When I was thinking about, and then planning, a move to Mexico I had so many questions! Practical questions about the differences in things like phones and messages, finding my way through the country, safety and security. Well over the last year and a half I’ve put together a handful of tools that have helped me greatly. Here are my top tools for surviving and thriving in Mexico!

If you’re planning a move or just dreaming about it, these are the things that help me live well in Mexico, every single day.  With more and more Americans and Canadians frustrated with life in their home countries, now is a good time to talk about essential tools you can’t do without when you move out!

These are the tools that keep daily life running smoothly; and keep me from calling for help every five minutes. The first tool I couldn’t live without in Mexico isn’t fancy or expensive, it’s WhatsApp. It’s how everyone communicates here, from your vet to your plumber…

Communication Tools

~What’s App, with translation: communication with everybody from the gas supplier to friends and my neighborhood group. You can copy and paste texts directly to google translate or other translation apps if you’re not able to understand the language or need clarification. What’s app is free and you can use it on your phone or desktop.  it’s owned by Meta/Facebook so keep that in mind. Most people here in Mexico use What’s app. And you can even make voice calls over wi-fi!

What’s App neighborhood group, As I got to know the neighbors here one introduced me to the neighborhood what’s app group. Not every neighborhood might have a group message board but if yours does it can be essential to knowing if anything unusual is going on in the neighborhood. Like fire, some kind of crime, or weather events. If there is no group in your neighborhood consider starting one yourself!

~ You know what’s funny?
When I first moved to Mexico, I thought I’d be fluent in Spanish within six months. Spoiler alert: I wasn’t.

That’s why Google Translate has become one of my most-used tools
Google Translate, not just to find the Spanish word for cucumbers but live conversation about technical projects like the casita roof. It can translate real-time speech between two people. You tap the microphone, each person speaks in their language, and it shows and reads out both translations. 

You can point your phone’s camera at signs, menus, or documents, and it will instantly translate the text on your screen;  even offline if you download the language pack.

Great for reading restaurant menus, utility bills, or handwritten notes in Spanish. I used it to understand the command buttons on my insta pot!  

You can download Spanish (and other languages) to your phone so it still works without an internet connection.

AND It speaks the words out loud in the native accent, helping you learn correct pronunciation.

I don’t want to get dependent on it, like I am on maps, but it’s a great tool while you’re learning the language!

Another tool that’s been surprisingly useful for me here in Mexico is Google Voice. is a free service from Google that gives you a U.S. phone number you can use from anywhere in the world, as long as you have an internet connection.

Instead of running through cell towers, your calls, texts, and voicemails go through Wi-Fi or mobile data. That means you can make and receive calls just like a normal phone — but without international charges.

 It lets me keep my U.S. phone number and make or receive calls over Wi-Fi, which means I can talk to banks, family, or anyone back in the States without paying international rates.

I use it right from my phone or laptop, and the sound quality is usually great as long as my internet connection is decent. It also sends voicemail transcriptions to my email, which is really handy when I’m out and about.

If you’re planning to live in Mexico part-time or full-time, keeping a U.S. number through Google Voice makes things so much easier — especially for things like two-step verification codes, Keeping in touch with family or friends who don’t use WhatsApp, or credit card companies that still require a U.S. number on file. 

It’s free, simple, and one of those quiet little tools that saves a lot of stress.

Getting a Mexican phone number

When I first came to Mexico, I started with an eSIM that worked across North America. It seemed like the simplest solution: one plan, one number, but it was a bit of a hassle to install, and when I had trouble with it later, it wasn’t easy to fix.

So I went into a Telcel store and got a regular SIM card with monthly service. It was quick, inexpensive, and worked right away. Now I have a Mexican phone number in addition to my U.S. number, which has made life here even smoother.

You don’t have to get a Mexican number for everyday things like WhatsApp or deliveries — your U.S. number works just fine for that. But you do need a local number for some Mexican websites, like Mercado Libre, the local version of eBay. It’s sometimes required for setting up accounts or verifying purchases.

And as a bonus, my Telcel plan actually costs less than that fancy North American eSIM I started with. So for me, it’s been a simple, affordable way to stay connected here.

📬 Handling U.S. Mail from Mexico 

One important thing is physical mail, what happens to all the letters and bills that still go to your U.S. address.

