Cash Rules Everything Around Me

            A group of wise men once said “cash rules everything around me. C.R.E.A.M. Get the money. Dollar Dollar bill y’all. This assessment by the Wu Tang Clan certainly has some truth to it. Whether it’s a dollar, a Euro, a pound, or a peso one thing remains true. The more money you have, the better.

            For this reason, I’ve decided to write a blog on my top five methods for keeping your wallet happy in Buenos Aires. Ironically though, one quick glance at my checking account will show that I don’t listen to my own advice.

1) Dining
            Let’s start where my blog posts typically begin: Food. There are hundreds of restaurants in Buenos Aires, many as famous as they are expensive. When you are a tourist visiting for only a couple weeks, the price is something you can handle, but when you are here every day, it’s best to avoid eating at these fancy restaurants too much. But that doesn’t mean you can’t eat good food. In Puerto Madero, there is a plethora of expensive restaurants. But if you cross the river and walk three blocks towards the Ecological Reserve, you’ll find a paradise for meat eaters. Lining this long walkway, is probably 50 different food stands, all selling Choripan. This Argentine dish is basically a juicy sausage, sliced down the middle and served on a bun. This delicious meal also is very cheap, being sold for as little as 12 pesos. (~3 U.S. dollars).

Also a tip: Sauce selection shows meat quality. When choosing which stand to stop at, always go for the stand with lot’s of sauces. If there are no sauces stay away. 5 sauces, think about it. If it's a table with 15 or more sauces, you found your stand.

2) Clothes and Electronics:

            Where to buy clothes and electronics? Nowhere! While studying abroad here, I’ve talked to plenty of Argentines, and they all tell me the same thing: Don’t buy electronics or clothing in Buenos Aires. These products are unexpectedly high priced, and so I would recommend avoiding buying them. It’s a common practice amongst Argentines to head to Miami to visit family, and to bring an empty suitcase with them. While there, they stock up on the cheap clothing and valuable electronics. You get the point. Don’t buy clothes or electronics in Buenos Aires.

Speaking of Miami, Lebron sucks. Go Celtics! (They are up by 20 as I write by the way).

3) Groceries:

            There are plenty of places to buy groceries in Argentina. The most visual one that I’ve found has been Coto. Although, this place isn’t too expensive, if you really want to get the best deal, you should go to the Chinos. These small stores, which have the best prices, get their name from the people who own and manage them. Chino literally means Chinese in Spanish. Hence by using racial profiling in a way that would make Arizonans proud, one can literally find a cheaper store with a glance.

4) Nightlife:

            Buenos Aires is home to one of the best nightlifes in the world. I haven’t been to many other major cities, but I have seen DC, New York and Boston. And hands down, Buenos Aires beats these cities with ease. Even New York City, which claims to “never sleep” is no match for the B.A. bars and boliches, which can go on until 6 in the morning or later. That being said, these places can be pricey. However, there are plenty of places where your cover goes towards drinks. These are much better buys than those places that charge just to get in. Then again, the nightlife is worth seeing, regardless of its price. When in doubt, drink before leaving, and save money on that. (Drinking age is 18 here). You can get a cheap Malbec (Argentine red wine) for less than 40 pesos. That way you’ll have good wine, and an even better wallet.

5) Travel:

            When I first started organizing my trip to Buenos Aires, I planned out elaborate large trips to far and exotic places. These trips are awesome and necessary for any traveler, but they are also expensive. So, I’ve found that the smaller weekend trips have been similarly as fun and way cheaper. Uruguay for example, is a quick, hour-long boat ride away and is less than 100 pesos if you take the slow boat. You land in the quaint town of Colonia, a place I went to with my parents. It was fun and interesting, but if you are young and with friends, I’d recommend taking an hour-long bus from there to Montevideo This city is way more of a party-location than Colonia, which is more appropriate for a romantic getaway or a family vacation. Another good, cheap place to travel to is Mar del Plata, a beautiful beach town to the south of Buenos Aires. I think Argentines look at Mar del Plata in the same way that Bostonians look at the cape: Close, beautiful, and like home.

So there you have it. The Wu Tang Clan had it right. Cash does rule everything around us. So buy more, spend less, and live like the Wu.