Day dreams pipe dreams or whatever you choose to call them they are still dreams. Winter sets in; you are shoveling snow out of the driveway to head out into the pitch black freezing morning to get to work on time. To pass the time forging through the snow with 5,000 other drivers all going the same direction you stick that Jimmy Buffett USB into the car stereo, and blaring back comes “Cheeseburgers in Paradise’ your fingers start tapping on the steering wheel (In the ten and two configuration of course) and feet start moving (Even though you’re wearing mukluks slippers)
Now the dream kicks in; you remember that warm tropical day on that beach in wherever Philippines, that cold SMB in your hand, that large group of kids squealing with delight while splashing along the shore…Whoa panic…. You almost rear ended that Snowplow in front of you. Stop dreaming and pay attention to the road.
You’re now safely at work, and prior to making the boss his (Her) money you log on to a Philippine Website (LiP I’ll wager!) and read about others who have escaped the rat race and slid quietly towards the equator.
Oh you want to do it, you’ve paid your dues, when does the fun in your life start? And that my friend is your decision, like so many others you’ll have to make before you board that plane.
The Philippines has three regions Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Which is the best? You’ll not drag me into that discussion for that would start a Donnybrook on line that will go on for years. Suffice it to say if you are married to a Pinay you might live where her family is from. If dating a girl from here you will end up where she is. Or if a single guy you might jump from one region to another until you walk down some road and say; Yup, this is it!
You decided to stay, now another trouble-ling decision, should you RENT, BUILD or BUY. I rented for a few years and then built a house. But my advice to you is: If you do it the way you want to you’ll not be wrong. Everyone has an opinion but only yours matters.
Next, how much money will you need? Here is another subject that you’ll have to decide again on your own. There will be some that say you can live well on $500.00 a month. Maybe they can, but I sure don’t want to. I live on between $1,000.00 and $1,500.00 a month. I’ll break it down by dollars per month. Housing (ZERO) I built a house. Electric (Here on Luzon) and water $250.00 Satellite dish ($200.00 installed) then $20.00 per month. Gas for the car $40.00 per month (Insurance for house and car $700.00 per year) I paid cash for the car and bought a new 2014 Mitsubishi G4 with a 3 cylinder gasoline engine it hates fuel. My food bill varies between; $200.00 to $300.00 a month, because I still like American food for the most part.
I have bought many pre owned cars before the new one I have now. I shopped until I found the right price and kept them in great shape, I sold them all for a profit, and figured (I kept records) it cost me, my best guess, is between $100.00 to $150.00 a month to drive each one. I couldn’t rent a car for that.
Here is what I recommend: try to live on less than you have, and bank the difference so there will be a good size buffer for repairs and emergencies because they are going to happen more often than you can plan for. Murphy’s Rule: Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. Then remember that Murphy was an optimist! The more money you have in savings the better you will feel. (That was an obvious as hell statement, but still very true) The amount needed is up to you and we each should decide that on our own.
Here is something you need to really think about, while listening to that Jimmy Buffett song in your car and it snowing outside. Bob Martin will also tell you this, if asked: “There is no paradise on earth because paradise truly is a pipe dream. But with an open mind, a sense of humor and the patience of Job (Bible reference not employment LOL) the Philippines will be as close as you’ll find to paradise and you will stop searching for it after you start living here.
DISCLAIMER;
I do not have all the answers for you, this article applies to me and how I did it 25 years ago. The best way and I’ll repeat it, the best way will be “YOUR WAY” but I’ll tell you one thing I know to be true…”If you come on in, the water will be fine!”
I love it, well said! I can’t wait to do it, in very near future!
Rose;
I was chatting with my brother in New England and they are in a deep freeze there now. But I did mention that I was smart enough to be the one who found the equator. It’s good that when disconnecting from a cell phone you can’t slam the phone down.
lol
Omg Paul, your articles keep me laughing long after I’ve read them sir! Also, your FB posts are spot on. Good read! Bob, if you’re reading this, give this man a raise…it’s worth it to keep him on! God bless and thanks for your service.
OpaoPhil;
Bob I want no money, for that would imply work of some sort, and if this ever became work, I’d quit! (lol) Phil; thank you for your kind thoughts! Bob pays me in Jimmy Buffett albums.
