How many people don't have dreams of running off to a tropical location to escape the cold and dreary winter? Can't afford to run off to Mexico on a six month vacation? Consider working for the winter or even year round. Here are the top five jobs available to Americans, Canadians and other foreigners in Mexico and how to get them.

One of the easiest ways to prepare to move to Mexico for a temporary period is to either eliminate your expenses or cover them while you are gone. Move out of your house or apartment and place your items in storage at a friend's or family member's house or sublet/rent out your apartment or house to either cover the expense or make some money to supplement your earnings.

You won't get rich. The wages in Mexico are terrible. You can make enough to support yourself but not a penny more. You will not be saving money in Mexico or making huge piles of cash. Likewise, you won't likely be renting a palatial villa on the sea or a luxury condo unless you have some money in the bank and wish to spend it on that. The minimum wage in Mexico is $5/day. That's a twelve hour day, by the way and usually six days per week of work. Set your expectations accordingly.

Still, while you won't be rolling in piles of dough, you will have plenty of beautiful beaches, jungles and mountains to explore as well as delicious food, lots of friends from all over the world and a great experience to add to your memoirs.

If you've ever gone on a timeshare presentation, you've seen the salespeople with the gold watches, fancy clothing and seemingly luxury lifestyle. Don't be fooled.

Timeshare sales is a prime job for many of the foreigners who decide to live in Mexico either on a temporary or permanent basis, but it is not for everyone. First of all, many resorts only hire you if you are an owner of the property. So if you don't have a timeshare with them, you probably won't get a job. There's still a shot for you if you have a great deal of sales experience and/or are very, very attractive.

While the salespeople give the appearance of raking in the cash, a very select group of long-term employees are the ones making any money at all. The timeshare sales ladder takes a long time to climb.

First of all, there is little to no training in many resorts. The second point is that you aren't getting paid unless you make a sale. Making a $85,000 timeshare sale is not easy and the party has three days to back out, so even at the sale, it's not a sure thing.

There are usually a high number of salespeople on staff. Everyone shows up at 8am. Based on your sales record, staff are sent out on the day's scheduled tours. If there are more staff than tours, the remaining staff is sent home in the afternoon. You've just spent six hours sitting around and not getting paid.

Once you get your tour and make a sale, your commission is often taxed and split between the other people who helped with the sale. This can be as many as three people.

Still, it is possible to make money at timeshare sales, but probably not the amount you would expect. You also need a very strong, aggressive personality to sell timeshare. Considering selling time share with caution.

If you are interested in selling timeshare, you'll find job listings in the local classified ads and newspapers. You can also email the timeshare sales office of the resorts you are interested in.

Unlike the United States, you don't need a license to sell real estate in Mexico. Real estate offices are often hiring and if you have a solid savings account, this might be a good option for you.

The majority of Mexico real estate sales fall into two categories; pre-existing and existing. That is, you will be selling a development that has either been built already or is in stages of being built. This is important because it determines how soon you will get paid.

If the development is pre-existing, you won't get your commission until the sale is complete, which won't be until the new owner closes on the completed property. Depending on the schedule of the development, this could be a few months or a year. In Mexico, you never know. There is some danger as well; companies go out of business or don't have enough money to finish their projects.

Existing is a better way to go since the new owner can close right away if they want. This means you'll get paid a lot sooner. Some developments offer a starting salary to get you through the first two or three months, then you move to commission.

You can find these jobs in the local newspapers and classified ads.

Large tour companies offer many different jobs and are often open to hiring foreigners. These can be fun but very hard work, long hours with low pay. Still, it's a great way for a younger person to meet other young, active people in the city.

Examples of tour company jobs would be divemaster, photographers for the dolphin swims, zip line guides, booze cruise MC, and other types of jobs for outgoing and friendly people. It's best if you are bilingual for these jobs but not usually required.

The daily wage is usually laughable and you will be relying on tips for the majority of your income. Be sure to ask whether the tips are pooled, how they are split and whether there is a guaranteed amount per day. You will want to be able to estimate your earnings if possible.

You can find these jobs on the tour company websites and in local classified ads.

There are plenty of tourist friendly restaurants that hire foreigners with outgoing and fun personalities for bartending and serving positions. Again, you are looking at a very low daily wage and long hours; relying on tips for your income.

You want to make sure the restaurant is busy and find out how they handle tips. Many places pool the tips and split them between the staff. This is not a job for introverts. You will be selling shots on the floor, DJing, bartending, and interacting with large crowds in a busy restaurant with loud music. This is another great job for younger travelers who want to meet people their own age in the city.

It's possible to get an English teaching job without a teaching certificate in Mexico. You can work for adult schools, private schools, community centers and more. These jobs are harder to find but rewarding when you do. The hours are generally shorter and the pay is terrible, but you get the satisfaction of teaching children and adults a language that will increase their chances of working out of poverty.

The best place to find English teaching jobs is the local bulletin boards for expatriates. If none are posted, often people can guide you to other people who are already working in the field and you can make connections. You can also try your hand at offering private lessons, and make more money.

All you need is a willingness to teach, patience and a good command of English. Surprisingly, French teachers are also needed in many places in Mexico.

In order to legally work in Mexico, you must have an FM3 or working visa. This usually requires a sponsorship from the company that you are working for. Some companies pay for them (they are about $150-200), some make you pay for them and some pay for them and then deduct it over time from your wages. Be sure to find out which one your desired company does.