Latest news with #Tundra
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
My husband and I left our stable income of over $200,000 and moved to Mexico. I've never had so much freedom over my life — it's a blessing.
Tired of chasing the American dream, Bianca Ramos and her husband moved to Mexico in 2024. They both earned six figures in the US, but since moving to Mexico they've downsized their life. Since the move, Ramos has more time to spend with her children and feels less stressed. This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with 36-year-old Bianca Ramos about moving from the US to Mexico. The following has been edited for length and clarity. My husband and I are both Mexican-American. In our culture, we were taught to put our heads down and work hard to make a name for ourselves. We both made six figures, so our household income was over $200,000, but I don't know if we were really happy. My father-in-law moved to America so my husband and his siblings could build a better life. When my husband and I got married in 2018, our aim was to keep pursuing the American dream by moving up the corporate ladder. But we were stressed and exhausted. It felt like no matter how hard we worked, it would never be enough to meet our American dream. In 2024, we moved our family to Mexico. We're earning less money and downsized our lifestyle, but I have more time with my kids and get to redefine what success means to me. It's been worth it. I started to struggle with the idea of the American dream In the US, I pursued a career in HR, focusing on inclusion and diversity. My husband worked in sales. Before kids, all I thought about was moving up the corporate ladder. I had a vision to be a VP of HR. We bought a four-bedroom house in Austin. He drove a Tundra, and I drove an Audi. A lot of our money was spent on paying the nanny for our two kids. I felt pressure to keep upgrading our lives: a bigger house, nicer cars, and more things, because that's what I thought success was. Every upgrade meant working harder and losing time with my kids. We initially struggled to have children. We finally had our son in 2021 and daughter in 2022. Having my son completely shifted my values. Time with my children felt more important than working in a corporate job to afford more stuff. We decided to leave the US Although I worked remotely in the US, back-to-back meetings made spending time with my kids difficult. Around the same time, I also started thinking more about my identity as a Mexican-American. We began to think moving to Mexico could help our kids understand more about their cultural identity. In 2022, my husband and I started talking about leaving America. We spent two years having long conversations about moving. We cut back on our finances, started saving, and got our documentation for moving to Mexico. We slowly sold our things, including both of our cars, and put our house up for rent. We both handed in our resignations and moved to Mexico in August 2024. Telling our families was difficult. My husband's family left Mexico to come here, so sitting them down and saying we were moving back was terrifying. We were afraid they'd feel like we were failing them. We've made sacrifices financially My husband, who dabbled in day trading before the move to Mexico, has decided to pursue it full-time. His pay is less predictable, but the flexible hours mean he can spend more time with us. When I resigned from my job, my company offered me the option to move to a part-time, remote role with them. Now, I have the flexibility to focus on my family while also pursuing content creation. My ultimate goal is to build an online community for people who want more freedom and balance in their lives. We make $2,400 from renting out our house in the States, but our professional incomes are less than they were in the US. Both of our businesses are in their infancy, but we have a big vision for our future. We don't consume just to consume anymore. In the States, I enjoyed interior design and filling my house with stuff, but in Mexico, my kids share a room and the decorations don't match like they used to. Having everything looking pristine is no longer important or financially realistic. While most things are less expensive in Mexico than in the States, branded shoes and clothing are more expensive here. We live in a two-bedroom condo in Playa del Carmen, which is smaller than our old home. We pay $1,300 a month for rent, which is less than our monthly mortgage payment. We live a 10-minute walk from the beach, and our kids love sharing a room. It's made me realize we never needed a big house to begin with. I'm redefining success outside the corporate ladder My life's taken a dramatic turn. I have more time to be present with my children because I'm not stressed and always checking my emails. I've never had so much freedom. I'm responsible for creating my own success and pursuing my business dreams. It's a blessing to be able to grab control of my life. In the US, work is always a part of your identity. When you meet new people, the first thing they'll ask is what you do. In Mexico, people work to live instead of living to work. When you meet people, they ask about your family or invite you for a drink. Walking away from my corporate dreams was one of the hardest things I've had to do. I worked so hard to get to where I was, and had more climbing to do. But I'm glad I'm betting on myself and redefining what the future looks like for me and my family. Do you have a story to share about leaving America? Contact this reporter at ccheong@ Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword

Business Insider
17 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
My husband and I left our stable income of over $200,000 and moved to Mexico. I've never had so much freedom over my life — it's a blessing.
