one organizing surprise parties for others, so it was rare—and wonderful—to be the center of attention. They decorated the house with themes from some of my favorite shows like Supernatural and Star Trek, along with zombies and Superman. Suffice it to say, it was an awesome celebration.

It feels like a lifetime ago since Zach and I stepped off that plane in Córdoba, yet not a day goes by that I don’t think about our old lives back in the States.

My friends back home have experienced moments I wish I could have been there for. One friend lost her son in a terrible accident. Another recently remarried and is expecting her first child. I used to tease her about when I’d become an uncle—now I won’t be there for those milestones. Sometimes, I wonder if the choice Zach and I made to leave New York was the right one. Would we have stayed together if we hadn’t moved?

Still, we’ve made some friends and are slowly building a life here, and so far, it seems to be working out.

Fortunately, Zach and I remain as close as ever. Married or not, we’ve got each other’s backs—no matter where life takes us.

Monday, August 4, 2014

How The Looming Risk Of Financial Default Affects Argentina

Some of you may have heard about the vulture funds and the so called “DEFAULT” situation that Argentina is facing. Unfortunately, there are plenty of news reports and websites out there, each offering their own version of what’s the truth and what’s a lie... but they seem to have no idea what they're talking about.

What I will talk about is the fact that while the popular world news media continue to report the situation as dire; Argentina does not appear to be collapsing economically. You won’t find riots or mass suicides on the streets or any of the nonsense that people might report due to the supposed looming threat of the “DEFAULT”.

People continue to go about their day, children go to school, and grown-ups go to work, or go shopping.

As far as the province of Cordoba is concerned, businesses are still making money. People are still going to malls to buy clothes, DVDs, books, perfume. They also spend cash on a nice meal at restaurants and food courts with their families or friends.

Economists were predicting that the value of the dollar would rise in Argentina, but I’ve been monitoring the rate by which the U.S. dollar has climbed and the amount is negligible. Over the last few days, it’s gone from 8.09 Argentine pesos to 8.23 Argentine pesos per 1 USD as of August 4^th. Now I’m not saying that won’t change. It may very well change, but for the time being there are no signs of a major collapse or chaos.

In addition, Argentine president Christina Fernandez Kirchner has once again increased the monthly benefits that the retired elderly receive from 2,700 to 3,200 Argentine pesos. From what I've observed of the last two years, growing old here seems like a pretty sweet deal.

For those fortunate enough to find legal work here, the minimum wage is about to jump once again.

I did some price checking on three items that I took photos of a year ago, and then again this year to see if there have been any changes, and there have been, but it’s definitely not as crazy as you would expect… well except maybe for the bag of Doritos.