Need Help On Costs

[fred]

my advice would be to come on over for a 2 month holiday and see how it goes.. if its all good then extend for another month etc.. Who knows..You may never leave!

I know guys here with similar income as you that have found accommodation for around 5k a month.. Pretty basic,but one of them has a long lease and has made the place really nice.. You really need to be here for reasonably long periods to find these kind of deals..You wont find them on the internet,thats for sure!

Keep the cash that you can liquidate in a form where you can easily get at it..Emergencies only.

live life here one day at a time and enjoy every minute.. what have you got to lose?

[jon1]

SubicSteve is correct. You have to think about how much it would cost you to establish a household, maintain a nest egg, and get by on your $868/mo. It would only take one major hospitalization and your nest egg could be gone leaving you without any means of getting back to the US. 

 

You could expect to pay for all of your medical costs out of pocket and then fight Tricare for reimbursement. 

 

You really don't have enough assets to give you a good safety margin.

[Dave Hounddriver]

I have known others to come here in similar situations.  Some stay and make the best of it (some actually enjoy life here on a small budget).  Others go back to USA, especially those who have any chance of earning a little cash over and above their disability pension.

 

But if that's all you got, and you gotta live somewhere on that money, then it will likely go further here than where you are now.  Its just not going to be easy.  One thing though, does your disability stop you from riding a motorcycle?  Its like the cheapest way to get around here (if you have some experience riding).  Other than that you will find 'public transportation' primitive, especially if you have a serious disability.

[i am bob]

I gotta agree with Dave... If you can't afford to be where you are, there has to be somewhere you can still afford to live a little bit better!  Or, in your situation, you are really scraping by so maybe the Philippines might offer a bit better life for you.  But you are going to really have to study the situation.  See what you can do with and do without.  Is it something you don't need in the US but really will need in the Philippines?  Or the other way around?  

 

Might I ask?  If it's only a bum ankle, why not try and go back to work for a couple years?  Save a few dollars and then come over once you qualify to be a retiree... Pensions help so much more when you have more than one!

[robert k]

In case anyone has not noticed ITSMRBILL is receiving widely varrying comments. The ones saying he can't do it and have a decent life I believe are talking about living in the Philippines on your own terms, living the closest approximation possible to the lives they lived in their home countries. I think this set is talking about 2 to 3 times the money you have available

 

The ones saying it's possible to live a decent life without alot of money are, I believe, talking about living in the Philippines on the Philippine's terms. For this you need to think outside the box and be flexible. Ease into it. The first thought that crosses my mind is that there is probably a family somewhere that could use a boarder and if you brought in $100 more than it cost to keep you in food water and electricity and you weren't much trouble, I think they would be pretty happy with the situation. Bring clothes and something for your own amusement and communication like a modest laptop because you will probably get tired of watching Minute to win it and That's my tomboy after awhile. Filipinos are hospitable people but if they like you, the family you live with would be an excellent support group. You would not be doing your own grocery shopping and paying Kano prices from the outset. They may well own a motorcycle and be willing to haul you someplace for 100 pisos which would be a fair amount of money but for fuel, wear and tear and the drivers time, who may well assist you in whatever you are doing, I would consider it a bargain. At this point, with what you have, I would be visa legal, fed, housed, clothed and entertained in reasonable fashion, something of a support group and $400 or more a month to spend. It's not forever but it's a start until you get your feet under you. $50 a month would probably get you insurance.

 

Of course you are going to bleed money from the instant you get off the plane until you find someone to board with, I would be asking taxi and trike drivers if they knew anyone who might be interested. In 6 months you can see where you want to go from there.

 

You may be able to team up with someone else, there was a member 06 Charger who was asking if anyone had a spare room not too long ago. Not a permanent solution but it might provide a breathing space to get your feet under you. Think outside the box. If you are not in a position to be independent, trying to be independent is just going to lead to failure. Find the way that gets you as close to where you want to be as possible then work on the rest.

