I really need to get with the program and have all my withdrawals broken into 20, 50, and only a few 100 peso notes because too few vendors do enough volume to provide adequate change.
I picked out 23 pesos worth of veggies a few minutes ago and my smallest bill was 100, but I did have 3 pesos. I figured that 80 pesos would be easy enough to provide change for. Nope. I would never give a small vendor more than 100 for a purchase of 20 or more without checking that they have change, but I thought that 80 pesos of change would be easy to come by, especially that early in the day. Then again, if everyone does that…
So now, I have to find another way to break that 100 today so that I can give Mr. Veggie Guy the 20 pesos I owe him the next time I see him. But, YES, he let me have the veggies on credit!!!
Oh, well, that’ll give me change for hot dogs tonight, too, which I was going to skip due to my lack of change… I think I’ll do my walk early so I can stop in at a restaurant for a cold limonada after. Hmm, that sounds rather like a good idea. 🙂
I can’t count the number of times since I got here that I’ve not bought something because I only had a largish bill. I even got chicken on credit one day because I only had a 200 and they didn’t have the 150 pesos of change to give me, never mind that just about everyone pays with 50s and 100s.
Really, the solution is to get my withdrawals converted to small bills every time, regardless of the lineup at the teller.
Change is always a problem in Mexico. I always tried to use a larger bill anywhere I thought change might be available even though I had smaller denominations. If they said they could not make change, I would “find” a smaller bill in another pocket. I also came to believe that some vendors did not have either the patience or the ability to figure out change or maybe in some cases they are hoping for a tip.
Living in a small village compounds this problem where many do not earn much more than 100 pesos per day. Walking around trying to pay for minor items with 100 peso notes in these places is equivalent to trying to use nothing but $100 dollar bills in Canada or the US. The prospect of converting a 2000 or 3000 peso ATM withdrawal into 20’s and 50’s also has it’s drawbacks like not having any place to store the volume of bills.
Maybe a small safe would help next time so you could safely store a large supply of small bills in your home or truck.
I like your idea of carry your money in a couple of different places to make it look like you have ‘found’ change. I usually have my purse and could leave a few coins at the bottom!
I never have more than 3,000 pesos of spending money on me at one time. So whether I store it 200s, 500s, or a bunch of small bills, it’s the same amount of money and I spread it around a few locations. A safe is really not necessary.
Try getting at least 2000 pesos in 20’s next year before you come. You bank should be able to do that for you. After 2 years of big bills and ATM’s I bring it with me now. Also change would be easier to get later in the day once the vendor has made some sales.
I’m going to ask my bank if they can order pesos for me, but I’ve been warned by others that you don’t necessarily get what you want for denominations. It depends on each bank’s policies.
FYI, my credit union asks me which denominations I would like. I always give them lots of time which might help.
Grant and Janet tried with their bank and got what they were given, not what they were asked for.
All you do is try!
Yeah, I’ll talk to my bank and see what they say. They might have a minimum order since we’re such a small town. I’m not in a position to buy thousands of CAD’s worth of pesos in advance, obviously. They might refer me to the Moose Jaw or Regina branches. Anyway, I’ll talk to my rep and see what she says.
“So I’m planning on 1,000. One way. *gulps* Definitely taking the libre in the opposite direction!”
In your plan I would suggest taking the libre going to Durango and the toll road back. You may decide to take the libre back. The Devils Backbone has to be a great road to drive now that most of the truck traffic is on the toll road. What ever you decide do the libre , it is a “driving” experience.
Why do you recommend the libre to Durango rather than back?
I wasn’t think about your brakes. The cuota would be down hill on the way back also. I was thinking that you might like the libre enough to do it both ways and save the tolls.
Thanks for checking back in on this. I really do want to try both, to compare them. The tolls are part of the trip budget. 🙂
I suspect what Ed is getting at is that the libre to Durango is mostly uphill, easier on the truck’s brakes than the slow, steep downhill grades in the opposite direction.
If that’s the case, I’m definitely taking the libre back! I’ll just put the truck in low gear, let the engine do the work, and coast down, saving a ton on gas. Remember, I drive a standard, so I have a lot more flexibility in using my engine for braking.
I have never driven the road. Let’s see what Ed comes back with. He may have a different reason. You could also email Chris and Juan and ask their opinion.
I’d much, much, much rather go DOWN a long steep twisty hill in my truck than go up one. I’ll also be in less of a hurry on the trip back. So far, I see no reason to alter my plan to take the cuota there and the libre back.
I think the common advice is for people driving large RV’s. Burned out brakes were a common complaint from west bound travelers.
Exactly. I’d do the same with Miranda after my experience on the Sea to Sky Highway en route to the Island in 2009. *shudders at the memories*