I am an optimist by nature.
I tend to look at the good side, or the positive side of life.
Even if I know that I am in a bad situation, I try to find the positive part of it if at all possible. I have had one time during my expat life in the Philippines when I was in serious financial trouble. I faced up to it and found a way out. That was less than 2 years after I moved to the Philippines. I had blown through a large amount of month in the 2 year period and I was in serious trouble. I started to go negative in my thinking, but my wife pushed me to remain positive and suggested some possible solutions.
Through listening to my wife, I was able to refine some ideas that she suggested and came up with some really great methods of making money. Since that time, I have had a few times when I had cash flow problems due to spending on business ventures while the income was not coming in yet, but overall, my life has been financially sound.
In general, most of the places where Expats like to live are not good places to be in financial need. My experience is in the Philippines, so that is what I will talk about.
Being broke in the Philippines
In most Western Countries, the places where most expats come from, if you are seriously broke there are financial safety nets in place to protect you and keep you from sinking. I have personally never made use of such safety nets, and I feel that many countries have gone way overboard with such safety nets (including my homeland, the USA). However, for those who are truly in need, such programs can be a lifesaver. Generally, though, such programs are not available in countries like the Philippines or other developing countries. If you are poor in a developing country, well, you are on your own.
There is a British expat who used to live in the Philippines. I am not sure if he is still in the Philippines or not, as I have not heard from him in some time. I had sort of forgotten about him until I ran across a video of his on YouTube, when I realized that I was not sure if he was even in the Philippines any longer.
Anyway, I watched Matt’s video, and while I tend to be an optimist, as I mentioned, in this video, Matt seems very pessimistic about life in the Philippines. As I considered the things he was saying, I could not disagree, I just try to look at these things in a more positive way than he did in this video.
Have a look and see what you think by Matt’s appraisal of the situation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD0WPVKuTqs
Like I said, I have to admit that nothing Matt said is false. Nothing is misleading. He is being honest. Now, for me, I would, were I in a discussion with the Matt in this video, argue that I am the type of person who can figure a way to overcome the negative things that he mentioned. Matt even mentioned that he, himself, is a person who can easily make money and has always been like that. In that way, Matt is much like me. I tend to be able to come up with ideas and plans on how to turn just about anything into a money maker. But, I also admit that there are plenty of people who are not like that. In fact, I would expect that the majority of people are not able to create money and income easily.
So, what are you going to do? If you have a regular reliable pension perhaps you are not scared or worried about money. But, as Matt pointed out, your pension money could be stolen if you are not careful. If you lost the whole wad of money at the beginning of the month, it could leave you in serious trouble until the next month, and then it would take you a while to get back on your feet again. If you have no pension at all, like me, you have to make plans and have reserve funds to keep you going should tough times hit.
I moved to the Philippines at a relatively young age, 38 years old. That means that I don’t have the pension or other funds that an older expat has. I need to work and produce income in order to support my family. Thankfully, to date that has not been a problem for me, except for that one time not long after moving here which I mentioned at the beginning of this article. But, tough times could strike. In 2008 when the worldwide economy took a real skid, I was hit, but not to the extend that it put me in trouble. Times were tight, but we made it. If things got significantly worse than that, though, it could cause problems for me, particularly if the tough patch was prolonged.
What about you? Are you the type who finds it easy to create income? Do you have a plan to keep you afloat in whatever country you decided to live in?
Yes, it needs a lot of thought and planning before you make the final move.
Yes, indeed, Malcolm. And, after making the move, you always have to stay on top of your situation to make sure you stay in good shape financially.
You also have to stay in good health as well.
Yes, of course! 🙂
Hi Bob…I guess if you are the kind of person who can handle your finances , you will handle them wherever you are …and vice versa .
Hey, Malcolm, the key is to handle your money instead of having somebody else handle it without your invitation1 🙂
Bob Hess I don’t know, Bob, getting married is the best thing I ever did in my life. I’ve been married once, so far it has lasted 25 years, and I believe it will last for the rest of my life. I’d be very broke if not for my wife, I believe.
Bob, and Bob, and everyone. Marrying essentially forfeits ability to solely and properly manage your earnings and finances to the wife, most especially so in Philippine custom, culture, and practicality. While the “wife” was the “girlfriend” she had vested interest in using some modicum of common sense and respect for the source of all the money. Once married, all that evaporates and is in reality totally reversed, no respect no care no common sense – because now married and the husband will auto-cover anything and all stupid that the wife proceeds to do without consultation or even vague notice. None of suggests that the wife actually meant any ill, just that she typically ignored and eschewed advice and knowledge, instead screeched with outstretched hand demanding free Big Money from God for her latest stupidity, which “daming libreng pera galing Dios” the husband must continually mysteriously produce and access at any bank at any moments notice.
This isn’t about a few pesos, it’s about too many *millions* of pesos, homes and properties paid for and lost then ridiculous debts incurred by the wife including with gangsters. Quite a lot for the husband to continually deal with as it’s discovered the hard way and always at the wrong time.
None of this was apparent nor possible to anticipate in the years prior to eventual marriage – the day everything changed.
That stated from scathing experience, some posters here report that they have actually married women who are better at math than unbridled unsupportable mega-excessive ambition. To those so fortunate, you are with the very lucky few. The rest of us are in the process of picking up the pieces of our trust and love now that the wife has finally realized that our decades of experience work and learning in the proverbial “school of hard knocks” prior to meeting the wife are of extreme benefit to her once she actually condescends to listen, learn, and act like a decent person.
The bottom line to the wife: “Though way late and way stupid on your part, you learn now and act properly because once I’m dead I can’t help you and our kids and family any more. you will lose it all, and no one else will entertain you. What then your ambitions and idiocity, and what about our kids?”
Even though old now and with resources more limited than anytime since my university years an effective few lifetimes ago, I’m here picking up the pieces and looking after the kids, and yes, still working to help the wife to grow a brain. I seem to finally be on the upside, and it hasn’t been easy.
My condolences to the other 98% who were unable to survive, and I hope my posted experiences help the intervening 1% to do the best as I’m trying to do.
I’ve heard similar stories many times here, a 6 million peso house pawned for 50,000 pesos, etc. by the filipina wife.
Yes, I understand. I was just sharing my thoughts.. should not be a problem. 🙂
Took a moment and did a little dig.
From Matt’s Channel
Back in 2007 Matt moved to Cebu, Philippines and married April and although currently now in Spain after 7 years in the Philippines. They still maintain life in the Philippines but now with the added travel into Europe.
Hi Byron – I don’t “know” Matt, but we both know of each other. Yeah, Matt comes and goes now from the country. He does a lot of online stuff like I do… blogging and such.
Being broke is something that we’ll all experience pretty soon, except that this time it will be a life or death situation.
Only in a few months from now.
Of course, nobody believes that, how could that be, the USA is invincible…
That is if you live in a cave and you have no clue what’s going on back there.
Unfortunately, many expats here on this forum are totally unaware of this situation and thus will be in serious trouble most likely even before the end of this year.
Only one way we can know for sure.. if we wait and see what happens.
Bob and Bob, if I may suggest, best way is to cleanly, legally, and gradually move one’s assets to one’s new country, prudently invest here and be excruciatingly careful to maintain 100% control starting by *NOT* giving the wife any clues or ability to squander ones’ life earnings.
That’s how I *should* have done things. Never trust anyone and especially don’t trust the wifes’ lack of acumen, or learn the hard way, in which case those ignoring my experiences won’t have ability to post anymore..
Bob
I am interested in your comment. Can you explain deeper either here or by email.
Thanks
Ron
Hi Bob,
Well, I can agree with this man that having adequate funds to live monthly is important. Having a “buffer fund” is very important in case of emergencies.