Right on!…brother! For those of us still “stuck” in the USA we praise you! 🙂 I’m on my way as soon as I get my last kid through college! Keep the SMB cold!
Tim;
When I was a kid in Dorchester (The elite section of Boston) we kept our beer cold by stuffing them into a snow bank, Sadly because of how warm it is here I must buy or make Halo. I just thought of something odd here in the Philippines, the sell halo, but they don’t call Ice Cream Halo Cream? I’ll never figure this place out!
Other advantages of living here is our blood pressure doesn’t sky rocket watching football games as most of us don’t get them, yet we can still invest in the football pools and occasionally win one and get a portion of our investment back. This happened to me and now since it is money I never expected to have in the budget I can meet my friends in the bar , cash the ticket and invest in SMG’s, Rum & Coke, & maybe some nachos for us all, while the sweet sound of English words flow into my ears.
Loren;
You’re the one that baled on your home team and stayed home while we went to the Wild Orchid to see the game. But I’ll be there tomorrow at Dempsey’s to help you consume your football pool winnings. Yes, I’m that good of a friend!
Paul,
I fondly remember your Big Ass Yellow Lincoln in Puerto Rico…
Many fun times a life time ago!!!
Jack
Shipmate;
Old San Juan driving the Lincoln on narrow cobble stone streets, and the police has to clear 6 parked cars so I could make the left turn to get out of there. 30 cars stopped behind me and I’m buy drinks for some of them in a tourist Umbrella Drink Bar while waiting two hours for the street to clear. The police requested I keep the Big yellow land Yacht out of town.
Hi Paul,
I was told that this past weekend it was minus ten degrees in Providence (14.0F?)
Not missing that!
Any NFL game that does not include the New England Patriots is not worth watching anyway. lol Queenie
Queenie;
I spent a year in Providence one weekend years ago, would never want to repeat that. Now New Port is a horse of a different color, but the wind off of Narragansett Sound will cut you like a knife. During Super Bowl “L” (To the NFL that means 50) it was mundane without the Pat’s.
Mr. Murphy of Murphy’s law seems to have a formula or method that he operates under.
The better your financial cushion, the less likely he is to come around. It’s when you are down on your luck, he seems to stomp you the hardest.
Must have worked for the law firm of Dewey, Screwem, and Howe.
By the way, 16 degrees Fahrenheit, 30 mph wind, and snowing. Not Boston but certainly unpleasent enough to have me counting the weeks until I am back there, hip replacement surgery permitting.
LeRoy;
My 401 K was based on the stock market while I was working, so I really didn’t care, but when I retired they had me by the short hairs, so with out penalty I moved it into some (At the time good yield IRA’s.(NFCU) Then the stock market took the plunge with the housing market and my NFCU was not involved in either Wall Street Scam, so by sheer luck I missed out on the crap storm. I had never intended to spend it anyway, as it and our property are solely for dire emergencies and my wife’s future. The Navy told us that planning the ship’s turn well in advance will prevent collisions.
I feel for you in that weather, and hope for the best with your operation.
Hi Paul, I don’t miss the weather back home England it’s very cold there right now,
I love the freedom the Philippines gives me yes I agree it’s best to live within your
Means, I’m happy my investments property give me a good living I see a lot of expats
Here who are struggling financially you can’t live on love here, pictures of those cars
In the snow bring back memories ? I’m glad I don’t have to do that anymore,
Derek in pasig.
Derek;
Drive in snow? I’ve read about people doing silly things like that. My father taught his children (Five sons) “Don’t strive to be rich, strive to be comfortable, that leaves the choice up to you as to how much is enough.”
Hi Paul,
I like the reference to the USB plug in the car. That is the best feature of the new car I bought last year and yes an occasional Jimmy Buffet song does come out of it once in a while. Finally, solid state music with no moving parts to get sluggish in the cold weather months.
Minus 8 Deg. F. here this weekend but at one time or another we get a few days of this every year. At least the cost of heating oil has come down to $1.44 per gallon where I buy it.
So far it has been very little snow this winter but when I am out there clearing it from the car I do think about all of the great vacations I have had there in The Philippines.
