Best Posts in Thread: A Filipina wife who doesn't really want to return.....

In general it does. If you didn't have the means to engineer a reliable income which puts you above 50% of (stick with my example) Americans then how are you going to have the means to engineer a bail-out plan?

Note: Mean (50%) household income in the U.S. would put each earner at about the level which @furriner has quoted.

If you don't have that income, then you're broke anywhere outside your home country. Stay home and figure out how to make more money if you want to move to a different country.

Otherwise your bail-out plan is to ask friends and family for money. You should ask them if they are okay with being your bail-out plan before you do this though.

People who have lots of money and can't put together a USD $3K income are just stupid and I'm not sure they exist. Your resources (investments) should be generating this much if you have a large nest egg. We don't have to worry about these people though, so let's not get stuck on this point.

Once you can check that box, then live how you like. Spend every cent that you can sustainably allocate of a monthly budget or live well below that means.

 

Isnt there an old saying like a penny saved is a penny earned?

What exactly is the difference between being able to live simple and on small income because you are a person who can give up expensive habits and things you are accustomed to vs living like a king because you have more than adequate resources?

The only differnece I see is in the person imo.

Also, living simple and on limited resources doesn't have to go hand in hand with having no bail out plan. Everyone should have a plan B that is well thought out, funded, and untouched!

And I will end this post with what I have always say.. Moving to PI to retire is NOT for everyone.. In fact, for most people, it is not.

 

Yes my comment was very basic, and didn't go deep as you did. But I'm not going to draw out every scenario where one would feel this way or that way. I was giving my opinion based on my own experiences.

Never said there is something wrong with living a certain lifestyle anywhere in the world. But since the poster said 3k = a poor life in the Philippines, I was pointing out why that may be the case for him.

Definitely agree with you that it's going to cost you a fortune if you want to live that way, also evidenced by the poster stating that 3k a month (which happens to be a fortune) in the PI was not cutting it for him and his family.

And yes, definitely a Westerner can't give up everything they had in their homeland as you mentioned. But you can pick and choose what you want to keep and what you don't want to keep based on analysis of is the high cost really worth it to you to not make the sacrifice?

Personally, the only thing I need is a house, aircon at night when I sleep, and a reliable car. Those things aren't going to cost me 3k a month.. not even close.

 

A budget 3k is impossible. Silliman mothers visit my tent under the mango tree once a week. I spoiled them on imported wines. Daughter’s clothes shipped via Amazon. Atmosphere, Coco Grove, Marco Polo, RadBlu, Plantation Bay..Kav’s, Mike’s...Casablanca, Why Not, KRI, Grumpy’s, feel like I’am obligated to support the businesses. Daughter’s birthday at the first four properties. CG twice, MP again next weekend. I cannot eat at the Filipino restaurants.

Is my daughter spoiled...Absolutely!

 

You make a great point! Some people go there because they are "taking one for the team" and had false hope of being able to handle the change. Trust me, as I'm sure you are aware, moving and living there is not for most people! Especially Western people!


But, if you go into it with a good attitude, and realistic expectations, you can do it.

 

Good luck getting your Filipina wife to return to the Philippines if she is really happy where she is now. I have Filipina sisters in law who moved to the US from the Philippines in the 70's and have never once had a desire to move back, or visit for that matter. It is my observation that once most Filipina's move to other countries, they do not wish to return to the Philippines permanently. I won't say they are all that way, as I know of some who have returned.

 

Condescending much? The OP topic wasn't about this but it was called...

Shawn