In just everyday living here, it seems that unforeseen expenses come up for us quite often, so a monthly budget that can cover is important.
Not sure though, whether a couple eating out at hotel restaurants often for over four thousand pesos a pop, is doable or wise for any expat budget.
I haven’t met that many expats so far here, but sadly, the ones that I have met were either down on their luck, or rather “odd” in some way, I would like to hope that based on the many sensible people on this site, that there are successful and happy people living here. I’m staying hopeful to connect with some over time.
Much of the topics he mentioned are common sense for anyone wanting to travel or live abroad. I agree that his perspective seemed quite pessimistic and jaded though.
Life can be unpredictable as we all know, but the expat option and lifestyle can still be had for many I would like to think.
Hi Queenie – I fully agree with you about the eating out thing. We used to eat out at nice restaurants often, although never P4,000 for a meal, but now we rarely do that for multiple reasons. The cost, of course has to be considered, but also I try to take good care of my diabetes, and eating out is difficult when trying to do that. It’s best all around for us to eat at home, and we like it too.
You are right about expats… there are many who are down on their luck, and a lot of different/strange expats. The Philippines is like a magnet for that type of expat, I am not certain why. Perhpas because it is inexpensive here, so it attracts those who are barely getting by.
Queenie,
4,000 a pop? Where are they eating? In Las Vegas? We spend on average about 500 at a restaurant every other day. That’s my limit.
If I spent 4,000 it might be once a year and would include all of my wife’s family. No, I’d never spend 4,000. I have the budget but why waste the money.
I could spend a lot less and have a party at home for my wife’s relatives. Either that or we have a get together at our relatives farm. Pot luck style.
Rusty
Hi Rusty,
I agree that’s a pretty steep amount, but I know that here in Cebu there are many fancy hotels and resort restaurants that are quite pricey. There is an expat club in Cebu, that allows discounts at many of these places, but I’m not a member. I think he said that he ate at Waterfront Hotel and others quite regularly.
I prefer to buy ingredients and cook special meals myself most of the time. When eating out sometimes, it would be an amount much less than he was spending. Fancy restaurants could eat up a monthly budget very quickly for sure:)
Queenie
I am already broke at this time. I live from month to month on pension money and I consider myself a very lucky person to live like this.
Why is that being lucky?
Because I enjoyed every penny of it.
I’ll let you guess what will happen to your money once the SHTF.
Palawan Bob,
It must be terrible being so pessimistic. Being scared all the time can’t be enjoyable.
Rusty
I see that PalawanBob is being REAListic, not PESImistic, which is a huge order of difference, and is what permits him to still be here with us instead of dead-and-gone. Hat’s off to PalawanBob and hope you have many more years of good life even if on a shoestring. Actually he’s lucky, he apparently _has_ a pension, even if modest, not everyone has such.
Some readers may recall the old addage: “When life only serves you up lemons, make lemonade” (the drink, and maybe you won’t even have any sugar in it). It’s not always easy but even at worst of times we can find a way if we apply ourselves, and *that* is what we must do every day so that we can still be here tomorrow and maybe just maybe life might even be a little better day-by-day if we work intelligently towards it.
Great post Bob, and gives us all something to think about. I am naturally pessemistic, but life has taught me the value of being an optimist as much as possible. In the last 10 years I’ve travelled to the Philippines at least a dozen times, and I’ve never had any issues or have been robbed. Of course, I seldom venture off on my own, but when I do I am very careful. I always travel with only the amount of money I need and never carry all of my bank cards. I have duplicate IDs and duplicate bank cards as well. I have all cards/passports photocopied in case I have to file for replacements. I also have an emergency fund and contacts in the US who would help me if I ever needed it. However I try to live my life in a manner that doesn’t adversely affect others!
I have been blessed with a good amount of savings so I have money in the bank should I need it for emergencies. My lifestyle has always been “below my income” so it doesn’t take much to make me happy. Me and my fiance both enjoy cooking and would rather cook in than eat out, although personally I enjoy getting out every once in a while. I’m not a food snob…I enjoy Chow King and Jollybee every bit as much as nicer restaurants!
Life is what you make it….as long as you keep a positive attitude, are realistic in your expectations, and adequately plan, you should be fine.
By the way, does anyone know what PalawanBob is talking about? lol
Hi Steve, glad that you enjoyed the post!
I am kind of the opposite of you, I tend to be an optimist by nature… sometimes I am overly optimistic, but it is the way I see things.
I have had things stolen from me a couple of times in the 16 years that I have lived here, but I don’t get upset by it, they were minor incidents and nothing dangerous not like a holdup or anything, so there is nothing to do but just blow it off.
You are sure right when you say “life is what you make it” – I could not agree more! That sounds like an optimist to me, Steve!
Steve, I used to work as high level stock trader for my own account.
I am also an engineer by profession.
I came here to enjoy my end years and spend every single penny of what I have earned throughout my entire life.
This was a calculated move where all the money had to be spent by middle of this year 2015. Now that this is over, I can sit and enjoy a few more months on government freebies.
Did I know something?
Yes, I did.
Palawan bob
You have made some pretty interesting comments
I would like to know more about upcoming days
I am fully awake unlike some of my friends who need a wake up call…
Diane
People have no idea how close we are to financial armageddon.
To tell you the truth, I am one of the very few here in the entire Philippines who didn’t come here because of cheap living or some other reason.
I came here to the jungle because I see what is about to happen in this world.
I saw this coming already five years ago, we now have only a few months to go. Actually, I am pretty sure that the end of this year will be anything but festive.
It will be a RUDE AWAKENING!
Palawan Bob,
Don’t spend all you have. Soon we’ll watch the ball drop in Times Square, right? Then Trump or Hillary will be elected.
Didn’t you say the US had two weeks before something horrible would happen? That was a week ago, right? So, what will happen in a week?
Have you been watching too many Jesse Ventura conspiracy shows? you know that how Ventura makes money, right?
Rusty
Rusty, you should visit this website
RevolutionRadio.org
Please take a little time to read a few articles and you will realize how little you know about what’s going on in USA.
Idk.. I must have different expectations from this guy Matt. If I spend over 2000p for a good meal out my lady and I she gives me “the look”.. and we certainly do not do it 2 or 3 times a week. Granted, it is not in the “best” or at a “tourist” type of restaurant. But it is not at Jollibee’s either. (altho she sure does like her Chicken Joy every so often)
Having a contingency fund however I do think is mandatory. You never know what will happen.
I do think that if you live a modest lifestyle and keep your “western” wants and needs to an occasional treat, that living here is far less expensive than in the USA. I find it to be at least 30% less here in almost all areas. Buying electronics being one exception.
Hi Richard – Based on what you say, I believe you and I are on the same wavelength. A P2k meal is a lot more reasonable than a P4k meal. I don’t remember ever spending P4k for a meal for 2 in the Philippines, and I have gone to some pretty nice restaurants.
Bob,
I can’t believe it. Spending 2,000 for 2 people is way too much for me. Why spend so much?
A really good meal, at a nice restaurant in Tagbilaran, is around 250. Lets stretch is to 350 a piece. That’s 700 for two right? Add a tip and your not close to 2,000.
Even at the Hennan Resort one would spend 500 a piece.
Rusty
Hi Rusty,
It varies by city. In Davao you cannot eat at a decent restaurant for P250 per person, that is just impossible. At a very nice place P750 to 1,000 is quite common for a good meal.
Bob,
Here I’d heard how affordable Davao is. Rents are supposed to be cheaper, Food, etc. But not according to you and you live there. So you’d know.
Once I paid 350 for the cheapest thing on the menu. I vowed never to eat there again. A tourist trap hotel/restaurant.
Anyway, a good meal in Tagbilaran (without drinks) is between 160 and a max of 220. The 160 is for stir fried vegetables, or chicken, and the 220 is for steak or some types of seafood.
