Hello everyone, my name is Mora and I make videos about traveling to and living in Mexico. About 8 months ago I drove here from Oregon with my two dogs. We are currently living in the state of Michoacan.

This video is for those of you who are new to Mexico. If you already live here or have spent a lot of time here you most likely already know some of these things. But if you’re a brand newbie this may answer some questions!

Some people who have never been to Mexico, or who have only experienced the all inclusive resorts at the beach, have asked questions that need to be answered!  If you have no experience of normal life in Mexico, and you’ve heard all kinds of stories and opinions about the quality of life in Mexico, you may be confused about what’s available here and how to go about activities of normal daily living, so I’m here to answer some of those questions.

We will go over:

Getting gas

Using maps

Buying groceries

Paying bills

Receiving mail

Going to the doctor

Going to the vet

The only time I believe I’ve been ripped off in Mexico was in my first week here at a gas station outside of Sayulita on the coast of Nayarit.  I later found out this gas station is known for this, which didn’t make me feel any better.

Pump Not Resetting to Zero

What Happened: The attendant began fueling without resetting the pump to zero, charging me for gas purchased by the previous customer.

How to Avoid It: Always watch the pump to ensure it starts at zero before fueling begins.

I was distracted by my newly broken trunk latch on my car and trying to figure a way to get the strap holding it together tighter for the highway.

When I drove away I realized I had much less gas in the tank than what I paid for. I decided not to go back and accuse the pump attendant. Then I ran over a snake. It was not a good day.

There are a few other ways you can be ripped off at gas stations. See bottom of this page for every one I’ve heard of.

I haven’t had that problem since, and of course I keep my eyes on the pump now when I’m getting gas. I now go to the same gas station most of the time. It’s a PEMEX station and the young women are very friendly. They point out the zeros to start the pump, and there is even a sign on the pump saying verify the pump starts at zero.

Using Maps in Mexico

I use google maps quite a bit in Mexico and I haven’t had a paper map in years, though sometimes I wish I had one when my cell service goes out in the middle of nowhere!

I have been happy with the accuracy of google maps though it seems a bit less accurate than it was in the States.  There have been a few times that it has led me down a one way street, or into a dead end that it thought I could pass through.  This is part of the adventure of driving in Mexico!

There was one street in Villa del Carbon that was supposed to go through but after a couple of hundred meters it became clear that it was a dead end. With cars parked on both sides of the narrow street, there was nowhere to turn around so I ended up driving in reverse all the way back to where the street started.

I haven’t found any alternative to google for online maps, but now, when I want to drive a long distance, I will check with a couple of FB groups I’m with to see if there have been any recent problems with the road, or any safety concerns. If you are driving distances in Mexico I recommend you join these groups too. They both have the same name on FB: On the Road in Mexico.

Buying groceries in Mexico is fun! There are colorful street markets, little neighborhood tiendas, and super markets more like what we are used to in the U.S. There is also Walmart, Home Depot and Costco in bigger cities.

You will spend less money and have a more interesting time if you shop at street markets and go to the carniceria for meats, and vino & licores shop for alcohol.

I usually go to Costco once a month for things like dog food, orange juice, coffee etc.. the things I use everyday. The Costcos here are almost identical to the Costcos in the US. Of course prices are in pesos and signs are in Spanish, but they have many of the same products and it looks identical. Even the little cafeteria has the same food!  At first I didn’t know why there were people standing at the exit asking questions, but they are there to help you load your car for a tip. Use their help, or don’t, either way is ok. 

There is a little tienda down the street from my house I go to occasionally for cookies or soda. 

To get to the best markets that I know of in Patzcuaro I have to drive because I live out in the sticks, and then I usually pay for parking because it’s much easier than finding a spot in the tightly packed centro of the city.

At my favorite parking place (I originally found on google maps) there has always been a place for me, even on the busiest Sunday, and it costs 15 pesos per hour (about 75 cents US). I walk everywhere from there. In centro Patzcuaro there are shoe stores, jewelry stores, print and paper stores, all kinds of restaurants and cafes, and many other kinds of stores. Along with all the fondas at the market for cheap lunch!  When I wanted to get a dewormer for one of the dogs, I just stopped in this little pet store near the Plaza Grande and was out of there in two minutes!

By the way, if you didn’t have a car you can ride in a “combi” these mini vans that go everywhere, even in more rural areas, quite frequently.

Paying Bills in Mexico

When it comes to paying household bills, I’m lucky that my landlady gives me most of mine so it stays simple. She passes on my electric bill every other month so I don’t have to deal with the CFE. CFE is the eclectic company here and if you have your own account with them you can pay at their offices, on their app if you have a Mexican bank account, or your local convenience store. They scan the barcode on your bill and you can pay in cash.

OXXO are the ubiquitous convenient stores here, like a 7-11 and almost everywhere.

Starlink internet is included with the rent. She also takes the money for the garbage and it’s so easy for me that way.  I pay her the rent in cash or take the money to her bank and deposit it there, no charge.

For drinking water Temo the gardener gets me a refill once a week at the little tienda down the street. I’m glad because those things are heavy! At one point in the Lake Chapala area I was taking the empty garafon to the store myself and refilling it, taking it back home.

