This journey to resetting my life is off to a rocky start. I feel like Goldilocs and the Three Bears except I’ve been in three different Airbnbs and none of them were the right fit for me.

The first was too far away from the center of the city and had some flooding issues. It was also too large a home for one person and I am not trying to flex in Merida. I really liked the way it looked, but I wanted to make sure my choices here align with my financial freedom goals. The second place was in Colonia Jesús Carranza and was my first experience being Airbnb catfished. My original plan was to stay there for the rest of the year (about 45 days) so I could learn the city, save money and then decide if I want to keep hopping around with Airbnbs or settle on one place for one year. But as soon as I walked into the hallway of the building, the awful smell almost knocked me out. And when I got to the room and saw there was no sunlight getting in because there were no windows, I cringed. To make matters worse, the ants and spiders in the airplane-sized bathroom made me shed tears.

What To Do If You Hate Your Airbnb

I called customer support the first night of my stay to let them know I did not feel comfortable in this room, told them it was not clean, and the pictures did not align to what I was seeing in person. That was all I had to say to begin the process of cancelling the Airbnb. The host did not press the issue. I paid to stay there 5 days only because I needed time to find other housing.

Where To Stay In Merida, Mexico

My third Airbnb was slightly closer to the center of the city and it was beautiful! It was a wide open space with sunlight coming through the living room, super comfortable and large bed, and even a french tub on the patio. This place was only available for the weekend which didn’t give me much time to secure long term housing. I asked the host if they’d be interested in me renting from them and they were, but unfortunately they wanted $1,000 USD which was about $19,000 pesos. Knowing the cost of living difference here, I knew that was a gringo offering and declined. It was also out of my budget. I did not want to spend more than $500 USD per month on housing. I used this website to help me figure out where to stay in Merida, and I searched old posts in these Facebook Groups to learn more about where other people were choosing to stay:

Average Rent Prices

I knew when I moved to Merida I wanted to save money. I was also aware Americans brining their dollars here meant I’d have to deal with possibly being taken advantage of by being offered rent prices that don’t align with the local economy. A two-story home with a pool in a gated community (i.e. expensive area) will cost about $1,000 USD or less depending on the neighborhood, your realtor, and your negotiation skills. A more modest accommodation, like a one bedroom/one bathroom apartment could run you between $500-$700 USD. You could learn more about the cost of living in Merida here. Because I was pressed for time with only two days in my current Airbnb, I was limited in how deep into a search for a new place I could go.

Roommates In Mexico

In one FaceBook Group, I saw a post from someone looking for a roommate. They had a 3 bedroom/ 3 bathroom house with a front garden, a pool, and the woman looking to sublet had an adorable dog. I went to visit the home and although the room and private bathroom only include bare necessities, I figured this could be a good decision because the location was only a 10 minute walking from the center of town and the main street of Paseo de Montejo. I also knew I’d spend most of my time at the Rrom Coworking Space. The price tag is what really drew me in at $250 USD per month. That included electricity, water, and wifi. My biggest issue to overcome was having roommates. I hadn’t had one since college and never saw myself as a person open to living with strangers. But I pushed those thoughts aside because I want to try new things in this new city. I decided to jump in and say yes to this new spot. After 3 moves in less than three weeks, I was ready to settle down.

What I Learned From This Experience

I’m really trying to make some significant shifts in my life right now. Wanting to save is still important to me, but I also realized something that’s more important: my peace of mind. Airbnb #2 was gross- there’s just no other way to say it. The few nights I had to sleep there made me sick to my stomach. It also made me sad. Why did I think saving money meant living poorly? I’ve worked my butt off to get to a place where I can afford to at the very least enjoy where I lay my head at night. I’m reflecting on finding the balance between making wise financial decisions and rebuking the money scarcity mindset.

At least now though, I’ve found a place to stay at a reasonable price point. Let the new chapter begin.

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