Rusty
hi Rusty. Many things are inexpensive in Davao For example, fresh food is very cheap… but not eating out at quality restaurants. I am talking things like French restaurant, not native Filipino type restaurants.
Do any of you guys eat at calendarias (sp?). Cheap and plentiful, in my opinion
Not good for Diabetics like us Bob, but have you eaten at Vikings ? Less than 1000 peso
No, I have not eaten at Vikings. It is about an hour from my house, and I just try not to travel that far away. I have gotten where I really prefer eating at home anyway!
It appears that it wouldn’t be hard to Hit P2000 at HEAT in Mandaluyong at the EDSA in MM. Not that that would be a place I would frequent not with an P888 Buffet.
https://www.zomato.com/manila/heat-edsa-shangri-la-ortigas-mandaluyong-city/menu#tabtop
Those who like eating at places that charge 1000+ for one meal are on a different level than I am. There’s no way I’d pay that much.
Rusty
I certainly don’t think it is a sin to spend $25 on a meal. I dont do it often, but why is it such a big deal?
Bob, with all due respect, it’s very much an issue of the situation-of-the-moment and one’s personal perspective and situation, and that is often radically different each day.
First, please, fine and good that people give _you_ USD, but that’s not the case for every Xpat living in the Philippines. If it’s 1000 pesos then let’s talk what it _is_ and then we can each calculate what 1000 pesos (times how-many to feed) actually costs us *that* day and is it available to toss.
I too have in the past paid $25 for a meal, and have bought meals for family members of the came caliber. There were times since I’ve been here that that $25 actually cost me $20 of my income and I had no need to consider conflicting responsibilities those times. However, when that $25 costs one *$35* and the wife just drained the LOC, overdraft, all, and then …oh – there is NO milk for the baby after *this*half*bottle* (surprise forgot to mention it!). Never mind the grocery is closed at midnight and impossible to get immediate money anyway, and “oh, sorry I took all our cash and it’s gone, forgot to tell you I took it”. Oh, and the yaya needs an advance right now for milk for HER baby and never mind that there’s zero credit right this moment until tomorrow … well, that momentarily forces a way different perspective, not to mention that the yaya isn’t too happy about no instant cash advance at midnight with zero notice.
Sometimes it’s kindness to buy a family member a $25 meal for $20 when that’s not a monetary issue. When that $25 costs $35 plus double for “overlimit fees” and it should instead go for baby milk right*now*and*there*is*no*more*today* – well, I know what I do; your opinion may differ. Sometimes you can, sometimes we sensibly can’t. It’s all relative.
Seriously, such is for people with way more money than brains, or a once-in-a-decade treat if rolling in excess funds, or if SomeOneElse (TM) is paying for it..
When I was in the vicinity, one of my favourites was the Mongolian Buffet at various SM mall locations in Las Pinas and Alabang depending on the year. All-you-can-eat-unlumited bowls ran around 200p, depending on location and year. Didn’t matter if you had a bowl or rice or many bowls of various meats, veggies, and sauces that you assembled and they cooked wonderfully and delivered to your table (and yes you could have rice with it all for one price). Yummy! I always wished I could eat all what my eyes and head wanted – and at that price, but after the third bowl I could barely walk!
Seriously folks, before moving to Mindanao it was often a Malate tossup at under 300p between the G-Point buffet and an overstuffing great meal at the German restaurant around the corner on Mabini. There’s no shortage of totally excellent and varied meals and buffets at really decent prices in and around metro Manila.
If you really REALLY want to break your bank account, leave all the kids at home with someone trusted and trek to Diamond Hotel in Malate, which is if I remember correctly about 1 block south of Padre Faura between Roxas and Del Pilar and check in. When the clerk instantly speaks English, respond in Tagalog with your Pinoy ID and pay way WAY less for the room and the complimentary breakfast buffet – you wan’t get better anywhere on this planet. Prices may have changed but I think it’s about 1000p if you just walk in for the buffet (I asked, thiough we did stay overnight there – once in a lifetime).
That’s all fine-and-good *if* one happens to be “there”, but for many of us “there” has long ago become “back there before we moved south”. Meanwhile back home now in the middle-of-nowhere-provincial-capical, on periodic “no food before the grocery store” days, Jim’s Bulalohan is on the way at 40p.
I can only surmise that big-city super-expensive mediocre food foreign chains and Philippine imitators can only exist by catering to tourists who are very bad at math or Pinoys ostentatiously pretending to largesse and also really bad at math, or to those on the Pinoy “pork-barrel” plan.
Meanwhile, I can eat really well, even with the wife in tow, even with our 5 kids and a few bayaw, for way less than some of the prices people are recently quoting here for just *one*single*meal*. Alternatively, I can cook for us all and we can all eat quite well for a week at home for 2k pesos as long as we’re sensible plus I periodically replace the sack of evaporating rice plus the sack of harina (flour) needed to bake bread at home. Unless I already have overriding need to be somewhere else, it’s a whole lot less onerous to avoid day, overnight, or week-long treks elsewhere, given the family duties that the husband-earner-mommy-katulong-yaya-combo needs fulfill all-in-one.
Eat well, eat cheap, eat close to or at home. Works for me.
Ed,
Good Post.
Rusty
Like any major move, comming here took planning to insure that everything went well and safly. I did not carry large amounts of money in the US why would I do that here. Even when I came here to met my wifes family the first time. I did not carry lots of money. as I heard and read from day one,even as I was first reading your advise Bob on line u advise care and planning, At every step if someone is moving here it needs careful research and planning. Kat and my move was a planed event that took several years. I am not rich. But at the same time we would be fine bedause we have looked at the down sides Just be sure before you jump off the cliff. But we all know that some people do well in the Philippines and others need to stay in their home country because they will not be happy here no matter what. The Philippines is not a perfect place but then neither is anyother country.
Hi Luke – I sure agree with you. One point that I think it right on the mark is when you said that there are some who really should stay home. It is so true. If a person cannot adapt, and expects others to adapt to suit him.. that is not going to happen here. Just stay home and enjoy your life there!
Here in Angeles City we have scores of ex-pats with no source of income from their home countries. They are continually broke and a pack of nuisances. They are lying, scheming, scamming, no-goods, and myself and my friends have learnt to say NO in a loud audible voice. I wish they would all just go home.
Hi Murray – Sorry to hear about that. Here in Davao, we have plenty of expats who have little money to live on, but certainly not to the extent or the extreme situation that you have mentioned for Angeles. I know that for an expat in that type of situation, most foreign embassies will do nothing to help them, it is up to their family back home, if that is possible.
I ran across some American guy in Manila begging–twice (at different locations). I also encountered one or two Westerners begging for money while living in Angeles City. It always struck me as bizarre.
It is certainly bizarre, but I think it is more common than any of us think!
I have on occasion mentioned to my wife that she’s only a hair away from forcing our kids to sit downtown with the beggars rattling stones in plastic cups, mumbling “GIVE ME MONEY”.
Seems my wife is starting to listen, since everyone here knows who my wife is, so no begging downtown, yet.
On the other hand, when obviously well-off people beg me to borrow money to give to them, I ask them to borrow money and give it to me. Seems fair.
That guy can ramble on for sure. How do you do take that long to say so little?
PONDEROUS….
He did certainly go on and on….
Bob:
My last boss used to live in Costa Rica, which also attracts a lot of very tentative expats.
He told me an interesting story about an American guy who had moved there in his 20’s, gotten married, started a successful business, and was just living his life.
This expat simply got fed up with constantly being badgered to lend other expats (mostly other Americans, but NEVER Costa Ricans) money when they ran out of funds. These were usually guys there on a pension, looking for women.
