Could You Live On Just $32,000 Per Year?

[Dave Hounddriver]

1 hour ago, stevewool said:

my wife says we can live well on that amount.

So do many of our wives, until they actually try it.  When was the last time she lived in Philippines?  My good friend just paid out 100K pesos to the hospital to keep his wife's father alive.  Most of us don't count on that.  He didn't.  But what are you going to do?  Let him die and say it ain't in the budget?

[Kuya John]

6 hours ago, Dave Hounddriver said:

  My good friend just paid out 100K pesos to the hospital to keep his wife's father alive.  Most of us don't count on that.  He didn't.  But what are you going to do?  Let him die and say it ain't in the budget?

Dave I take your point, it is also very hard to foresee what might happen in the future. There are many Expat's who have had to leave it all behind and return home because "it ain't in the budget" to get sick themselves.

Just one of the reason's I've not taken the plunge and moved permanently to Philippines,while we still have a National Health Service in UK.

[bows00]

 I am still young enough to party in the bars, so I am shooting for $5000 per month.  But I give myself 2 years before my liver gives out. 

[Gratefuled]

1 hour ago, Kuya John said:

Just one of the reason's I've not taken the plunge and moved permanently to Philippines,while we still have a National Health Service in UK.

That's one good reason for me too. One of many.  I take my health seriously. I love the people here ( most of them) but on the other hand I love my friends and relatives in the states more. Many more reasons too, I might add.

[i am bob]

KLet's see...  $1000 USD is, on a quick conversion, P50,000 a month...  If you have a nest egg / credit card or some other form of emergency fund that you aren't going to touch..?  Very doable..!  Unless you need the big big house with a big big yard in the middle of an expensive subdivision...  Eat imported food for every meal...  Live as if you were in your home country...  Hmm...  Could afford to live in your home country on $1000 a month?  Those who say no usually have higher demands on how they live...  myself?  I'm doing fine on P30-35k a month for myself with a katabung while having her cousins visit on weekends and dating at the same time...  And, yes, I have access to more but I don't need it...  In fact I'm doing a Visa Run shortly I'm trying to budget into my monthly expenses...  Just see if it's doable without lowering my living standards...  Yes, I've done a lot of traveling lately but that's for business and comes from a different budget but only the travel and accommodations...  

[Maxheadspace]

$32,000?  Hmmm.  According to the last US census (2014), the median household income in the US was $73,000, but that was entire household income.  The US IRS tax info shows the median "Head of Household" income to be $35,000.  That's not retirement, that's still working!  So I'm thankful that life is MUCH cheaper in the Philippines. 

[Tukaram (Tim)]

On 4/13/2017 at 11:22 PM, Dr. Shiva said:

Is it possible to live somewhat well in the Philippines with an income or pension of just around US$ 1000.- per month? Counting one person or second scenario two persons?

My wife an I have been doing it, on less $1,000, for over 4 years. I budget p40,000 a month, which currently is $800. I was paying rent (p6,000) for the first few years but we built a house last year, out of my savings.  Now I pay myself p5,000 in "rent" each month to pay myself back for the house.  We cannot make budget recommendations for others, without knowing more about you and your comfort needs...  but I know quite a few guys that live on less $1,000 a month.

I live on $800, but recommend $1,200.  

[Gratefuled]

1 hour ago, i am bob said:

Unless you need the big big house with a big big yard in the middle of an expensive subdivision...  Eat imported food for every meal...  Live as if you were in your home country...  Hmm...

Good point

[Gratefuled]

36 minutes ago, Maxheadspace said:

I'm thankful that life is MUCH cheaper in the Philippines. 

You get what you pay for.

Good is not cheap and cheap is not always good.

[stevewool]

18 hours ago, Dave Hounddriver said:

So do many of our wives, until they actually try it.  When was the last time she lived in Philippines?  My good friend just paid out 100K pesos to the hospital to keep his wife's father alive.  Most of us don't count on that.  He didn't.  But what are you going to do?  Let him die and say it ain't in the budget?

Emergencies , holidays, maintenance on the house and any other things that may pop up will be from the other pot i keep on mentioning , the savings pot.

In this pot will be enough for the big house, the new car , the flights back to England each year but hang about i dont need those , plus what about the credit card for the just incase too.

We are all different in what we are wanting and what we need, but some can be living good on little and some need everything what they have already from the west.

Me , well who knows until i get there, thats why i am saving very hard to try to make sure we will be fine.