Job Discussion Forums

YanquiQuilme�o · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 122 Location: Quilmes, Argentina

I couldn't find a way to get around the whole "guarant�a" problem here, but I did find a semi-decent solution. I'm living in a student residence right now. I have a single room for 230 pesos/month. That includes all utilities, etc. Plus there is cable TV, pots and pans, a washing machine, a ping pong table.

Given I am in Quilmes and not Palermo, but I am sure there are similar options in Captial Federal.

I know people like Sheena are really scraping by. Maybe you guys should check out private student residences? Where I am living is a private house with three rooms. One single room, one double room, and one triple room. If you're in the triple room, it's 170 pesos/month. They should be emptying out during the summer. Right now, the triple room is empty where I live. I'm alone most of the time in the house because the two girls that live there are often working or out with friends.

The bad part is that you cannot have guests or alcohol where I live. So that's really, really sucked ... but it's a heck of a lot cheaper than a hotel or a youth hostel. Plus you don't have to be a student to live there.

P.S. Avoid the huge, super-expensive luxury student residences.

sheena maclean · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 7:28 pm Post subject:

Hey Yanqui thanks for the name check!!!
I've actually found a great flatshare in Congreso very cheaply, AR$300 including everything (and I mean everything). Plus my flatmate is a real dish (ok some my everything included doesn't include everything, unfortunately Smile

). Just thought if all you guys could go on all the time (to the point of boredom for us girls) about how good looking the women are I thought I would get that one in for the girls. Unfortunately my flatmate is of the typical Argentinian ilk that makes him spend far too long in the bathroom, beautifying himself, than is necesary. He's definately just a bit too cool for school for me tho. But his is single so any taker??? lol
bye for now...

YanquiQuilme�o · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 122 Location: Quilmes, Argentina

Sheena, I am thrilled for you! Very glad to hear you found some inexpensive housing in Congreso.

When I first got to Quilmes, I was paying 45 pesos/day for a really crummy hotel so the 230 pesos/month student residence was a real life-saver. I mean, it's certainly not paradise, but it's a great temporary residence while I'm looking for work. I'd actually consider living there long-term if we were allowed to have guests over. But the "no guests in your bedroom" policy is more than I can handle ...

sheena maclean · Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 11:13 am Post subject:

Yeah I suspected they would have that policy!!! I mean if you can't even have a beer in your room. Confused

YanquiQuilme�o · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 122 Location: Quilmes, Argentina

Yeah, if I don't find a place fast, I am going to go crazy.

In my room, there is NO alcohol, sex, food, radios, or heaters ... what else is there to live for???

(Actually, I've managed to break all those rules, but I'm flirting with disaster ...)

citruscinders · Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Posts: 49 Location: Canada

Yeah, student residences are great. You meet people from all over and develop great bonds. That's how I have my roomates now and I have free accomodation promised for when I travel thru Latin America. As for booze, alcohol, drugs and bedmates.... there's ways around that, as many of us discovered... Laughing

The place was in San Telmo and I shared a room with 3 girls for $256 pesos a month. But once school started, 60 people sharing one kitchen, 4 toilets and 6 showers (not co-ed), was waaaaaaaaay too much to handle.

YanquiQuilme�o · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 122 Location: Quilmes, Argentina

For better or worse, the owner is a real witch. She kicks people out a lot. So, right now there are only two people in the residence. I have my own room, thank goodness. Maximum capacity is 6 peope ... so none of the horrors that Citrus described can happen in my residence.

I was offered an apartment yesterday that wouldn't require a guarantia. It was just .... 1000 pesos a month. I may be a gringo, but I'm not that stupid. This is Quilmes, not Palermo SoHo.

This whole guarantia thing is so absurd. Did you know retired people cannot offer their property as a guarantia? What do you do if you are an only child with retired parents (and you have no friends)?

RandyRad · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Posts: 1 Location: Buenos Aires

Hey everyone, this is RandyRad speaking so please turn your ears on. I have been in BsAs now for about 2 months and I still can�t find one of these cheap places that you all are talking about. I�m tired of dealing with these homestay agencies because they are all complete caca, so if anyone has any resources for finding cheap places to live I�d be all smiles. English Teachers of the World Unite, right, because divided we all fall. Anyway, I�m not picky and simple or even unpleasant surroundings are fine by me.
And YanquiQuilmes, Have you tried the Telos? Short term guests are their pleasure.

vivaBarca · Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 3:30 pm Post subject:

How do you find these student residences? I�m moving to Cordoba - so unfortunately I�ll be missing the highly-anticipated Daves ESL Cafe, Buenos Aires branch Asado - and theres a huge Univ. there so I�d think they�d be available...are there any resources on the net for this?

citruscinders · Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Posts: 49 Location: Canada

"How do you find these student residences? "

you can google it.

Here's the first one I got.

http://www.ba-h.com.ar/Residences.htm

Good luck.

Phil_b · Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Posts: 239 Location: Back in London

Viva Barca... there are a lot of residences in Cordoba, but a lot of people come to find them in November for the next school year.... if you try looking in Feb it will be difficult....

I don't know on the internet, but you could try googling... generally outside of Buenos Aires the internet is less "integrated" in things, if that makes any sense

vivaBarca · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 8:02 pm Post subject:

Thanks Phil...I'm actually moving to Cordoba this Tuesday, so hopefully the chances for finding a place won't be too bad. I've tried googling (in spanish), but I haven't come up with too much. Maybe you can point me in the direction of where I might be able to find some places once I've arrived?

YanquiQuilme�o · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 122 Location: Quilmes, Argentina

The cheapest "telo" in Quilmes is 45 pesos/day. My residence is 230 pesos/month. The telo would be 1350 pesos/month.

How did I find the student residences? I went to the university of Quilmes and just read all of the ads on the wall. There were about a dozen residences with rooms available. I'm not sure what you'd do in Capital Federal ... but I am sure that in Cordoba a great way to find residences would be to just read the flyers posted on the walls of the university student center.

Go to places where there are students, and you will find something.

YanquiQuilme�o · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 122 Location: Quilmes, Argentina

I stayed in "telo" in Quilmes for the first week. I didn't like it. The elevator was so loud, and it went up and down throughout the night. Plus you had to hear the nightly moans of all the screwing couples.

vivaBarca · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 6:32 pm Post subject:

Not a bad idea...after I get into town I�ll make a beeline for the University...should be a good way to meet some young C�rdobeses as well...I�ll keep everyone posted as to my status in Argentina�s 2nd city once I get settled and all of that