So, he started a business…
Typical scenario:
1. Expat meets some woman on the Internet, burns every bridge in the USA going down there to marry her or live with her..
2. Builds a very expensive house, much more expensive than surrounding houses, buys an expensive car, and throws money down some black hole of an ill-conceived local business.
3. Things go well for the expat for six months to a year or so, and then they start running out of money. Perhaps the wife or girlfriend dumps him, or takes him for whatever he is worth.
Sound like a familiar story? Have you heard it before?
So, the broke guys end up going to the long term guy, usually in desperate straits, and usually with a sob story about living alone in some mansion, being taken by the thieves, and moaning about how unfair and racist everybody in Costa Rica is and how Americans would “never put up with this stuff”…. blah blah blah.
He noted that when they came over, they were usually driving the expensive car. So, the conversation went something like this….
“I’m in a real jam. Can you lend a fellow expat some money to help me out?” Usually the figure requested was around $1,000.
The response…. “Sure. No problem. Leave that car as collateral.”
“Huh? You want to take my car??????”
“Certainly. I have been approached many times by guys like you, and even lent money to a few. I have NEVER ONCE had anyone even make a tiny effort to pay it back. I’ll lend you the money, but that car stays with me. You figure out how you get home. You have six months to pay me back.”
This guy started a business like this. Last year, he was holding over 30 cars. Of course, he knew someone that could fix the titles on the vehicles. 90% of the time, the expats just took the loan and went back to where they came from. Since the laws were difficult to enforce on expat to expat disputes, this guy ends up making an absolute killing.
I’m thinking that something similar would do very well here, Bob. Wanna partner up?
Hi John – That is a classic idea that the expat had. There is only one downside to doing it here…. I see very few of these expats that actually own a car or anything else! Probably more own a house than a car, maybe we could do that!
Valid point, Bob. I think I will give the idea some more thought…. Problem is that the ones who actually own houses it is in the name of the wife
Speaking of a valid point….. 😉
John,
We asked for collateral the one time we loaned money. The woman we gave us her rice field as collateral. She’s never repaid the money. The rice field has paid off the loan many times over.
We’d never loan $1000. That’s way to much.
Rusty
That’s an interesting concept, yet while “possession is 9/10ths of the law, I have a very good lawyer who for the appropriate legitimate fee will get any really stupid pledge or ostensible surrender of vehicle or property reversed, likely leaving some unsuspecting intermediate “buyers” with a major grudge against the gangsters who defrauded everyone.
I understand that “interest rates” in the Philippines seem to range up to about 100% *per*week*, but I as both a “foreigner” and a decent person have absolutely zero inclination to engage in such criminal loansharking. I will however do whatever I can to bring gangsters to justice in the proper way while trying to protect my family.
That begs the question – *WHY*THIS*IN*THE*PHILIPPINES*”.
To which … let’s take one of many examples of which I have way too much much personal knowledge.
One purchases a multi-hectare agricultural properly, plants it, gets it all within a mere two months of harvest. Total investment, let’s say PHP 4million on one example in mind. Oooops, miscalculated, need one more round of fertilizer plus a couple of thousand pesos to pay labor to harvest. Approach (pick your) bank for a 2K loan on your 4*million* investment. HAHAHAHHAHA, they will laugh you out their door. Don’t believe me, try it
When ones’ wife’s well intentioned plan thusly fails, you will think about it and your wife will make “arrangements” to cost you the farm.
*THEN*WHATCHA*GONNA*DO*?
More importantly in the long run for everyone, why does the Philippine government permit, sanction, and encourage such criminal activity costing most people everything and thus keeping most filipinos dirt poor? Yes, I know as a foreigner one should not care about Philippine citizens and ask such pointy proper questions.
Put all those excruciatingly true and ongoing facts together and then rethink what you might write next in response or personally do.
Hi Bob, they are plenty of skint expats in Manila with the biggest sob stories you could
Hear, it’s usually the girl friend who’s ran off with his money story I’ve got no sympathy
For them anymore they just won’t listen to anyone, I’ve seen some of the video of Matt
The English guy he talks a lot of good points but I find him to pessimistic,
I like to be optimistic I have a great life here in the Philippines but it took a lot of
Hard work and planning, always do your homework and always have a backup plan
And you have to be flexible to live here, we eat out every week usually week ends
I usually budget about 800 to 1000 pesos for both of us I wouldn’t spend 4000 pesos
On a meal well it would have to be a very special occasion for that amount
Sometimes I eat at a cafe at the market 35 pesos for a meal now that’s what I call value,
Derek in pasig.
Hi Derek – One of the biggest things that surprises m that every day I get about a dozen or more inquiries from expats who are here illegally. People who have oversstayed their visa here. I have heard from people who are 20 years overdue for leaving the country with expired visas. In fact, I hear from such people regularly. Can you believe that?
Bob–before I got my permanent visa, fees for extensions were expensive, but could add up. I have often thought the same thing. I wondered how many people let visa extension payments slide due to budget concerns. Am I right that you can’t leave/travel from the Philippines unless your fees are paid up to date?
Sorry–I meant were not expensive, but could add up over time.
Yes, you are correct. Once a person has fallen behind they must pay the fees and penalties in order to leave. But, can you imagine being 20 years out of date?
Scary!! Can you be deported for that?
What else has had to slide I wonder..
Tough situation!
Getting deported is automatic in that situation. But, you have to go to jail and stay until you have paid the money that you owe.
Wow!
To me, I believe it is proper.
Want to know what is really sad. I often hear from men who came here, got married and had a kid with the lady they married. But, they did not keep their visa up to date. If you have overstayed more than 12 months, BI policy is that you are deported and blacklisted. You can never enter the Philippines again. So these guys have a wife and kid in the country, but can never re-enter again. sometimes that means that they can never see their wife and child again. Why be stupid and stay here illegally?
Bob,
It seems hard to believe people would overstay for such a long period and have to leave there family here. There was one guy that overstayed 5 years and than took a trip to the States with his wife, but they didn’t make him pay all the back fee’s before he left. Well when they came back in Sept they would not allow him back in unless he paid 150,000P which he does not have. His wife stayed and he had to go back to the US. His wife has since rejoined him in the US. He only has an income of $700.00 per month from SS. His wife has a tourist visa. He is always borrowing money and asking for other things from people. People are and were sending him money while still living in the Philippines. He claims he had a successful business before moving to the Philippines. He claims to have had a ministry while in the Philippines and helping children. I’m not saying it’s not true, but a lot of things don’t add up. Now he wants to live in the US permanently and claims the BI is a bunch of crooks for making him pay the money. Why did he not get a 13a years ago? It’s unbelievable that he would blame the BI for him not doing what the law says. He doe’s Youtube Video’s and turned off the comments and got mad when people made suggestions he didn’t agree with.
What a moron.
The guy sounds like an idiot but as Bob will probably say, this happens quite often.
Happens all the time, unfortunately.
PapaDuck,
Really they didn’t make the guy pay who over stayed his visa before going to the States? I wonder if that’s still true today?
We know someone who has over stayed his visa. In fact his wife, who is a Filipina, never got her dual citizenship. So she’s overstayed her BB visa. The guy always complains that the BI/banks/Globe/Name something does not treat him fairly.
I got my 13 A visa, before moving here, as that’s just the thing to do, right? Here, I thought everybody did what they were supposed to do. Live and learn.
Rusty
Hi PapaDuck – I am familiar with the case. You are talking about Pop65z. They guy is an idiot, he did not follow the law here, and the BI is only charging him what he owes. If they did not make him pay before leaving, they actually let him off easy, because they are supposed to make you pay before you can leave. As far as I am concerned, anybody who breaks the law should pay the penalty that is legally due.
Hi Bob,
I remembered seeing that man on YouTube, and wondered if anyone would mention him here.