This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with 36-year-old Bianca Ramos about moving from the US to Mexico. The following has been edited for length and clarity. My husband and I are both Mexican-American. In our culture, we were taught to put our heads down and work hard to make a name for ourselves. We both made six figures, so our household income was over $200,000, but I don't know if we were really happy. My father-in-law moved to America so my husband and his siblings could build a better life. When my husband and I got married in 2018, our aim was to keep pursuing the American dream by moving up the corporate ladder. But we were stressed and exhausted. It felt like no matter how hard we worked, it would never be enough to meet our American dream. In 2024, we moved our family to Mexico. We're earning less money and downsized our lifestyle, but I have more time with my kids and get to redefine what success means to me. It's been worth it. I started to struggle with the idea of the American dream In the US, I pursued a career in HR, focusing on inclusion and diversity. My husband worked in sales. Before kids, all I thought about was moving up the corporate ladder. I had a vision to be a VP of HR. We bought a four-bedroom house in Austin. He drove a Tundra, and I drove an Audi. A lot of our money was spent on paying the nanny for our two kids. I felt pressure to keep upgrading our lives: a bigger house, nicer cars, and more things, because that's what I thought success was. Every upgrade meant working harder and losing time with my kids. We initially struggled to have children. We finally had our son in 2021 and daughter in 2022. Having my son completely shifted my values. Time with my children felt more important than working in a corporate job to afford more stuff. We decided to leave the US Although I worked remotely in the US, back-to-back meetings made spending time with my kids difficult. Around the same time, I also started thinking more about my identity as a Mexican-American. We began to think moving to Mexico could help our kids understand more about their cultural identity. In 2022, my husband and I started talking about leaving America. We spent two years having long conversations about moving. We cut back on our finances, started saving, and got our documentation for moving to Mexico. We slowly sold our things, including both of our cars, and put our house up for rent. We both handed in our resignations and moved to Mexico in August 2024. Telling our families was difficult. My husband's family left Mexico to come here, so sitting them down and saying we were moving back was terrifying. We were afraid they'd feel like we were failing them. We've made sacrifices financially My husband, who dabbled in day trading before the move to Mexico, has decided to pursue it full-time. His pay is less predictable, but the flexible hours mean he can spend more time with us. When I resigned from my job, my company offered me the option to move to a part-time, remote role with them. Now, I have the flexibility to focus on my family while also pursuing content creation. My ultimate goal is to build an online community for people who want more freedom and balance in their lives. We make $2,400 from renting out our house in the States, but our professional incomes are less than they were in the US. Both of our businesses are in their infancy, but we have a big vision for our future. We don't consume just to consume anymore. In the States, I enjoyed interior design and filling my house with stuff, but in Mexico, my kids share a room and the decorations don't match like they used to. Having everything looking pristine is no longer important or financially realistic. While most things are less expensive in Mexico than in the States, branded shoes and clothing are more expensive here. We live in a two-bedroom condo in Playa del Carmen, which is smaller than our old home. We pay $1,300 a month for rent, which is less than our monthly mortgage payment. We live a 10-minute walk from the beach, and our kids love sharing a room. It's made me realize we never needed a big house to begin with. I'm redefining success outside the corporate ladder My life's taken a dramatic turn. I have more time to be present with my children because I'm not stressed and always checking my emails. I've never had so much freedom. I'm responsible for creating my own success and pursuing my business dreams. It's a blessing to be able to grab control of my life. In the US, work is always a part of your identity. When you meet new people, the first thing they'll ask is what you do. In Mexico, people work to live instead of living to work. When you meet people, they ask about your family or invite you for a drink. Walking away from my corporate dreams was one of the hardest things I've had to do. I worked so hard to get to where I was, and had more climbing to do. But I'm glad I'm betting on myself and redefining what the future looks like for me and my family.

Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
2026 Toyota Tundra Gallery: See All The Updates Up Close
Toyota has just announced a few updates to its Tundra pickup for the 2026 model year. Although there's nothing quite as attention-grabbing as Ram bringing back the V8 to the 1500, the Tundra still receives some desirable additions for the new year, including a new color, an optional lift kit, and changes to the seats on specific trims. The sporty and capable TRD Pro trim is now available with a new blue color called Wave Maker, which is also new for the Sequoia TRD Pro this year. A TRD 3" Lift Kit and Tow Tech Package is now available to spec with the TRD Rally pack, which should give the big truck even better off-roading capabilities. Regardless of the trim, 2026 Tundras now all get a 32.2-gallon gas tank instead of the 22.5-gallon tank equipped to certain models. That means fewer refill stops. Platinum and 1794 TRD Off-Road Package models are now available with power running boards. Elsewhere, the SX Package gets upgraded 20-inch alloy wheels. Related: Toyota Tundra TRD Pro vs. Ram Rebel X: We Crown the True Off-Road Champion Nothing changes under the hood, which means the Tundra still has a twin-turbo V6 with 389 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. A hybrid version produces 437 hp and 583 lb-ft, and while RWD is standard, 4WD is available. The Tundra ranks as the longest-lasting light-duty vehicle you can buy. The classy but expensive Capstone remains the 2026 Tundra's top trim, and it now gets upgraded leather seats with a Shale Premium Textured finish. Here we can see the new Capstone seats in more detail, including the little perforations. This trim gets heated and ventilated seats in both rows. The Capstone is not the only Tundra to enjoy interior updates. Limited models now get genuine leather instead of SofTex upholstery, in either black or grey, while Double Cab models now have air vents for those seated at the back. The rugged TRD Pro still comes with a red interior. A new option for this trim, inherited from the Tacoma, is ISO Dynamic-type seats that are more comfortable when off-roading. Toyota sticks with a standard eight-inch touchscreen or a larger 14-inch unit on upper trims. Providing added convenience is wireless operation of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 1794 Edition remains a classy choice for 2026 with its wood inserts and brown interior. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


Auto Blog
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
2026 Toyota Tundra Gallery: See All The Updates Up Close
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. View post: Loans Still Rule the Road — Here's the Full Breakdown of How Americans Buy Cars View post: Lamborghini's Flagship Hypercar Is Already On Its Third Recall View post: Ayrton Senna's Final Honda V10 F1 Engine Could Be the Coolest Thing in Your Living Room Several Tundra trims have been improved for the new model year Toyota has just announced a few updates to its Tundra pickup for the 2026 model year. Although there's nothing quite as attention-grabbing as Ram bringing back the V8 to the 1500, the Tundra still receives some desirable additions for the new year, including a new color, an optional lift kit, and changes to the seats on specific trims. What is the Jeep Wrangler 4xe Backcountry? Watch More 1 Source: Toyota The sporty and capable TRD Pro trim is now available with a new blue color called Wave Maker, which is also new for the Sequoia TRD Pro this year. 2 2026 Toyota TRDPro Tundra — Source: Toyota A TRD 3″ Lift Kit and Tow Tech Package is now available to spec with the TRD Rally pack, which should give the big truck even better off-roading capabilities. 3 Source: Toyota Regardless of the trim, 2026 Tundras now all get a 32.2-gallon gas tank instead of the 22.5-gallon tank equipped to certain models. That means fewer refill stops. 4 Platinum and 1794 TRD Off-Road Package models are now available with power running boards. Elsewhere, the SX Package gets upgraded 20-inch alloy wheels. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. 5 Nothing changes under the hood, which means the Tundra still has a twin-turbo V6 with 389 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. A hybrid version produces 437 hp and 583 lb-ft, and while RWD is standard, 4WD is available. The Tundra ranks as the longest-lasting light-duty vehicle you can buy. 6 The classy but expensive Capstone remains the 2026 Tundra's top trim, and it now gets upgraded leather seats with a Shale Premium Textured finish. 