The Cost Of Living

[stevewool]

Wow, lots of the members budgets blow mine out the water, but i am sure with what i will be spending per month will be fine , yes there will always be a surplus hidden in my back pocket , for the just in case,

Until that day i set foot over there i shall just pile the cash away in the ISA and bank account , never in stocks and shares , bird in the hand is worth two in the bush sort of guy as they say

[bows00]

After our monthly business day, banking, pay all bills and organize the monthly budget, and while out of the house away from any distractions, I will sit Gina down and give her the plan. At one time I was having her sign off on it, but she came good so no need.

Awesome. I salute you sir. A lot of couples don't sit down and discuss their finances, especially expats with Filipina girlfriends. It's must be amazing when you think about the level of peace you get when both of you are on the same page, and she realizes your not an endless money pit. This is the unavoidable cure for couples with money problems.

Just curious, you mention that she needs improvement on saving skills - as a couple, do you guys set savings goals? It could be as simple as a nice restaurant date, or for vacations... put away money into labeled envelopes?

[bows00]

Until that day i set foot over there i shall just pile the cash away in the ISA and bank account , never in stocks and shares , bird in the hand is worth two in the bush sort of guy as they say

I don't know about that... it depends on how long you expect your money to last. I always recommend having some emergency funds in the bank, but have a percentage invested in stocks (never individual stocks, but into the entire spectrum of stocks - i.e., S&P 500 index).

[chris49]

 

After our monthly business day, banking, pay all bills and organize the monthly budget, and while out of the house away from any distractions, I will sit Gina down and give her the plan. At one time I was having her sign off on it, but she came good so no need.

Awesome. I salute you sir. A lot of couples don't sit down and discuss their finances, especially expats with Filipina girlfriends. It's must be amazing when you think about the level of peace you get when both of you are on the same page, and she realizes your not an endless money pit. This is the unavoidable cure for couples with money problems.

Just curious, you mention that she needs improvement on saving skills - as a couple, do you guys set savings goals? It could be as simple as a nice restaurant date, or for vacations... put away money into labeled envelopes?

 

 

I wish I could say yes, but nah, the savings goes on projects here and there. I have a separate Dollar Acct, so f I can get the money in there it's good. Envelopes, well I use that system also, have not had big success with it, my experience, any cash around will be used, misused.

 

Gina being provincial really hasn't developed the higher taste, in a way she cannot fully appreciate some of the restaurants I would choose, but we have hit it on occasion. Since our personal money is separated she would probably use hers elsewhere. Salon, I guess because she only gets the opportunity, 2-3 times/year.

[Thomas]

Has your cost of living gone up since you have been there,

Ok on the first day of landing there you have your budget to stick too, and after so many months you are managing quite well, then your costs start to rise, do you still manage, or has you income risen too, and if it has not are you still happy being there ,

We all have to budget to live the way we want but how far does your budget have to fall till you think O HECK I BETTER GET ANOTHER INCOME OR MOVE

Why would it go up LATER???  (I mean other than inflation.)

It's higher costs in STARTUP when needing to buy all things we want, but weren't worth the transport cost to bring to Phils.

[stevewool]

 

Until that day i set foot over there i shall just pile the cash away in the ISA and bank account , never in stocks and shares , bird in the hand is worth two in the bush sort of guy as they say

I don't know about that... it depends on how long you expect your money to last. I always recommend having some emergency funds in the bank, but have a percentage invested in stocks (never individual stocks, but into the entire spectrum of stocks - i.e., S&P 500 index).

 

This is the problem , who knows how long we shall live to make the money last you, what i am putting away in a sense is never to be touched unless we want that extra special thing a new car a trip back to England or the a trip around the world, even for say lets move and build our new home here,

[stevewool]

 

Has your cost of living gone up since you have been there,

Ok on the first day of landing there you have your budget to stick too, and after so many months you are managing quite well, then your costs start to rise, do you still manage, or has you income risen too, and if it has not are you still happy being there ,

We all have to budget to live the way we want but how far does your budget have to fall till you think O HECK I BETTER GET ANOTHER INCOME OR MOVE

Why would it go up LATER???  (I mean other than inflation.)

It's higher costs in STARTUP when needing to buy all things we want, but weren't worth the transport cost to bring to Phils.

 

 

If you only had a set income and maybe you know later your income would not be the big cash you have at the start , that is what i ment

[MacBubba]

Before we wrap things up here in Canada, we will be looking at annuities to supplement.  Anyone with experience on those?

[sonjack2847]

Has your cost of living gone up since you have been there,

Not as much as it  has done for you in the UK.

[Ynot]

its interesting to read the different views and budgets people live on.  when i make the move, Im not sure how much i will have as it is tied to my length of service, the longer i work the more I will have but then that is trading of my health to enjoy life in retirement, because the longer i work, the less good health in retirement not to mention the less time in retirement,  so you need to get a balance.     Based on todays rates I think i will have as a minimum somewhere between 50,000 to 70,000 a month and had i been retired the last 3 years i would have had in excess of 200,000 a month, but that is earning 10% return on super, I dont think that will happen again any time soon. So I will need to learn to tighten my belt and be content with 50,000 too 70,000 a month.

Edited July 18, 2015 by Ynot