A Filipina wife who doesn't really want to return.....

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.

 

Yup they sure do! They want to be like the West, but still keep the traditions that they like. It's like living life alacarte! That's quite understandable.

 

I have no doubt you are truthful in what your expectations are for yourself living the "Western" life in the Philippines. I just plainly disagree with your comments that I quoted previously. You generalized and made assumptions with a conclusion that all 3K a day would get you a life of just pickling your liver. If you think my intent was to "shame" you I suggest you re-read your post and how it could be interpreted.

There are folks with vastly different ideas to what their expectations are for a life in the Philippines and how much they plan to spend; pretty much their own business. I know how much we spend when I'm home and when I'm not; but that is my business.

We are in complete agreement that the Philippines is not as cheap as many assume. It can also be fairly inexpensive depending on your lifestyle.

Shawn

 

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!

 

We can debate this ad nauseum but never reached agreement as we are all individuals - my view is that I am not here primarily to travel and eat out everywhere. I have the income to do so, therefore it is a choice and not a necessity. I am here to avoid cold winters, which I totally detest, and to enjoy the sea views - I am happy to eat out at times but can become bored when doing so regularly. I think my desire is a spiritual one and my need therefore is for enough money to survive and enjoy some of those material things on offer to me. The smiling faces of many people here is a bonus!

I can inform anyone wishing to live here, but who reads of Php 150,000 as a monthly requirement, that it is possible to: rent a 2 bed furnished house with aircon for Php 8000; pay about Php 4000 for electricity and water; spend about Php 20,000 on eating in and very occasional eating out; get internet for about Php 2000; allocate Php 2000 for transport (relying on their own legs, trikes, jeepneys and buses); allow perhaps Php 2000 for clothes (less if bringing some clothes with them). This equals Php 38,000. The BIG unknown is medical costs, so two choices: 1) Buy medical insurance (costs are very different depending on age, so difficult to quote) 2) Have a fund available to return home if it is more cost effective.

So I think about Php 40 - 70,000 per month is survivable in The Philippines. Plus that essential reserve to get back home if necessary.

But if you want a big house on the coast, helpers, a car, a boat (yacht perhaps), fine dining (IF you can find it!), lots of travelling, full coverage of all medical needs, etc. then come if you are loaded or stay in your own country if you are not.

Even then, there are degrees of everything and a basic lifestyle can be combined with SOME of your desires - when you have reached your financial limit then stop desiring!

Although I would never suggest recklessness - it is actually the opposite of the way I live my own life - I would also not rust away in the harbour if you can go out to sea and have an adventure.

 

A typical married couple in the U.S. might be yanking around half their income for taxes and savings, leaving the other half to live on. To live on 3K that couple would then need to be making $72K / year, which is above the median household income for that country. Of that median, a large chunk is living in crazy expensive cities such as LA and NYC. A profile of a typical suburban family is probably a lot less than the median.

A family magically transplanted here would likely save a bunch on transportation costs. Do any foreigners pay car insurance here? Insurance for the couple could hit 10% of that 3K. I pay zero because I walk most places (can't do that in a spread out cities I used to live in. We could probably put together a long list of other things that nickel and dime you in the US compared to the Philippines.

Good for you, but your 3K per month is relatively well off even in the US.