For someone who seemed to desire to come across as an authority on many Philippine topics, he surely seemed surprised when BI caught up with him, and informed him of his penalties.
I can’t figure out why anyone who is legally married to a Philippine citizen would not take the steps to get a resident visa. I guess many people try to live “under the radar” for as long as they can, but if they do try to leave the country, or get found out. they get a rude awakening.
Seems like a “no brainer” that a resident visa would be the safe, legal way to go.
I could never figure this guy out either, and had already figured him in that “odd” category.
Queenie,
It sure seems strange to me too that a foreigner, especially, wouldn’t follow the laws. The immigration laws are so simple. Just do as one is supposed to, right?
Rusty
Seemingly his case was significantly different than mine. Unlike him, while I was in a relationship in the Philippines, house and lot and all that, I was not married at the time. As I mentioned on earlier postings, I had never originally intended to immigrate to the Philippines, but the coalescence of circumstances suggested that maybe I would be here for a while – a long while – perhaps the rest of my natural life. 20 seconds of simple math suggested that I’m better off paying the (at the time) PHP130k (plus expenses) plus the required USD$50k bank deposit verification (multi-million pesos paid-for and existing house-and-lot don’t matter) to obtain a permanent VISA, so a few months later after a slew of “pay more money for nothing” impediments I had it and happy I did that. Eventually married the next decade, but as readers here may have noticed that’s a whole different situation to intelligently contemplate.
I’m informed that the permanent VISA it’s now a *LOT* less onerous and expensive and people have even arranged such remotely! Wow!
My permanent visa costs me $250 in the States. One can get it in the Philippines for the same price. However, there is the one year waiting time, here, to get the visa.
In the states it took me about 3 months to get the permanent visa. It took about 3 months because I wasn’t in a hurry.
Rusty
Thanks Rusty for your more recent info. Mine cost me way more, but then again I was already here, unmarried at the time, and had to put up the USD50K collateral plus pay the appropriate requisite fees at the time. Obviously my timing, my location, my marital status then, and my situation were quite different. As I think I mentioned, costs change all the time and are often very dependent on where, when, how, and who. I related my cost. You related yours. Everyone’s mileage will vary depending on … hehehe, where, when, how, and who and what.”
In my case, and this was my point in posting, it was the best and most important investment in my personal future at that time. Not cheap but doable and still sensible. If people can do it much cheaper now, hey, what are they waiting for if their “Christmas” has already dawned???
Rusty, I neglected to mention, even running around for a week+ dealing with the bogus “medical problem” delay, it took me just over one month and numerous rounds of documentation and various ongoing personal appearqances to get my permanent Phils VISA in Manila in 2005. Still, I got it, and even with the cost then my math truthfully told me I was money ahead come the turn of the year to 2010. Good deal in my books. I don’t even care to count the annual totally minor cost of maintaining and annual trek to do so, I just need to hide the needed cash from the wife in anticipation of that proper and legal need. 🙂
Hi Bob, I can believe that but the stupid thing is it’s so cheap to live here legally,
I think they spend all their money on drinking and girls it’s their choice but they are
In big trouble if they have to travel abroad, like you Bob I like to sleep well at night
I don’t want to think about immigration knocking on my door which will happen
Eventually, keep the good work up your a credit to us all , Derek in pasig.
Hi Bob and Derek,
That really is a sad situation. Poor choice not to pay the fees can really cost in the end. The BI also makes it easy now I guess for concerned citizens to report foreigners for that and other reasons. Their website provides hotline numbers to call or text in.
I wouldn’t want to get on the BI’s bad side either… Not smart
No, not smart at all!
Hi Derek – Yeah, it really has to be one of the more stupid decisions around, to not pay the fees. Since the guys I mention are married to a citizen here they are eligible for a 13a, thus their visa fees are only P310 per year, and they give up their ability to even see their family again over that small amount? Not very smart, that is for sure.
Thats less than £5 what A holes
It really is a stupid move.
Bob,
You need to be commended for your work ethic. Few people could accomplish what you have.
Rusty
Thank you, Rusty. I appreciate that.
I cannot understand the point of this video as there is no beginning, middle or end.
Most expats in the Philippines are usually low class people so I am not surprised to hear that they end up being broke in the Philippines or overstaying their visa. If they were dumb in their home country obviously they will be dumb in another.
I commend you Bob Martin for not being one of those low life losers who probably account for a high % of expats in the Philippines. You seem to be a responsible person with a good head on your shoulder.
It is unfortunate that a lot of the tourism consists of the male sex tourist who are losers from America or wherever they came from.
Thanks, I appreciate what you said.
Igbalfa, Can you please explain what you mean by low class? Can you also explain how you determined your synopsis of the expats who come to live here in the Philippines?
Regards.
Jim.
The definition of the typical low class expat living in the Philippines in general are:
1. a failure in one’s western country
2. a broke, irresponsible foreigner living in the Philippines
3. sex tourists
4. someone who is lonely and desperate and cannot find a girlfriend or wife so they move to the Philippines to find love because they have been rejected too many times from where they are from.
5. a foreigner who is rude and disrespectful to the laws of the country that they now live in and think that they are better than everyone else.
I could probably list 20 more but the 5 that I just mentioned are unfortunately too common.
In regards to your second question on how did I determine this?
Look around. The 5 that I just listed are EVERYWHERE in the country and if you don’t agree or witness them then you must be living in a bubble or in denial.
Igbalfa, Would you say the people who you have listed are mainly Americans?
Regards.
Jim.
Jim,
I would say that a majority of the examples that I have listed are mainly Europeans not Americans.
Igbalfa, I would appear that you have many years of experience living and travelling in the Philippines to come to that conclusion.
Many thanks.
Jim.
Most X pats are Low Life’s???? Makes me wonder what is out there. Makes me wonder where the low life’s are?
Palawan Bob has a completely different outlook on life than I do. But that’s OK.
Those that write on this site posts really interesting/informative/funny comments. I can tell they are very knowledgeable.
Rusty
Hi Bob.
I have taken another step to making my move possible. If I do my maximum budget spend will be £1,000 a month or $1500. I will also have an emergency fund.
I am 58 years old, I am receiving an occupational pension of about £10,000 p.a. thats about $15,000, also I have a small portfolio of shares that pays out over £3,000 p.a in dividends.
I have my house but I do have a substantial mortgage on it, but this week I had several estate agent’s look at my home, luckily I live in a popular desirable village in the UK, and I can rent. The rent will more than cover my mortgage, also I can sell my property and have a substantial amount of money.
By renting my house, gives me an exit plan, that if after 6 months or even two years down the road, I can move back to the UK, also I should not need the money I make from rent so, that money will stay in UK. Then if I decide to sell, there is more than enough money in the bank to cover the mortgage until a buyer comes along.
If I go down the renting route or sell my home, the move won’t happen until the new Tax Year which is April 2016. By waiting for April I won’t pay any tax on my Pension, and less tax on my rental income (should I decide to rent). My next move is to go to my bank and see what options I have in moving money abroad and, what sort of account I will need in the Philippines that will accept money transfer’s from UK.
60% of my occupational pension will have annual rises in it, but the share dividends can go up or down, also my rental income will diminish with interest rates going up, and sadly the interest rates will only go up as they cannot go lower. But if I sell my house I can increase my share portfolio and get more dividends, and historically UK shares have performed better than the housing market apart from one ten year period, but past performance does not guarantee future performance. If I sell my house then my exit plans will change, but I still have an exit plan. I wish I had a time machine so I can travel into the future and make the right decisions.
Once I hit 66 then my UK Government pension will kick in giving my income a nice boost.
The Philippines is a beautiful country, you need to have finances in place to have a life not just survive and an exit strategy, even years down the line, then it can become a nightmare.