7 Here we can see the new Capstone seats in more detail, including the little perforations. This trim gets heated and ventilated seats in both rows. 8 The Capstone is not the only Tundra to enjoy interior updates. Limited models now get genuine leather instead of SofTex upholstery, in either black or grey, while Double Cab models now have air vents for those seated at the back. 9 The rugged TRD Pro still comes with a red interior. A new option for this trim, inherited from the Tacoma, is ISO Dynamic-type seats that are more comfortable when off-roading. 10 Toyota sticks with a standard eight-inch touchscreen or a larger 14-inch unit on upper trims. Providing added convenience is wireless operation of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 11 The 1794 Edition remains a classy choice for 2026 with its wood inserts and brown interior. About the Author Karl Furlong View Profile
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Toyota Levels Up Its Flagship Truck with Rugged Options and Added Luxury
The 2026 Tundra gets a host of updates that make it even more prepared for adventure. Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more Upon the launch of the third-generation Tundra back in 2022, Toyota ditched the truck's proven 5.7-liter V8 engine in favor of a cleaner, greener twin-turbo V6 and (gasp) a hybrid option. At the time, many pickup enthusiasts grieved the loss of those two additional cylinders, even though the smaller engine resulted in improved fuel economy, more power and more torque. That's not all — as part of the refresh, Toyota introduced multi-link rear suspension, a beefier fully boxed frame and a host of interior refinements. In an effort to compete against domestic offerings, last year's update made eight-way front seats available on the SR5, added a power tailgate as standard and introduced a new TRD Rally appearance package. Not content to stop there, Toyota has just unveiled its 2026 Tundra. Along with a bold new color option, the truck also benefits from some rugged TRD upgrades and even more luxurious trim choices. Here's what to expect. Rugged trail readiness For the 2026 model year, Toyota is treating the Tundra to some subtle but impactful tweaks that make it even more suited to towing and trail duty. In practice, this means that all Tundra models will come equipped with the larger 32.2-gallon fuel tank as standard — even the SR and SR5 models that had previously featured the smaller 22.5-gallon option. What's more, Toyota will be including a tow hitch and a 7/4 pin connector across the lineup to provide hauling provisions from the factory. And the changes aren't exclusive to the lower-spec Tundras; as part of the refresh, Toyota is also adding several trim-specific updates. For instance, the Tundra TRD Pro will get a bright Wave Maker Blue colorway and some optional ISO Dynamic seats similar to those found in the Toyota Tacoma. Elsewhere in the lineup, the Platinum and 1794 TRD Off-Road Package models get power running boards, while the SX Package gains 20-inch wheels. The TRD Rally Package improves on its capabilities thanks to the option of a three-inch TRD lift kit and Tow Tech Package. Elevated, inside and out Beyond giving the 2026 Tundra TRD Pro a bright Wave Maker blue colorway, Toyota aims to elevate the driving experience — inside and out. To improve cabin comfort, this means that all double cab Tundras will feature additional air vents in the rear center console. Moreover, Toyota says that all models equipped with single-zone climate control are to receive the automaker's SmartFlow management system. For 2026, the Limited grade moves to leather-trimmed seats, with black and grey hides complemented by monochromatic stitching. As such, even the top-of-the-line Capstone grade gets a new option in the form of some Shale-colored leather-trimmed upholstery. More to come At this stage, Toyota has yet to release full pricing and specifications or the 2026 Tundra lineup. However, it has confirmed that next year's model will retain its twin-turbo V6 i-Force and hybrid i-Force Max powertrain options. Output remains consistent with the 2025 model at 389 horsepower and 437 horsepower, respectively. As such, it's unlikely that the above changes will result in a significant price hike (as inevitable as they may be). The 2025 Tundra starts at $40,090 for the SR5 and tops out at $80,725 for the Capstone, so chances are pretty good that MSRP will shape up to be similar when the truck hits dealers later this year. 2026 Toyota Tundra Learn More