do i move to the phil, or is it easier to get my wife out to australia
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im undecided what to do,try to get my Filipino wife to Australia
or I cum to Davao city to live with her .
can somebody there advise me which of the 2 is easier
and cheaper. ....cheers Rod, from down under..
rod iddles wrote:im undecided what to do,try to get my Filipino wife to Australia
or I cum to Davao city to live with her .
can somebody there advise me which of the 2 is easier
and cheaper. ....cheers Rod, from down under..
Go to Davao..Much cheaper to live there and if it dont work out you can always apply for her visa to go back to Australia with you which will be much easier and more efficient from here..
thanx for u r advise I have only spent 3 wks in Davao
can u tell me what is the average price to rent a 3br.house in Davao hehehe with hot and cold water for showers,...
Dear Aussie friend,dont worry it will be much easier and cheaper in Davao,rent can be cheap or expensive depending on your life style,anywhere from 100usd to 2000usd,it can be simple or it can be a mansion,its all up to your liking,im sure you can find other aussies either in Davao or Dumaquete,but plenty of other foriegners,that can give you honest advice.Dont fear and go and explore and enjoy life to its fullest,good luck,form your P.R./American friend.
rod
For cost of living check out this website www.numbeo.com a bit difficult to navigate through the first time but gives you a lot of info.
Just remember that living may be cheap but you need to consider medical insurance cover, visa costs etc.
As far as I am aware,if you have an Oz pension and you are out of the country for more than 6 months the Govt can cancel it so you need to consider this in your expenses.
Getting a visa for her to live in Oz is time consuming and costly too.
Rod
I faced the same problem and decided to live here, u would know
how expensive Auss is getting, living in Provences is better
and cheaper, there are plenty expats to have a beer with, we even
have a bet on AFL at our local(cause it the only sport we can get live)the hassles of getting ur missus permenent into Auss
r huge
Pete
thanx pete im starting to realize now how expensive its going to be, so I will look into the cost of me going there ,at least she has work there ,in the real estate business so that's one thing I wont need to worry over..... cheers Rod
it will be a smart thing for you to invest with her in real estate,as this will provide a extra income for sure,if you know how to budget your money and have a simple lifestyle,you really dont need that much money,i would say anywhere from 700-1000usd is enough to live on and that includes all the basic necesities but thats only in the provinces.Im hoping to go there sometime next year to explore where i will settle.I plan to visit some of the guys and gals from this site,im very confidant this will be one of the best decisions of my life.im hoping to have a few selected friends from different countries,Germans,Aussies,Canadians,etc,im pertty much sure Visayas is my best option.Good luck and lots of happiness.
ok no problem,just go and explore,best if you have someone trustworthy
Ron,
I'm sort of on the [ Universal Tenet ] -> [UT], kick as of late. So here goes another one, [UT]-> "look before you leap"... With investments, (never listen to your heart)! Cold, rock-hard-analytical-thinking, is the only way forward.
[UT]-> Fools Rush In, Where Angels Fear To Tread.
Trust your (brain) only, keep your heart and emotions out of it completely... Trust only the left side, the analytical hemisphere, of your brain.
Asian culture is deceptively (deep) rarely are things the way they seem to Westerner's.
Godspeed, my brother as you go "warily" along your way.
yeah not sure about the whole investing thing
ive been here 5 years havent bought a thing yet but in that 5 years i have been a bit of a gypsy forever moving...
there has been a bit of a real estate bubble in the philippines the last few years not sure wether or not that will go down now that us investors are starting to once again invest back home but that is something to consider.
With your pension it depends on what pension u are on but now these days u can apply for a component called poratability if u are on dsp u can apply for this but i will warn u if u dont succeed and they decide u are not at the right quota u could lose your pension.
I live on around 1200 dollar a month here and i live in cebu by my partner and i live quiet cheap we are realizing we can live somewhat cheaper in the province so are moving at the end of the month
before u consider moving at all or investing with anyone
know the woman u love... there are a lot of people here with hard luck stories many live on alot less then u would think and are not happy about it from buying with their wives and finding out the hard way that we have no rights here
ie u could lose everything if have picked the wrong woman.
Davao is very safe but do not travel around mindinao to chap happy as it is the kidnapping capital of the phils
Thatawesomeguy wrote:yeah not sure about the whole investing thing
ive been here 5 years havent bought a thing yet but in that 5 years i have been a bit of a gypsy forever moving...
there has been a bit of a real estate bubble in the philippines the last few years not sure wether or not that will go down now that us investors are starting to once again invest back home but that is something to consider.
