RE: Back again: my year in review

Hi my friend! It's so nice to hear from you!
I've extended my tourist visa twice now, which would usually be possible by leaving the country and coming back. But since they're not handing out the full 180 days every time to every one, I actually had to pay someone to get the stamp. So now I'm legal but my kids are overstaying haha.

Right now, there are two different options for me. 1 I can apply for a Regularizacion de documento vencido. This is for people who's tourist visa is expired and who were here in 2021, which is the case for us. Now, they have been extending this each year. We only just heard that it applies for us.
However, I would have to wait until my tourist visa expires, which is in May.
With this, I'd get a 4 year temporary residency but I'd still have to apply for the work permit separately. Making it very costly all in all.

Option 2 would be to apply for a 1 year work permit. It's a lot cheaper, although I would have to leave the country to Belize or Costa Rica or so.
After the one year one, this can be renewed for another 3 years, and then permanent residency after that.

Either way, I will have to have a job that pays decent money in order to be able to do either. And here, I'd need the work permit before I can start work. So it's a bit tricky either way.

Oh and yes, we're still in Playa del Carmen.