Also the Philippines is an alcoholics wet dream, hard liquor is so cheap, locally produced rum can be bought for around £2 a bottle. Sadly westerners and booze do not mix, they are mostly sad and abusive.
It sounds like you are well on your way, Gerry. Good luck with the move!
Hi Gerry
for money transfers you might want to consider the HSBC Advance account. I have one set up in the UK and one in the PI. The advantage is that I can transfer money from the UK to PI 24 hours a day for a minimal nominal charge. It might be worth you investigating.
Other banks may do a similar deal but it depends whether they have branches in PI.
Cheers
AJ UK
“AJ UK”, good you were able to set that up in the UK, an idea that totally made sense to me; I had exactly the same thought and ambition about 3 years ago Sadly, unlike the very helpful people at HSBC in Alabang (Philiippines), HSBC in Toronto Canada proved totally useless. I asked a trusted friend to attend there on my behalf and he gave up because he doesn’t speak Chinese (and neither do I); apparently that’s a hard requirement to do any business with HSBC in Canada. I eventually just gave up on that plan. Sigh.
Bob, I expect that my case is likely *not* typical and while somewhat similar to yours now originally radically different. When first landed at NAIA I had absolutely no intention or expectation that I would eventually actually emigrate and live out the rest of my days here in Phils, with a few location moves on the way.
What I did reasonably expect, having done a bit of homework at the time, was that if I could maintain and continually work remotely on my servers ‘back there’ from anywhere in North America and even from *Cuba* in 1996 when I was invited there to teach for a couple of weeks, then why not from the Philippines, and I made connectivity and all needed arrangements in advance as I always prudently did. I landed in 2001 and worked _slow_ for a while, and things advanced (long tech story).
I’m honestly offended when Pinoys suggest that I’m rich beyond avarice from some mythical pension. There might have been one come next year but my wife long ago ate all that capital plus all else I could provide plus borrow, and _that_ is my “pension” – working and struggling to pay the ongling interest on my wife’s significant debts. Not to mention that someone (I and just I) must support her, our 5 young kids, pay the rent, et al …and the omnipresent onerous interest on her debts.
She showed up again an hour ago and will spend her night txting people unknown and then sleep (without me) for a few hours before demanding money again then disappearing for a few more days or a week again.
She quipped that we will be *rich( come the harvest next year, it will buy a new car and a lot and construct a huge house next year. I asked “what about the same you said with the first 3 harvests, then you said ‘failure’!”. She replied “no failure”. I asked “then why no money but constant demands for yet more money every week”. Funny, no answer to that. So, back to work for me! I’m getting too old now and no capital for pension, none, just (Pinoy) wife’s debts. I still love her and still want to trust her implicitly. Increasingly difficult.
As to what to do when all else fails? I’ll just pack up the kids, abandon the TV, computers, work, income, and head up to the “boondock” and squat in innumerable homes of people who owe me. If all else fails.
Gotta renew my ACR card next week, another 5 years elapsed way too fast, so expense and inconvenience to trek to BI Davao. We’ll see if I’m left enough earnings to pay for that including fees et al.
Ed,
You love your wife even though it sounds like she is using you and taking advantage of your money what little that you have already?
You are broke or not not financially stable with 5 children in the Philippines?
You can barely afford your ACR card extension?
What is wrong with picture?
Common sense from any individual will tell you that your wife probably has another guy on the side and is has no care or respect towards you.
Good luck with your situation.
Thanks for your good wishes “lgbalfa”. I still have means to support myself, our young kids, and yes my wife and her various “businesses”. I also have means to know that she has no other “guy on the side”, my ability to know being way beyond what she expected even in her family backyard, so I _know_ that’s not an issue. She still hasn’t fully recovered from her intended “innocent” lie about her whereabouts a month ago that had her mother and brothers turning everything upside-down everywhere in the “boondock” until she was found; she was just stupid to involve her family in a simple lie when she could have just simply told me which relative she was squatting with up there. I think she learned that lesson and will in due course repair her family relations, and her family do understand the concepts of honour and responsibility.
On the financial end, she made way too many serious errors after my giving her my trust over all our capital and my effective borrowing ability. She clearly admits that now and _is_ learning fiscal responsibility. She way overextended our means and thus cost us a lot. That’s the problem with a Pinoy wife not understanding that 22 million less 22 million gone does *NOT* equal “infinite further cash. It’s cost us about 22 million pesos so far, but she’s learning that there’s no more, she broke the money-tap and now she only has what her businesses might bring in or what she might beg from me. I’m not going to work day and night without respite much beyond maybe turning 80, which was the whole point – that she properly manage our resources. She’s learning though way late and at excruciating cost to us.
All that given, if I was to offer anyone advice, never NEVER trust to the purported acumen of a wife; it’s a major and onerous endeavour to recover and fix all her mistakes and still keep everyone and the family together.
As for my ACR extension, I’ll take care of that and all else as always. Hmmm, better I get my posterior to BI Davao this week.
I could write a thick book, but that’s Bob’s domain. 🙂
Ed,
22 Million??? Wow that’s a lot of money.
Rusty
Yes Rusty, investing my life earnings was (at least to me) a LOT of money, but it was for my wife and kids. You can’t take it with you when you die, but one might hope and reasonably expect that the wife will proper prudent care for the benefit of the family after the breadwinner is dead and hopefully support him with minimal misery in the interim. Not an ostentatious lifestyle, just marginally decent with minimal stress, like the doctor said. Too much to expect for PHP22million? Seems so.
Ed, I wish you good luck. Sometimes the way we live is by choice… if it has gone by so long, why not make changes?
Bob, changes have been ongoing this last year, all to the ultimate good. It’s just somewhat onerous to dig one’s way out of the deep hole the trusted Pinoy wife dropped us into.
Bob, this will be my first time renewing my ACR card anywhere other than at BI Intramuros (Manila). There, since they no longer permit agents to do it for us, one walks in with the old card, fills out a sunoke one-page form and plays the usual multiple-window game including parting with the requisite fee set and having a new picture taken there on the spot.
I’m already aware that I will surrender my old ACR card now in October and pick up the new one come Jan/Feb, it’s not the 30 minutes and walk out with the new card the way it is in Manila.
Now, how does that work in Davao? Do they have photo facilities at BI Davao, or should one bring appropriate current pics and how many and what size? Can you shed light?
Ed,
To be honest, I don’t recall if I had to bring a picture or they took one there. I think they took it there, but it has been a few years since I renewed, and I don’t recall for sure. At the Davao BI you can get photos right next door, so it is not a big deal one way or the other.
Last time they wanted a new pic (that was to go with the affidavit requirement when they changed the system a couple or so years ago) I was directed across the street to Victoria Mall. Still, I prefer to come prepared, and I foolishly didn’t ask them (BI people) that question last Feb. Hehe, and thanks for the subliminal reminder, I must find some long pants to try to squeeze into and something to hold them together around me! Shorts (unless below the knee) are a no-no now!
Ed,
Your lifestyle is completely puzzling to me. I think I’ve read just about everything you’ve posted on this site and it always leaves me in a state of bewilderment.
I’ll leave you with this quote by Hal Elrod
“The moment you accept responsibility for EVERYTHING in your life is the moment you gain the power to change ANYTHING in your life.”
i’ve had some very lean months since i moved over 3 years ago, i feel like i am just now putting myself in position to be somewhat financially stable for the future
I am glad that things seem to be moving in your direction now.
Finances in the Philippines is something near and dear to my heart. I have spent a LOT of time in the Philippines…I have NEVER understood why some foreigners that move here think they can live in the Philippines on a daily basis like they lived when they were here on vacation. It is not the same thing!