With your pension it depends on what pension u are on but now these days u can apply for a component called poratability if u are on dsp u can apply for this but i will warn u if u dont succeed and they decide u are not at the right quota u could lose your pension.
I live on around 1200 dollar a month here and i live in cebu by my partner and i live quiet cheap we are realizing we can live somewhat cheaper in the province so are moving at the end of the month on 1200 a month there's not much u can buy
before u consider moving at all or investing with anyone
know the woman u love... there are a lot of people here with hard luck stories many live on alot less then u would think and are not happy about it from buying with their wives and finding out the hard way that we have no rights here
ie u could lose everything if have picked the wrong woman.
Davao is very safe but do not travel around mindinao to chap happy as it is the kidnapping capital of the phils
on 1200 a month there isnt much u can buy..LOL
ha its not that bad my rent is 9000 a month
food is about 5000 a month ( i cook my own food)
my basic power water is about 4000 a month and my cable and internet is about 5000 so all my basic needs are covered for 600 bucks a month
i dont drink so i save a fair bit of cash and my gf makes me catch jeeps when we can.. that leaves us 15000 a month for whatever it is we are doing that month actually a bit more but i keep that for emergency's
i dont live large here and i like to keep a low profile.
it all depends on your lifestyle me and gema we have alot of fun we just dont spend money like a westerner a lot of great things to do here on the cheap just got to get your mind around changing your way of life
Touch'e...But how much land can you buy or other big ticket items..That was my point...Actually I live about the same...10K for 3 bed, 3 bath right on the water (cable TV included), only 500 month for water, 3K month for power(little need for Air). I spend much more for food(we cook quality food)..9 to 12K(3 person), Gas 3K, auto/health insurance 600, entertainment/restaurant, 2 to 3K, Misc. 2K for a total of about 32K($750)average..Put away 6K for emergency funds..Then there is that occasional annual expense of a RT ticket to the US, 3 to $4000...
So if income is 1200 mo. how long would I have to save to buy land, house, motorbike, etc...The rest of my life and then some..Only in my dreams..So if you have a much younger wife and or children, what is their legacy after you're gone..A few bucks in the bank..LOL
That is why I am looking to buy land for her future so she will have something to show for all her years with me..However, I am in no rush; waiting to buy where the best appreciable bargains are on or near the water..
great thank you , I don't have the funds to buy land so I will only have my age pension and what ever the wife earns , but there are still 4 children to put through school so its not going to be too rosey I think
not rosey at all mate i do buy quality food but i shop at the markets alot and we dont really eat that much meat and that im actually a chef by trade so we tend to make alot of our own sauces and stocks i actually have a fair bit of cash in the bank and only feed for 2 plus our dog
I found using filipino vegtables in place of the ones i would buy at home keeps costs down then again we do grow a few of our own vegtables and we are about to move to the province where i will also have a few chickens and two pigs
it all depends on your life style my wife and I are quiet young i am 35 she is early 20s so we have a lil more time to take it slow so to speak
lol also i am an aussie so my return ticket back to oz is only about 200 bucks per person 1 way in saying big ticket items we actually own all of our own stuff and its all brand new ( we finally went and rented an unfurnished house has taken us a year to get all we want but its better for us this way)
My partner has just started her own business she makes about 5000 a month from this at the momment( all her own doing lol love my girl she is very proactive)
But if u have a family that always have their hands out yeah it makes it hard
I would say if u dont have atleast 20 thousand dollars in your bank in case of emergencys then u should try and do so
if u get sick here even if u have insurance u need to pay up front and that
can and will be costly if it is anything major so if u do have major health issues this is not the country for u
if i was going to retire i would in oz not here
rod iddles wrote:great thank you , I don't have the funds to buy land so I will only have my age pension and what ever the wife earns , but there are still 4 children to put through school so its not going to be too rosey I think
Wow!! 4 children,how old is your wife and children..You definitely have alot to consider for their future..Maybe I can help, give me your email address and I will share info with you..
my wife is 52yrs the kids are 17,16,14,13.
