Cheap Lunches in Buenos Aires

Now that I have job with a regular 9-5ish schedule in Buenos Aires I am forced to deal with the financial pain of buying lunch and not just cooking everyday at home. Although bringing a lunch from home is obviously the cheapest way to eat, complications in daily life don't always make it easy to plan ahead and pack a lunch. Eating out for lunch everyday adds up really fast in Argentina so I here are some of my suggestions to save money when forced to purchase lunchtime eats.

* Grocery store - Not suprising that the grocery store offers cheaper eats..however one can go to a local grocery store and take advantage of low cost snacks (much cheaper than a kiosco) as well as prepackaged lunch fares. Most grocery stores offer empanadas, sandwiches, milanesas sandwiches, etc that are ready to go. In addition many supermarkets have delis that feature salads, milanesas, etc that are decently priced.

*Bakeries - If you are looking for a light sandwich then you should pop into a bakery and buy the crustless "miga" sandwiches which come in flavors such as ham and hard boiled egg, chicken and ham, and ham and cheese. They usually set you back between just 2.oo-3.50 pesos per sandwich.

*Fruitstand - Take advantage of the local "chino" supermarket or other fruit stand and purchase an apple or banana to complement you meal. Not only is it healthier it is more filling. It's also cheap too ! : )

*Fast Food - The best thing about fast food restaurants (McDonalds, Burger King, etc) is that you can sit there for large amounts of time without anyone noticing you are not purchasing anything ! The "budget menu" with $4 peso sandwiches and fries also isn´t very expensive. Those that teach English in Buenos Aires generally have a lot of dead time between classes so hanging out McDonalds can be great option (and they have wifi too!) to kill time and avoid paying cubiertos or $7 peso gaseosas!

Please share your tips if you have any!!

Tax Free in Argentina

"Tenés tax free?" is the key question to ask whenever making any significant purchase in Buenos Aires. The Tax Free Global Refund program allows foreigners to get the VAT (Value Added Tax, around 20% in Argentina) refunded when leaving the country.

As an expat in BA I find local prices in shopping malls to be significantly more expensive and generally steer clear of buying anything there, stocking up on items when I am back in the US. However, prices for some items such as leather jackets, purses, suits, leather boots and shoes can be cheaper in Argentina than buying in other major global cities.

For example, if you plan to purchase leather goods such as jackets and handbags in shopping malls or any other "formal" setting it makes sense to get the Tax Free paperwork. Any purchase of over 70 pesos can generally qualify you for the Tax Free refund. Most stores that have Tax Free will have a decal in their store window indicating they participate in the program. When you check out you must get a special Tax Free paper that you will later present for refund when departing Argentina.

Where to find participating stores?: The Global Refund directory lets you search by product category to find participating stores in Buenos Aires.

Remember: To get the Global Refund you must present your receipts and the products purchased in the Ezeiza airport so if you don't plan on taking the item out of Argentina don't bother with the refund! The Refund is valid for 6 months from the purchase date.

Check out this article on BA Tips with another take on Tax Free in BA.

Furniture - "Puffs" and Bean Bags

If you are looking for a really cheap way to add some furniture to your apartment in Buenos Aires a simple solution is to invest in some "puffs" or Bean Bag type chairs. Although they are ugly they are practical, cheap, and quite popular here.

In the Once neighborhood you can get "puffs"/"pufs" which are cube-like chairs/stools, some have storage units inside of them or come with a small coffee table that has space to store 2 "puffs" underneath. In Once "puffs" cost about 39 pesos each or a large bean bag chair can be had for 70-80 pesos. The 400 block on Azcuenaga street is full of cheap furniture places.

Suerte!

Buying Bus Tickets in Argentina

Traveling by bus is a cheap and easy way to save money while in Argentina. You can take the bus to reach nearby destinations such as Rosario or take the bus all the way to Salta or even onward to Chile, Brazil, or Bolivia.

If you have never traveled by bus before one should know that the buses in Argentina are actually quite nice. Important words to know are "semi-cama" which are bus seats that reline partially versus the "cama" seats that can recline to be completely flat. Long-distance buses tend to have meal and beverage service included (con servicio).

One of the most confusing things for new arrivals is how to figure out where to buy bus tickets for long distance trips and how to shop around among different companies. Generally the easiest way is to find the company and route that you are interested in, find the window number (número de ventana), and then go to the Retiro bus station to purchase the tickets in person. Plataforma 10 is now offering online ticket sales but I cannot vouch for the reliability of the service.

My "go to" website for comparing routes is Plataforma 10. The site allows you to search by destination and see all the different companies that serve the destination along with details on types of seats (cama, semi-cama, etc), departure times, total travel time, and prices. They also allow for online ticket sales: http://www.plataforma10.com/

You can also check out the Retiro Bus Stations website for general information or to find out where each company´s ticket window is located: http://www.tebasa.com.ar/
Note: I do not find the Retiro site to be nearly as helpful because it only tells you which bus companies serve specific cities but doesn´t give you the option to see departure times.

If anyone has any great tips out there or has bought online please let me know or post a comment!

Club La Nación Discount Card

In the event you subscribe to a newspaper or are considering subscribing to a paper, there are a whole host of discounts available to you if you subscribe to La Nación. You can just be a weekend subscriber and become a member of the Club La Nación you get their membership benefits card which has some awesome discounts in restaurants -- such as 40% off, as well as discounts in clubs (2x1 drinks), 2x1 movie passes and more! I am tempted to become a Sunday paper subscriber in order to get the the discount card!!!

More information: http://www.club.lanacion.com.ar/

Cheap Black Market Cell Phones in Once

As someone that had the pleasure of having my cell phone stolen 3 times in one week, I know firsthand the cost of replacing a cell phone. Most foreigners do not have monthly plans, instead we recharge minutes using prepaid cards which means when you replace a phone it can be very expensive (those who have plans get at least a $200 peso discount on the physical phone unit).

The Once neighborhoods offers an adventure in illegality as you can purchase used cell phones for low prices. These phones are most likely stolen and then resold, you certainly are not going to be getting a receipt for anything. Note: if you decide to shop around make sure to check out several places before buying and be aware that you can definitely haggle. If you do not need the charger you can also bargain for a discount. Cash only.

Galeria La Paz is just one example and is located on Pasteur y Corrientes in the Once neighborhood. There are several of these "galerias" in the Once neighborhood with small storefronts within a larger building, principally located on the 2300 and 2400 block of Corrientes Avenue.

Note: This post is for informational purposes. Violent crimes are increasingly common in Buenos Aires as individuals are assaulted or even killed to steal their cell phones, think about the consequences of supporting this underground economy before buying.

Feria de Mataderos - Quality Souvenirs, Cheap Prices

The Feria de Mataderos is a hotspot for arts and crafts, gaucho traditions, folklore and more! This typical gaucho fair receives more than 5,000 visitors each Sunday!

The Feria de Mataderos is certainly a bit touristy but it´s a great place to stock up on souvenirs and gifts (cheaply!) before heading home. It´s also just a fun way to spend an afternoon.

You can easily take the bus to get there and the prices for arts and crafts are significantly lower than buying in San Telmo or Palermo.

The Details:

Hours:The Feria is open on Sundays from 10am - 8:30 pm from April - December. During January the Feria is closed and is open on Saturdays in February and March from 6pm - 1am.

Location: The Feria is located on Avenida de los Corrales 6500.

The following bus lines will take you there: 5, 36, 55, 63, 80, 92, 97, 103, 117, 126, 141, 155, 180, 185.

Need more information: Check out the official website here.

Note: The Feria is cancelled if it rains.