⌛ Hi looking for friends, places to visit and then live in phili

Hi Dumaguete

is on my shortlist of places I'd like to visit and looking for place to live in next year or 2. I may be there next feb.

I am looking to live simpler life, I love learning and books and want to settle down with filipina.

I travel often in asia and having returned this year to the philippines I reckon the filipino people are some of the best.

I posted this first yet to read the threads. I am interested in living expenses for long term living, rentals etc I prefer fan rooms and to spend my $ on books, diving rather than rent.

 

Hi Dhappy....in which order did you want.....hahaha
There are threads on most subjects that you require so take your time and browse.
"diving rather than rent"?
Welcome to the forum.....JB

 

This the place to find out what you need to know for sure...

you should read everything you can on this forum.. it is worth more than you could learn living years in the Philippines. At any rate welcome the the forum..

 

thanks for the welcome.
"diving rather than rent"? for sure I have traveled all over the world on a budget and as long as a room has the basics I am okay with it. I'd rather live frugally, save, be financially sound and then spend money on my passions, rather than bleed money day to day on things that would be nice, but I don't really need. So I'd swap diving for aircon any day.

 

Apparently this is the place to be then, because all the filipinas here say they are "simple." They are also "god fearing" and "age doesn't matter*." You will fit right in.

*If age doesn't matter, then bankroll does matter.

That's good you love learning, because if you want to settle down with a filipina then you have a lot to learn. If only I knew then what I know now... :D

Filipino people, sure. Philippines expats, not so much.

If you want to live like a local then you only need to know that a liter of red horse is 54 pesos and a pack of fortune cigarettes is 15 pesos. If you happen to get hungry in between drinking and smoking, you can buy rice for 37 pesos per kilo. You can build a house by the river (squatter) for only the cost of bricks and bamboo.

Since I'm a high roller I pay 1,400 pesos for cable, around 1000 pesos for electricity (varies depending on my GF's use of her power toys when she gets lonely) and 10,000 pesos for a furnished studio apartment. You can easily find a place for around half that if you go unfurnished. Depending on your situation, your visa payments may be your other "major" expense. Food varies quite a bit. While I certainly don't spend as much money on groceries here as I did back home, the savings aren't as dramatic in this category as they are for things like rent.