Bob (NY)
My USB’s hold a thousand or so songs that I pick off my computer, I play it on random and change it every two months. (We don’t spend that much time in our cars here)
My brother Dan in Massachusetts was bemoaning the cold on Facebook this morning. According to CNN it should warm up soon, but then CNN is seldom right about anything. Ask Hillary!
Paul great article. Your right, have to have a buffer, just in case. But that is true where ever you live. I lived up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains after I got out of the Navy in 73 after 7 years. Every year I hated the snow and Ice and the drivers that did not know how to handle it. But I love living here, it is warm and the ocean water is always comfortable and the Redhorse or San Miguel is cold and comforting. The only time I go back is in the summer and early fall. And I miss my home and our puppies. SO for me this is Eden. I am happy here and there is truth in the old saying, Home is where the heart is.
Luke;
There are quite a few “Snow Birds” here in the Philippines and no one will slight them for that. As a matter of fact I made a lot of money renting them my condo in Puerto Rico every winter. (I also had a small house on the beach) I fully understand the need to return to the states. my 14 dogs live here and I know I’d miss them too.
I’ve pretty much followed your plan. The main difference might be in buying or financing a car. You did what was best for you. I believe in using others money.
Finance or buy outright? First I’d get a loan in the States. Or even here but not at the published rates. The banks, and car companies, will deal with you. If you say bank X rates are so much, and they really are, the car company will match those rates. Yes, it takes leg work but saves one a lot.
Since I want to keep as much money as I can. One will say then you should buy outright as you’ll save the finance charge. So why did I finance my car? I’ve know people that suddenly needed X amount of money, say for an operation, but the money they now need when into their car.
Great choice on the Mitsubishi you bought. That car get great gas mileage, right? I also got a Mitsubishi.
Rusty;
I prefer if you say you followed “Your Plan”. (lol) My NFCU offered me a loan at 1.69% but the last time I ever borrowed money was in 1978. (Credit cards don’t count because I’ve never had a balance over $1,000.00)
Medical I never think about because I have OBAMACARE! Wait I don’t, I’m exempt along with every other person who was ever connected to the government and have a good plan they still pay for.
But as I say, your way will always be the best way…..FOR YOU!
I love that Mitsubishi Attrage G-4 with the 1.1 liter engine.
Hi Paul,
I enjoyed your article and think your advice is sound! I have not met many expats in the Philippines, but on our last visit I talked to one who said that he needed $3,000/ month to live in Bohol. IDK. That is $100/day. I would think you could live in a resort for that much. Anyway your article was a good read as usual!
Peace
Jay
Jay;
I’ll assume he is a single short time visitor and has other expenses also. I took my family (Just 5) to Texas Joe’s on Valentine’s Day for lunch and we all had Baby-Back Ribs, and that only cost $65.00. Yes many, many other expenses.
Paul instead of Jimmy’s Cheeseburger in Paradise I think Banana Republic better fits the life style here
Down to the Banana Republic
Down to the tropical sun
Go the expatriated Americans
Hoping to find some fun
Some of them go for the sailn’
Called by the lure of the sea
Trying to find what is ailing
From living in the land of the free
Some of them are running from lovers
Leaving no forward address
Some of them are running tons of ganga
Some are running from the IRS
And late at night you will find them
In the cheap hotels & bars
Hustling the senoritas while they dance beneath the stars
Spending those renegade pesos
On a bottle of rum & a lime
Singing, give me some words I can dance to
Or a melody that rhymes
First you learn the native customs
Soon a word of Spanish or two
But you know that you cannot trust them
Cause they know they can’t trust you
Expatriated Americans feeling so all alone
Telling themselves the same lies
That they told themselves back home
Down to the Banana Republic things aren’t as warm as they seem
When none of the natives are buying any second hand American dreams
Tom;
Then you’ve never had a Cheeseburger and a rum and coke on the patio of Texas Joe’s gazing at Subic Bay. But after 10 years in the Caribbean I do understand the sentiment of that song. Any person leaving America to travel towards the Equator should be required to read Herman Wouk’s novel; “Don’t Stop the Carnival” The best line in the book is where Norman Paperman turns to his wife and says; “Thank God we didn’t sell the condo back home!” (I paraphrase) (LOL)
Nice Beer Runner Paul