I mainly live in Makati, Manila which is one of the most expensive places to live in the entire Philippines. I can EASILY live here for $1500 a month in a decent condo, have plenty to eat, and have plenty of fun. But my fiance and I also know how to eat on the cheap. Thankfully for me I love most “filipino” food and Ruby and I can easily eat ok on 500 pesos a day in Makati. We could eat even better further out in the provinces.
I have a friend from Australia that simply will NOT eat cheaply. He probably spends 5000 a day eating! My goodness! It is ok to splurge every once in awhile but doing that every day is what gets guys and gals into trouble here.
Ruby and I certainly do not lack for food or fun. We love going to karinderyas (sic?) in the morning and we can go to a place called Hott Asia on Makati Avenue and have a beer or two each and plenty to eat on less than 500 pesos a night! And we enjoy some pretty good entertainment there. Many foreigners go there and there are a lot of places like that in Manila.
You can certainly spent a lot of money here, like $400 a night at a hotel and thousands of pesos a day eating….but if you live here part time or full time why would you do that? You better have a lot of money if you want to do that.
Honestly, sometimes I think many foreigners come here and try to impress the ladies with the money they spend thinking that is what is going to get them a good filipina. That is not true. A good filipina really doesn’t care about things like that. A good filipina cares about family and love and a good simple life. You don’t need to go crazy trying to impress here. If you think you do you better have a pretty good chunk of change.
I am pretty surprised that you can live in Makati on $1500 per month, Todd. I am in Davao, but I need at minimum twice that much, and often 3 times. But, I have a very large family, so that is the difference, I suppose.
Bob,
I’m not surprised at all that one can eat out, in Makati, for 500. We do on a regular basis but that’s in Tagbilaran.
Davao must be extremely expensive. It seems Davao is just as expensive at the States.
Spending 750 a person for a meal, at a minimum you said, is US prices. Don’t they have a chain like Gerrys Grill in Davao? They have Gerrys Grill in Cebu and other islands.
Gerrys Grill’s menu prices are about 20 pesos more in Cebu. They have lunch prices which are around 220 pesos,, more or less, but not 750 pesos.
Hi Rusty – I actually never said that it is P750 minimum for a meal. I said that is the minimum at a GOOD restaurant! Yes, we have several branches of Gerry’s Grill, but I certainly would not consider Gerry’s to be a “good” or “high end” restaurant. We are talking about two completely different classes of places.
I am talking places like Marco Polo Hotel, Claude’s Cafe de Ville, high end places, very high end. As I said, I don’t go out much anymore, so I don’t spend those kinds of prices. But, when we used to eat out a lot, we enjoyed going to high end and mid rang places (like Gerry’s). We are talking about two completely different things, my friend. 🙂
Bob,
Oh I see. Your right. I’d never eat at a high end restaurant even if I was rolling in money. The prices would bother me to much. I wouldn’t enjoy the meal.
So you know Gerrys Grill is considered a very good restaurant in Tagbillaran. The resorts have much higher prices. Their prices tend to start around 400.
Rusty
Hi Rusty – Feyma and I used to eat out a lot. We ate at a mixture of fine dining places and mid-range restaurants. But, I don’t recall ever spending more than P1k per person for our meals at the fine dining places. These days,w e rarely eat out. Mostly for health reasons.. I try to keep my diet in pretty strict control to keep control of my diabetes. So, that is mostly a thing of the past.
Lots of #s thrown around apparently related to various currencies. May I respectfully suggest that since all this is about “Live in the Philippines” we do each other a major favour and when quoting money #s let’s pls quoie in PHP. We cam then each do the appropriate mental calculation on any given day or hour on what that translates to in the home-country $ or rubles or whatever. Please please don’t start spouting costs in “bitcoin”!
To the discussion on restaurant costs, I’ve over the years (though yes prices have doubled or tripled) had great meals for 45 pesos, 90 pesos, 290 pesos and 600+ pesos per person, and yes many of those were in metro Manila between 2001 and 2011. I blew the wad a few times – a seafood place at Mall of Asia when it was new, yes Gerry’s Grill (Alabang), and my favorite Kamayan in Malate where I tossed well over 10K pesos for “the family” (at that time) well before I met my wife of today and we had our first baby.
More recently I remember paying about to treat my bayaw (brother-in-law) to a steak at an SM restaurant in Davao, back when I need not to be so concerned about an occasional few thousand pesos “thankyou” largess.
In general, unless going way crazy, a wonderful meal can be had for about 300 pesos or less per person in Manila or just about anywhere else in Phils and that’s right now towards the end of 2015. Ok so we were all hungry last week and I had cash so I ordered a 1100 peso pizza, which square meter fed us all for 3 days and the kids were in heaven.
All said, next time I have more money and time than brains, I’ll trek to Davao airport, NAIA, Malate, enjoy a Kamayan feast, then back home to the middle of nowhere in Mindanao. Very likely need a hotel room overnight too. Meal if just me, maybe PHP600, cost including transportation, accomodation, lost earnings, et al, ummmm perhaps minimum PHP20K to get that meal there. or at least triple if taking the wife. It’s all relative, eh? Much different then when I used to just walk 3 blocks down Mabini way back when.
Ed,
Good post/reply. Yup, one can easily eat a very good meal (all over the Philippines) for less, or equal to, 300 pesos. I wonder why places like TGIF
Ed,
I accidentally posted my last reply before I was finished. Blame it on my coffee I am drinking while typing. Anyway, why does TGIF charge US prices?
Will you say because they can and Filipinos will pay it? I won’t as I can get the same meal at another restaurant for a lot less. Yup, I’m cheap. The old beer budget with a champagne taste.
But not 1K taste.
Rusty
Hi Bob, yes, living in Makati on $1500 is actually sorta easy. I am not saying a person would have a lavish lifestyle on that amount in Makati but it would not be a bad living.
Ruby and I are simple eaters…we can easily eat on 500 a day TOTAL, not just for one meal, but for the whole day.
And you are right, $1500 a month in Makati with a large family would be really difficult, but for two people pretty easy.
Taguig is only about a 15 minute taxi from Makati and is actually a very nice area just outside of Manila. There are many many good to above average apartments there for around 10,000 (or less) a month.
What I see so many foreigners doing is once they move to the Philippines is continuing to live there “three week vacation’ style of living. And we both know that when on vacation you typically spend a lot more per day than you would if just “normal” living.
I don’t understand why people don’t understand they can’t keep up that spending pace! I know a guy that goes to the Philippines and spends close to $1000 a day! And he mentions that the Philippines is expensive! LOL. What the heck?
I totally agree about “living that vacation life” – when you move here you have to quicly transition to living here, not being on vacation any more, or else you will spend a ton of money..
I am very curious to what type of place you live in with a budget of $1,500 a month for 2 people in Makati.
Do you have hot water? Air condition? A doorman?
Taguig is a nice area especially near Market Market but I suspect for 10,000 pesos or below your definition of above average is not the norm.
Yes, we have air con. We have hot water and we have a door man. Although the term door man is maybe not what others would say a door man is. But where we live we pay 16,000 pesos in Makati but this area is a really popular area for foreigners so the prices are higher. But not far away you can for sure pay less.
There are plenty of decent places in and around Taguig for 10,000 pesos a month, even less and many VERY solid places for around 15,000 to 20,000 pesos.
And yes, Taguig around the Market Market mall is very nice. I will admit in that exact area getting a good apartment for 10,000 pesos would not be easy. But not far from there you can. It really depends on what you are looking for.
So for example: an apartment with two bedrooms, cr, living, and dining can be had not far from there for around 12,500 pesos a month.
If a person has a bunch of money to spend more that is great…but you can easily get good decent places in a LOT of places in Manila for 15,000 or less and many times for 10,000 or less.
I know because I have done it and I have many friends that have done it.