 

Do alot of research with the search function at top right and ask questions you have that you can't find an answer for. Don't just leap because you hear cheap rent, You can't drink the tap water but drinking water is not too expensive in bulk delivered to your residence, I would get a few reusable water bottles because buying a small bottle at a time is an unnecessary expense. Electricity is going to be expensive per kw hour. As Bob said, motorcycle is the cheapest form of personal transport but I would consider it carefully with a bad ankle because I can almost gurantee that you will find some bad/gravel road where you will have to put a foot down or go down. On the plus side a brand new Kymco visa R110 can be had for about $900 which is about the lowest I would go down the food chain [personal opinion] of motorcycles. Definitely spend the money for health insurance if you are going to ride a motorcycle, you might say just get the insurance, period because you may need it to be admitted to a hospital which are largely cash and carry in the Philippines, more research.

 

I didn't intend to write this much, I should be doing other things but I want to urge you to put your thinking cap on and do your research so you can minimize any nasty surprises. This is not a blueprint for how to do it but merely the direvtion I would be thinking in your place. :tiphat:

[sjp52]

I did a basic comparison of my living in Canada and the Philippines as I live 6 months in Canada and 6 months in the Philippines. I live a comfortable life in both places. There are 2 of us in Canada and 7 of us in the Philippines I support.  

 

 I also included what I know I could live on if I was single in the Philippines. This is just the basic with no entertainment, Insurance or visa extensions ( visa ext are around 3500 pesos or $80 every 2 months I think )

 

Yes you can live cheaper in the Philippines but the quality of things your money can buy are cheaper, Like internet, My internet in Canada blows away the internet in Philippines, But the Internet in the Philippines is tolerable most of the time and is slowly improving as the years go on.

 

The house I rent in CDO Philippines is a 120 sqm with 3 bedrooms and 2 bath and 2 aircon. It is a little smaller than the house I own in Canada but its nice.

 

I have seen lots of appartments for $125 to $185 that a single guy would feel comfortable living in.

 

I would also recommend getting a maid or helper at $40 to $50 a month as she will be a  big help at avoiding the Kano tax and sparing you the frustrating visits to go pay bills and its nice to spoil yourself in your retirement. Our helper has my coffee ready for me when I wake up in the morning and when I am done my walk and exercising she gives me a great massage,

 

The biggest thing I would be concerned about if I was single and on a small limited budget is like some people here have already commented on, The safety net. A credit card with a $5000 limit only to be used for emergencies is very important for peace of mind.  You should know if you have an accident or get sick and have to go to the hospital its pay to play, There are no freebies here. I have seen people lying at the front doors of hospitals so sick and probably dieing because they have no money to pay. Life is cheap in the Philippines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

[Papa Carl]

Welcome to the forum. There is a great deal of very sound advice here from people with "boots on the ground"

 

I would like to add, I have lived here for just over 7 years now. I am married to a Filipina who is 31 years younger than I am, we have a 3 and half year old daughter. I get no pension or money from any source other than what I earn here in the Philippines. I have done several types of work and earned between 25K (pesos) and 85K (pesos) a month. Currently I earn about 48K (pesos) a month, which is roughly 1,100 USD. I teach English in a local facility that has students of ages between 15 and 60 from countries around Asia.

 

I have posted a video and pictures of where we live, which is a two bedroom two bath Western style of house, it is not big, but comfortable for us to live in. I drive an owner type Jeep, with doors, seat belts, emergency brake and air conditioning. It is registered in my name with all relevant stickers etc. I have a Philippines drivers license and other sources of identification from the Philippines.

 

Yes we have the "family" members who show up, usually when someone needs to get married, or give birth etc. and some stay for extended times.

 

Yes sometimes things get tight.... very tight when unexpected things happen, such as I go for a month or two without any income, or when my daughter or wife have medical costs.

 

However, we live well generally, so I lean more to those who say yes it can be done. It is true you need to adjust to living more of a Philippine life style, but I eat well, smoke too much, drink sometimes etc. We generally have enough money to eat out at our favourite restaurant once a month, and even go on holidays to the beach etc.