To handle that, I use a service called iPostal1. It gives you a real U.S. mailing address, and when mail arrives there, they scan the envelope and send you a digital image. Then you can decide what you want them to do with it — open and scan it, forward it to someone, or just shred and discard it.

It’s been very helpful for the few things that still come by paper instead of email. In fact, when I sold my house in Oregon, a rebate check was mailed to me there. iPostal1 forwarded it to my family, who brought it down to me in person, and thanks to the Schwab mobile app, I could deposit it right from my phone here in Mexico.

It’s one of those behind-the-scenes tools that gives me real peace of mind. I know that even from across the border, I’m not missing anything important.

Home and Household tools

If you’ve watched my channel for a while, you might have noticed that I’ve never taken a sponsorship, not even once. I just never wanted this channel to feel like a commercial.

But when a company reached out and offered to send me this mini rechargeable chainsaw, the timing couldn’t have been better. I said yes, in exchange for an honest review — and here it is.

When it arrived, I honestly didn’t expect much. I thought, how powerful can something this small really be? But once I got it out of the box, charged it up, and tried it for the first time, I was surprised.

It’s lightweight, fits easily in one hand, and feels sturdy — not like one of those flimsy gadgets that breaks after a week. And because it’s rechargeable, I don’t have to drag cords around or deal with gas. Just charge it, and it’s ready to go.

It also comes with an extendable pole attachment, which I didn’t think I’d need, but it turned out to be one of my favorite features. It makes it easy to reach high-up branches and overgrown brush without climbing a ladder — perfect for pruning my fruit trees and clearing taller growth around the yard.

My first test was on the little dead branches of my jacaranda tree, and it sliced right through. Then my son — who’s a professional in the tree service business — came to visit. He took one look at it and laughed, thinking it couldn’t do much. But after using it for two days pruning my fruit trees, he said he was impressed. And that’s coming from someone who uses heavy-duty saws every day.

I’d been putting off buying a full-size chainsaw because I only need one once or twice a year. But this little guy — especially with the pole attachment — has earned its place. It’s become one of those tools I didn’t know I needed until I had it.

And as a woman living alone, I’ll admit, sometimes I’m a little short on brawny muscle. Having the right tool makes all the difference. It gives you that feeling of independence — like, I can do this myself.

Of course, as with any cutting tool, safety matters. Always maintain a firm, steady grip, wear eye protection, and stay aware of where the chain is at all times.

If you want to check it out yourself, I’ve left the details and a discount code in the notes below. This isn’t a sales pitch — just something I’ve genuinely found useful.

So that’s my take on the mini chainsaw. Simple, practical, and surprisingly powerful — a little reminder that sometimes the right tool can make life a whole lot easier.

Another household tool I’m really glad to have around is this mini lantern for when the power goes out. The power has gone out once since I’ve been here in this house, and having a light source you can count on is indispensable! This little baby charges quickly by USB and emits a powerful light when needed. Also, in case of emergency it’s able to be used as a Flashlight. And it has a Red Warning Light (Strobe & SOS light). It’s lightweight, collapsible and water resistant. These would be good to carry in the car too in case of a breakdown the emergency flasher would be great in the dark.

~Driveway alarms, living on a big property I like having these driveway alarms to notify me of any movement in areas of the house and yard when I’m not looking. I’ve had this old set for years and it works great, and I just got this second set from Amazon Mexico and it’s also working well. It has a sensor and a separate receiver which tells you when it senses any motion in its field of vision. This particular unit is battery operated with three triple AAAs and you can adjust the volume and even the type of alarm and language. Safety is on my mind and having this tool allows me to rest easy knowing if anyone is on my property then I will know about it.

 Emergency contact List: I think it’s wise to create a contact list of people who would know what to do if something should happen to you. In case of an accident I have a very findable list of a couple of people both locally and back in the States that would need to be notified. Good for in the car too, I think this is a good idea no matter where you live.

Everyone knows about Google Maps, but living in Mexico has given me a whole new appreciation for it. It’s not just for directions — it’s how I find things.

It’s taken me the wrong way down a few one-way streets, sure, but it’s also helped me find hidden hardware stores, the animal rescue outside Morelia, and the best route to the airport.