I guess the point of my post is this…many times foreigners get to the Philippines and try to replace their life they have in their home country with the same life in the Philippines. In that case you will almost for sure pay more money. But I, along with many others, don’t need everything like I have it in America. If I wanted it to be like America I would stay in America!
my favorite food tip is to buy something like a chicken curry or even some pastas, anything that gives you a lot of the sauce/noodles but will only give you 1 serving of meat
get it for take out and stop by any grocery store and get some chicken breasts for like 50 cents a serving… if its a rice meal get some extra rice from any resto on your way home (or cook it yourself)
now you have 2 good restaurant caliber meals for the price of like 1.2 and very minimal effort
Alternatively, anyone who likes *lots* of “sauce” as I do might want to just trek to SM SouthMall Las Pinas, and buy some relatively inexpensive “Pantay Red Curry Paste”. SM was “out-of-stock” in 2010 so I requested and a month later, *lots* of stock! I bought a *box* and still have some 5 years later, after moving to the middle of nowhere (no SM here!) .
So, yes you can find it, and yes you can ask SM to let you buy it and yes it’s inexpensive and yes you can make a *LOT* of masarap curry with tons of sauce and very inexpensive to feed a family of … let me count them again … seven 7 for a few days.
Alternatively I could share my recipe for making it all from scratch if anyone cares to ask. Problem isn’t the work, the problem is sourcing many of the raw ingredients.
sure i’ll take that recipe 🙂
Dante, I tried to drop my hand-crafted .odt file into here but no go. Thus a week and some later I’ll defer emailing all to Bob to post and just give you the plain text extraction. Not so pretty but it tells you what you care to know. Hope you enjoy it, the work is worth it when you have the time and inclination.
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VINDALOO CURRY PASTE:
(extremely spicy thick dark red slightly oily curry paste)
Implements:
– medium saucepan or wok
– large cooking spoon
– mortar & pestel
Ingredients:
5 tablespoon coriander seed (wansoy, cilantro)
2 tablespoon cumin seed
1 tablespoon cracked black peppercorns
1 tsp whole cloves (Claver de Como)
1 tsp fenugreek seeds (methi)
2 teaspoon brown/black mustard seeds
2 teaspoon chili powder (eg. cayenne)
2 teaspoon turmeric powder
2 teaspoon cardamom powder
2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
2 tablespoon fresh red/green chilies **
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 large onion, diced
1 heaping tbsp tamarind concentrate (or fresh)
3/4 cup oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon brown sugar
6 tablespoons brown vinegar
If you have whole ingredients instead of powders, just toast & then
grind them along with the other seeds.
** fresh chili pepper note: I used the tiny Philippine ‘native sili labuyo’, which
heat-level by far surpasses any of the larger ‘hot’ Taiwan/Thai/Mexican varieties.
Procedure:
Heat small saucepan or wok on medium heat, NO OIL!
Add your various seeds, stir constantly, toast until fragrant.
Remove & let cool, then grind to powder with mortar & pestel; set aside.
Reheat saucepan, add oil, add and stir-fry onion, garlic, tamarind, chilies & ginger
(your fresh ingredients) until caramelization begins. Remove from heat, decant and save the oil.
When cool, grind the onion/garlic/tamarind/chilies/ginger into a paste.
Reheat saucepan/wok, heat the saved oil, add wet paste mixture, then the ground spices, mix, add vinegar, salt, sugar. Heat & mix, adding extra oil if needed to
form a slightly oily paste.
Cool and decant to 12oz jar or icebag, refrigerate or freeze.
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Beef Curry:
3 to 5 tablespoons Vandaloo Curry Paste (recipe above)
adjust to desired “wimpy vrs suicide” level.
1 kg beef blade steak (or sirloin or whatever)
1 cup flour
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large onion
4 cloves garlic
1 cup beef broth (or cube)
4 cups water
1 can tomatoes/sauce/paste
1/2 cup hearty red wine (optional)
Cut beef into 1/2×3″ strips, remove excess fat & sinew; coat in flour.
Chop onion, mince garlic & ginger. Heat oil in large saucepan, lightly saute onion
& garlic. Add floured meat & brown, add any bones you saved, brown.
Add curry paste, stir, add water, beef broth,
Lower heat, cover & simmer 1 hour, stirring frequently with wooden spatula.
It will already be thick due to the flour, so don’t let it burn to the bottom!
Add water if/as needed.
Add tomatoes & wine, simmer another half hour, stirring frequently.
Mix remaining flour with a little water, add to further thicken sauce.
Serve with nice thick shanghai noodles or basmati rice
=========
Bob,
My wife’s cousin eats at the high end restaurants in Manila. Why I don’t know. He’ll spend 1000 for one person.
But then I buy Fila gym shoes and he buys Arrow shirts. Nothing but high quality items. I shop at Wal Mart/Sears type of stores. He’ll shop at Norstrom type of stores.
I believe that every person should indulge in what makes them feel good, as long as they can afford it. If your wife’s cousin can afford expensive clothes, it is his choice, and he should enjoy it! 🙂
I have eaten in many high end places in Manila…fine meals. But I soon realized that the quality of the food didn’t really match the prices. Much like in America.
I can go to my favorite bar in Vancouver and have a pretty good steak for $15, not much different in quality than the $75 steak houses I have been to.
The point is that it is REALLY easy to eat well almost any place in the Philippines if you don’t think you need to eat high end all of the time. For example: Ruby and I go to a lot karinderyas in Makati.
We love to take a morning walk and have breakfast. I can have a breakfast of pork tocino, rice, eggs, and a drink for about 50 pesos!!! I would consider that a pretty darn good deal. And we both really love it.
You can replace the pork tocino with about anything else…liempo, adobo, bicol express (which is fantastic) or whatever you like for about the same price.
As far as clothing…if a person wants to spend a lot of money on clothes, that is their choice. But a word of caution…a pair of 501 jeans is what….about $40 or so in America….those same jeans can be as high as 4000 pesos in Manila. So certain types of clothing can actually be a LOT more expensive in the Philippines.
I see some of my friends buy clothes in the higher end stores, and they pay a lot. I see other friends go to the many many street stores in Manila and buy clothes that are similar, not the same quality but instead of spending 2500 pesos for a shirt, they are spending 200 pesos for a shirt.
And finally, to end this long winded post one of my favorite things to do is go to movies. I can go to Glorietta 4 in Makati and watch a movie for about 220 pesos. I can get a coke and popcorn for about another 100. That is 320 pesos, that is a little over $7! Where I live in the Northwest the coke cost close to that much! LOL. And by the way, the quality of the theaters is high and the movies, as far as American movies, are the same movies playing in America.
So living in the Philippines need not be really expensive, it can actually be LOT less. It just depends on what you like and almost more importantly, what you know. Many foreigners I see don’t even bother to learn the local ways and therefore frequent places that wayyyy over charge.
Bob,
That very True and I agree with you.
My wife’s cousin is a surgeon. He works very, very hard for his money. He performs a surgery for 10,000 at least 5-10 times a week. Why 10,000 as some charge a lot more. Because he knows 99% of his patients can’t really afford even 10,000. He’s been know to take land or even a pig for his services.
When his daughters’ became doctors they wanted to go to the States to make more money. He asked them why as the people here really need them? So they are staying here.
Rusty
thanks for the recipe!
Bill,
Very True. Most nice restaurant here also charge 250 for a meal (of course rice) and a drink. I don’t frequent a resort that charges 750 a meal. Obviously some do.
I ate lunch today and paid the following; Veggie meal 100, Avocado shake 110 (dang more than the meal), rice 25, 1 malungay roll 2.5 pesos.
matt is now living in spain. his wife wanted to go there and he likes it better over there. to bad cause i liked his channel to.