 

I do agree with the advice that a "nest egg" is a must, in case of medical emergency etc. If you need to get back "home" this is a must. I could not go back to England or Canada at this moment no matter what happened, so there are trade offs, but then that will be the case no matter where you go. 

 

My lifestyle here is much better than if I were living in Canada or England on the same amount of money, so my choice was to live here, others may choose to stay where they are.

 

I can only say, I do not regret my decision, and as I have said before, I may not be "Happier" but I am much more content with my life! But I do wish I had one of those Credit Cards I destroyed, or the "nest egg" that others have mentioned if for no other reason than "peace of mind".

 

Good luck with your decision, I hope you read all the advice given by all the members, both those for and those against you moving to the Philippines.

 

Papa Carl

[Old55]

Don 't go unless you have enough savings to cover hopitalization and an airline ticket back to the states. Don't go. Do what Bob and some other suggested get a job any job save enough to cover yourself.

Four years ago an American living in my familys area came to me with his very pregnant girl friend. His story was not pretty. We fed them gave them some food his girl a little cash. They were slowly starving.

The US Goverment will not help you!

Philippines can be an unfogiving place. You think your life sucks now you have no idea how good you have it compared to millions living in Philippines.

Edited July 23, 2014 by Old55

[ITSMRBILL]

thanks for all the advice/info good and bad!... I'm a big bot and I can handle it lol.......wow you guys are awesome! here is my take on the sitrep:

I am used to adversity I have been homeless 10 years out of the last 17.....airconditioning-whats thaaat? haha.

I went to anchorage ak twice and Kalispell mt. got off the plane in ak with 212.00 and 98.00 800.00 off the bus in mt. had no plan knew not a soul and was up and running inside a month. I am fully aware of the different lifestyle a new country will bring I will not miss "the comforts of home"-never really had them here lol. robertk hit it on the head!.. that's exactly what I do I integrate into a family an old lady a church etc etc I see a need I make an offer and I usually get into a situation that is more beneficial to them than to me lol or I'd still be in it..I usually get burned. BUT  if I could pay the rent 6 months in advance weelll I don't have to be told to do anything I just offer or do it. take uot trash mow yards run errands heavy lift dirty work etc etc. I don't party don't do drugs Christian but not holyier than thou type ya I will go to a bar and sip a beer but never been kicked out of one lol. I'm very respectful and trustworthy old people like me because of that..and very protective....I don't take sh&t and I can dish it out if I have to. but I have MANNERS! I totally realize culture shock will be around every corner. yes I can ride a motorcycle had a KZ 1000  I the good ole days so a 125 or scooter no problem. not really missing out on the medical because I get simple care here now I would have a few thousand stashed on a card etc. and pay the rent in advance and build and recon from there... I always make a plan but will ppl allow the plan to proceed is my problem I get in with the right ppl and its a win-win. I would get the insurance asap and I figure eventually id have a wife and make it clear that im not rich but we could live better as 2 etc. I would have have done exactly like robertk suggests ask taxi ppl etc if someone is looking for a reliable roommate or have a room or a shack in the back etc. and want the rent paid on time etc. if I look around and say better than the street better than jail better than where I came from id be happy!- BOOM. I am building an online webstore and a sports league my concerns would be internet to finish my projects. and my smart phone so I need info on those critical areas.......but at this point I want to liquidate my assets and get on a plane find a family with a spare room or a 150-200 month place and take it from there... remember I would have to pay4-500 for an rv slab here thaats not gonna happen its a parking lot!

that's my motivation and my "plan"....ive had worse ones lol

[cebu rocks]

Dude go for it .. It can be done  you are used to living on that limited budget in the US you can do it here no problem .

 

I see it like be poor starving and homeless in the US or be warm happy and full in a grass shack with a beautiful wife  no brainer  make the move 

 

Ps always have a exit strategy IE: ticket home and a few bucks put away for the hospital