Even small neighborhood places show up, often with reviews and phone numbers. The first time I needed a doctor, I just typed “médico,” and a little clinic popped up right in my neighborhood. I saw their number, messaged them on WhatsApp, and had an appointment that same day.

And before heading into the mountains, I always download offline maps. The signal can disappear fast, but those maps keep working.

Get yourself a Currency Converter, When you’re new in Mexico, prices can be confusing, and it’s hard to tell what things really cost. A simple currency converter app, like XE, is great for that. You just type in the amount in pesos, and it instantly shows you the value in dollars.

It also keeps track of exchange rate fluctuations, which helps when you’re transferring money or making a bigger purchase. I used it constantly in my first few months, and even now I still check it once in a while, just to stay aware of how far my money’s going.

It’s not every day that I recommend a particular bank but another tool that makes life here easier and less expensive is the Charles Schwab mobile app. I don’t currently have a Mexican bank account, and I don’t really need one, because banking apps have become so useful and international.

So when I withdraw pesos here in Mexico, I can use almost any ATM and at the end of the month Schwab automatically reimburses those charges. What other bank does that? It’s simple and saves a lot over time.

You can also deposit checks right through the app by taking a photo, just like in the U.S. That feature turned out to be a lifesaver recently when a family member brought me some physical mail from the States, including a check from the sale of my house in Oregon. Without being able to deposit it by photo, I don’t know what I would have done.

It’s safe, fast, and works beautifully from Mexico. For anyone living abroad or spending extended time here, Schwab really takes the hassle out of managing money across borders.

Online Tools

When you first move to Mexico, the online world can really help you get your bearings. You can find just about everything if you know where to look.

For shopping, I use Amazon Mexico now and then. Delivery can be a challenge because I don’t technically have an address! But you can have things delivered to some stores, FedExs or DHLs, or I have a friend who has generously offered her address for deliveries.  Not everything ships everywhere, but when it does, it’s great. I’ve ordered household items, pet supplies, even tools, and most things have arrived right on time.

But honestly, the best online tool isn’t a store at all—it’s online groups. The local and expat groups on Facebook are amazing. If you need a dentist, a vet, a plumber, or just want to know where to buy the best carnitas, you can ask there and people will jump in to help. It’s also a simple way to start meeting people and feeling part of the community.

If your Spanish is still developing, most browsers or the Facebook app can translate posts for you automatically, which helps a lot.

So between Amazon Mexico, Mercado Libre, and the local Facebook groups, you can find most things you need—and often, a friendly person to help you find it.

Living in Mexico — or anywhere far from what’s familiar — isn’t just about learning how to pay bills or fix things. It’s also about learning how to live differently with a new attitude inside  yourself.

Some days go beautifully. The sun’s shining, everything works, and you feel like you’re in a movie. Other days, the power goes out, your Spanish disappears, and you just have to laugh.

For me, the tools that really matter are curiosity, patience, and humor. Curiosity turns frustration into fascination. Patience reminds me that life here runs on a different rhythm — and that’s part of its beauty. And humor? It’s what saves you when everything else fails.

And maybe the most important tool of all is friendship. You can’t buy it, you earn it by showing up. Those connections carry you through the hard days and make the good ones even better.

Such things are tools that don’t take up space in a suitcase, but they’ll save you again and again.

🌅

When I think back on my first six months in Mexico, I remember the thrill, that heady mix of freedom and chaos that comes with starting a new life. The dogs and I were constantly on the move, hopping from one region to another every few weeks. From the lush Pacific coast to the highland towns around Chapala, San Miguel, and Guanajuato, all the way to Villa del Carbón and, eventually, my unexpected landing here in Michoacán.

It was exhilarating… and exhausting. Every place was new, every system different, and every day felt like an adventure and a test rolled into one.

But looking back now, I can see that what I was really doing was collecting tools — not just the kind that plug in or download, but the kind that help you live well anywhere.

Some of them are practical: a chainsaw, a lantern, a good map. Others are invisible: curiosity, patience, humor, and friends. Together, they’ve made this life not just possible, but deeply rewarding.

If you’re dreaming about moving to Mexico, or just curious about what it’s like, start building your own toolkit. It doesn’t have to be fancy. It just has to work for you.

Because the truth is, the real tools for living here, or anywhere, are the ones that make you feel capable, connected, and at peace in your own skin.

Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you in the next video.