What Mexicans work close to or at minimum wage and how do they live?

In 2017, the Mx. min wage is $80 PER DAY? That's pesos Amigo.

So outside of the gringo areas, where Mexicans will turn their noses up at anything under $50 PER HOUR),how does the average Mexican (family) live with prices going u almost daily on some things.

I did some research and found that most Mexicans own their own homes; albeit not the best quality, but livable. You can find ore than one generation of family in a single home.

Electricity costs are very low and water is usually very cheap by either the community or a well.

Clothing is passed down and recycled.Food is basic, bought locally from a farmers market or grown. Chickens are raised for eggs an food. Corn is cheap and a mainstay of their diets.

Several family members, some very young, work and contribute to the household.

Entertainment is usually an older TV, maybe a DVD player where the disks are swapped and traded between the locals. Families get together socially and the children play with what's available. Medical is from the government, for as good or bad as it is, or through the local non-licensed "doctor/nurse" in the area, who is often paid with some commodity other than pesos. Sometimes though, there i no medical available. This takes its physical toll, especially for pregnant women.

No way, compared to us gringos, or even those Mexicans that work in gringo areas, is it an easy life, but for some reason, they not only make it, but seem happy. I guess family makes for happy living.

I found this interesting and thought I would share it for those who night think about Cultural Anthropology.

I did find one interesting point, in some small towns not that far away from Lakeside, there are Mexican workers that would think they went to heaven if they were offered $100 or $200 for a day of work. I would think a windfall of that money would be like manna.

Even with the above, some Mexicans say they are better off than their parents or grandparents were.

Sorry not correct, in CHiapas the poorest State in the nation indigenous workers paid by other indigenous make 100 pesos a day and I can assure you no one thinks they received manna..The workers in maquiladoras up north make 200 a day and they are poor as can be..

By the way saying Mexicans this and that is totally ridiculous it is a generalization that means nothing, there are rich Mexicans, poor Mexxicana and extremely poor Mexican as well as a middle class. not all Mexicans live the same type of life.

While not quite as low (relatively speaking), it is very difficult for an American or Canadian to live on the minimum wage up there too.

Sometimes all one can do is generalize if there are no valid studies to check.

I don't know about Canada, but in America there is a safety net in the welfare system; albeit a lot of holes in it and fraud, but rarely does anyone go really starving.

As I understand it, there is no governmane welfare system. I think sometimes the church will try to help but the numbers have to be overpowering.

As I alluded, the Mexicans working lakeside may have a better quality of life getting $60+ per hour, but that will also depend on how many mouths they have to feed.

Seguro popular is free for the poor. There are also various Federal programs that give food and dispensas.. there are programs giving fertilizers and pesticides , programs for the kids to stay in schools.. etc.. I do not know all the programs but I live on a street where people line up to receive help.. it is small but there is a welfare system..

Not one I would like to be on but there is help for people in extreme poverty.

By the way there are definition of the various levels of poverty and most people lie about what they have.. I have helped women fill out the forms and I have gone to their houses and eaten with them so I know that a lot of what the forms say is a lie.. That does not prevent the fact that many people barely survive and only do so by living in large family where each member can contribute.

The worst off are probably the ones moving to a town where they have to pay rent , buy the food , find work at very low wages and are not considered extremely poor.. The people at Lakeside live in an expensive area but they do have more oportunities to find jobs..

A good and thoughtful thread. Thanks for starting Clueless.

SunFan

Hi all,
Thanks for a good topic. And while we are still on it, I just wonder what is the price per hour or week gringos normally pay for maids in Ajijic or Chapala.
God Bless,
LLiving

I pay $55 pesos per hour for both. I use the maid for 8 hours per week and the gardener for 6 hours per week. We have rental units that the maid cleans so some weeks she works more and some weeks she works less. We pay her the same ($440) every week regardless. It usually works more her favor so she enjoys the arrangement.

Thanks, Bob.
Appreciate the info.
LLiving