Posts
I happened to be at the bank today and asked them if they had any commemorative coins on hand. She said she had a handful of 100 pesos coins from the 100/200 anniversary celebration of both the Mexican Revolution as well as Mexican Independence. The coin above commemorates the Independence and is marked with the escudo or shield of the state of Guanajuato where Independence actually took place in the town of Dolores Hidalgo. There are 20, 50 and 100 pesos coins in circulation but not common in use. Imagine the weight of a 100 peso coin?
A good friend is going through chemo for breast cancer. She has done extremely well. Her hair has returned, she's in good health and is now under chemo maintenance. I asked her for this picture as it represents universal or free health care in Mexico. She belongs to IMSS just as I do and says she couldn't be happier. She says the hospital, number 25, is top drawer and the nurses and staff the best ever. She says it's important that people understand that the local sniffle and sneeze clinics are overrun and abused by the IMSS members but should not judge the hospitals that provide specialized care for cancer treatment, dialysis, chronic heart disease and bypass surgery. That's her arm at the bottom of the picture.
Today, Kevin posted on the cost of lettuce in Canada. I believe it was over $3 for a head. I posted that HEB has it for $.45. However, we picked up a few items at a local supermarket, Comercial Treviño just a few hours ago for less than $.30. Truly amazing. As Kevin said, "how do people survive in Canada". Minimum wage in Canada isn't much higher than in the U.S. and we think groceries in the U.S. are outrageous. While we were in Canada on our trip in 2014, we shopped the 50% off baskets for produce and meat, mostly chicken. It wasn't easy.
Did you buy one of the $100 peso coins? Grocery prices and gas prices (the highest in North America) make living in Canada expensive!
ReplyDeleteI went to the bank and gave the cashier 100 pesos and asked for the coin. Then, this morning, I used it to buy the newspaper. None of the coins, 20, 50 or 100 are worth more than their face value, at least those in circulation. The cashier smiled and said, I always wondered what people do with these! He gave me my change and I went on my way. There are some people who try to sell them on line because they are new or pretend to think it's something special. As I said, the cashier at the bank had a handful of them.
DeleteMinimum wage is provincial and currently ranges from $11 to $14 CAD ($8.60 to $10.85 USD). Of course as it increases, it will do nothing but increase inflation and nobody will gain anything.
ReplyDeleteNot much of a difference from the U.S. If they had only increased minimum wage based on inflation since 1962, the current wage would be $22.
DeleteNot sure what indices you are using,however, this online calculator puts 1962 equivalent minimum wage at $9.42. https://www.dollartimes.com/inflation/items/1962-united-states-minimum-wage
DeleteLindsey said that you could get the lettuce for $1.27 at a different store which is definitely much more reasonable. We often shopped at the 1/2 off racks! We are sure missing Mexico. :-(
ReplyDeletewww.travelwithkevinandruth.com
Canada is expensive, but if you shop at the rignt places you can get by. However, given a choice, I would live in Mexico!
ReplyDeleteYou don't have a choice?
Delete