A lot of people here use things like Paypal and Venmo if, for instance, you are renting a temporary vacation rental off airbnb.

I recently rented a cottage for my week at the beach in Zihuatanejo and the owner didn’t have one of those so I took the deposit money to his bank with his name and account number and it was very easy.

Not the actual cottage:

Going to the Doctor or Vet

In Villa del Carbon I had a simple infection and knew what medication I should take, but it was one of antibiotics you need a prescription for here so I went to the doctor to get it.  I had noticed a couple of places in town that had signs out their offices for medical consultation. I hate talking on the phone and my Spanish was limited so I made an appointment on Whats App.

I found the business on google maps because I had seen it out and about but I didn’t catch the name of it, but you can search for medica and a consultorio medico should turn up in your area.

I put their phone number into What’s App and they were there, so I translated what I wanted to say on my phone and texted it to them in Spanish, asking for an appointment. She asked me to call for an appointment but I explained (in Spanish) that my language skills were not good enough to talk on the phone so could I make an appointment over text? We did, I saw the doctor the same day, and it was so easy!!  

The doctor and I stumbled a little with Spanish but when I had something important to say I used my phone translator and it worked very well. That’s also where I found out I had lost 25 pounds! (I don’t carry a scale while travelling).

He wrote me a prescription and I took it to the pharmacy close by. They were a little confused by the way he had written the prescription and said call the doctor and get clarification. Or, that’s what I thought they said, and I was preparing myself for hassle on the phone and delay, but before I could say “ok thanks”, they were on the phone talking to the same doctor! They got it cleared up in one minute and that was that! No three day wait, no trying to get through the front office staff to speak with the doctor, no verifying the patient’s identity and getting permission to talk about her. Just a one minute conversation and done!

It was funny because when I looked at the prescription I realized I had never given the doctor’s office or the farmacy my last name. They used the name on my What’s App and I didn’t catch it till after. It didn’t matter.

The farmacy didn’t have the same antibiotic that I was prescribed so they had to send for it and I picked it up in the morning. Then I realized I didn’t bring enough cash to pay for the medication. They sent me on my way with the medication anyway, trusting that I’d be back to pay the rest! Can you believe that??

So that’s how I saw the doctor and got a prescription in Mexico. The doctor’s appointment and the medication together cost less than $20.

There are many medications here that you don’t need a prescription for so an appointment with the doctor isn’t necessary. And many drugs here are less expensive than in the US.

To see the vet when Viggo was having his skin problems (the second time) I was in the Lake Chapala area so I asked for recommendations for good vets on a Chapala group board on FB. You could do that here too but I haven’t had the occasion here to see a vet.

In fact if there is an English speaking group on FB in your area you could ask for all kinds of recommendations: drivers, restaurants, plumbers, whatever. Or ask your Mexican friends who they recommend.

Getting Mail in Mexico

The last thing I’ll go over is getting mail in Mexico. One of the first things I did before coming here was set up a virtual mailbox. It’s simple and has worked very well for me while I’m traveling.

What you want to do first though is make every account or correspondence digital if you can. Many services are paperless nowadays and that’s what you want. Less mail in your actual mailbox, and everything done by email.

I use ipostal1.com for a digital mailbox and I’ve never had a complaint. They set you up with an actual mailing address wherever you like, and you place a forward with the post office to that address. When your mail comes your mail service takes a picture of the envelope and you see it on your account online. Then, depending on what it is, you can have them trash it, shred it, or scan it so you can see each page from wherever you are. If you want to keep the actual envelope and letter you can have them send it to someone you trust. I’ve only had two pieces of mail that I wanted to keep and I had them send it to a family member in the States.

I hope this has answered some of the questions you might have if you’ve not lived in Mexico before. Some things are different from where you might have come from, but nothing is difficult, and in many cases, things are easier in Mexico!

Common Scams at Gas Stations in Mexico

1. Not Resetting the Pump
   The attendant may “forget” to reset the pump to zero after the previous customer, so you end up paying for part of their gas. How to avoid it:
   Always check the pump before the attendant starts pumping. Ensure it’s set to zero.
2. Short-Changing
   After paying in cash, the attendant may claim you gave them a smaller bill than you did. For example, you hand over a 500-peso bill, and they insist it was only a 50. How to avoid it:
   Clearly state the amount you’re handing over and count it out in front of the attendant.
3. Distraction Techniques
   Some attendants might distract you while manipulating the pump or short-changing you. They might talk excessively or make unnecessary small talk. How to avoid it:
   Stay focused on the transaction and politely decline any distractions.
4. Charging for Premium Gas
   They may pump regular gas but charge you for the more expensive premium. How to avoid it:
   Confirm the type of gas you want and watch the pump carefully.
5. Manipulated Pump Readings
   In rare cases, pumps may be tampered with to show more fuel dispensed than was actually pumped. How to avoid it:
   Always buy from well-known gas stations like Pemex, BP, or Shell in busy areas. Avoid isolated or sketchy-looking stations.
6. No Receipt Provided
   Without a receipt, disputes about overcharging or incorrect amounts are nearly impossible to resolve. How to avoid it:
   Always ask for and keep the receipt until you verify the amount charged matches the amount pumped.