she is 20yrs my jnr,
thanx very much my email is grahamidles@rocketmail.com
my name is Rod
Thatawesomeguy wrote:not rosey at all mate i do buy quality food but i shop at the markets alot and we dont really eat that much meat and that im actually a chef by trade so we tend to make alot of our own sauces and stocks i actually have a fair bit of cash in the bank and only feed for 2 plus our dog
I found using filipino vegtables in place of the ones i would buy at home keeps costs down then again we do grow a few of our own vegtables and we are about to move to the province where i will also have a few chickens and two pigs
it all depends on your life style my wife and I are quiet young i am 35 she is early 20s so we have a lil more time to take it slow so to speak
lol also i am an aussie so my return ticket back to oz is only about 200 bucks per person 1 way in saying big ticket items we actually own all of our own stuff and its all brand new ( we finally went and rented an unfurnished house has taken us a year to get all we want but its better for us this way)
My partner has just started her own business she makes about 5000 a month from this at the momment( all her own doing lol love my girl she is very proactive)
But if u have a family that always have their hands out yeah it makes it hard
I would say if u dont have atleast 20 thousand dollars in your bank in case of emergencys then u should try and do so
if u get sick here even if u have insurance u need to pay up front and that
can and will be costly if it is anything major so if u do have major health issues this is not the country for u
if i was going to retire i would in oz not here
So your RT ticket to OZ is $800 but you have expenses while there..My trip to USA includes 1 month of expenses which are much higher than the PI..I have been to OZ and it is also very expensive to live and retire there so you would probably have near $1000 expense while there with a total of $2000..
You mention you are 35..How is it you can live here?? How do you make you monthly stipend??..You cant live on the 5K your wife makes...And how in the world would you ever be able to retire in OZ...LOL...It is twice as expensive to retire there..As long as rodz health is relatively good and he is near a decent hospital in Davao, it is my opinion he would be much better off here and possibly pick up some cheap land with the prospects of development in the future for his wife and children
where there is a will there is a way.
I do ok the 5k my wife earns is her money i dont touch that
i have lived here for 5 years so i must be somewhat be able to support myself
I was just saying if he does have health concerns staying in oz is for him we have free medical back in oz mate and when i go home to oz i stay with family
lol i understand where u are comming from and i am not trying to knock your info mate i agree with u and u are honest with all your posts here
I am lucky at my age to be doing what i want here but that is as i said luck.
While i do agree picking up land is a good option i think chilling back for a year or two and getting the lay of the land is somewhat a bit more of a better goal
remember when we first came here to live and the hurdles we had to get buy here to adapt?
at the momment there is also a very large property bubble and from all the signs in the market( developers offering 5 to 10% signage bonus's that is usally the sign of a slowing down on a property bubble.
Just chill Rod relax make sure u have all your shots and a med check up before comming here and i know what it is like to live on the pension in oz u will have a much better budget here even with the wife and kids
try to live in davao and make a lit business u can build house if u want coz ur wife is a filipina
Ron,
You must carry your watermelons, in a wheelbarrow, they are much bigger than mine! With this piece of history and future, I feel intimidated to offer any advice, on any matter. It would seem you eat a lion for breakfast, a tiger for lunch and a grizzly bear for dinner.
You are one of the "Brave Hearts" of this world. I wish you the best that resolve and happiness can bring.
Always keep the faith,
Godspeed my brother.
Actually your money can go far if you will live here in The Philipines.. cost of living is cheap and bearable.
Anaheim wrote:Actually your money can go far if you will live here in The Philipines.. cost of living is cheap and bearable.
Cost of living cheap? 4% increase every year of all basic needs...
5 years ago rice was 18 peso a kilo now its 40 peso a kilo.
Crime on the rise do to a larger and larger gap in the haves and the have nots.
Come and stay here for 6 months, a year try it out first before deciding to move here... please.
Do not put all your eggs into one basket.
and remember her line "cheap and bearable"
compared to what>?
i love this country and i love my partner but it is what it is mate dont think it is something that it is not.
Bearable lol dont u think that is an interesting statement...
Thatawesomeguy wrote:Anaheim wrote:Actually your money can go far if you will live here in The Philipines.. cost of living is cheap and bearable.
Cost of living cheap? 4% increase every year of all basic needs...
5 years ago rice was 18 peso a kilo now its 40 peso a kilo.
Crime on the rise do to a larger and larger gap in the haves and the have nots.
Come and stay here for 6 months, a year try it out first before deciding to move here... please.
Do not put all your eggs into one basket.
and remember her line "cheap and bearable"
compared to what>?
i love this country and i love my partner but it is what it is mate dont think it is something that it is not.
Bearable lol dont u think that is an interesting statement...
alright let me elaborate my previous message..
But before that no one is interetsed to know if you love your partner or not..no need to mention that. lol
Am talking about the cost of living here in The Philipines..which is really cheaper or maybe better to use the word "affordable" compare to other countries like Australia. but ofcourse it varies to your lifestyle. If you're the kind of a person who wanted to live the life that he/she can't afford then it's a different story. Food an dclothings are cheap. A regular individual spends around 7k php or maybe less than that every month for food alone.Food and groceries are not expensive to purchase in the Philippines.If you are prepared to eat local foods then your food and groceries will be quite cheap. Even if you allow for a fixture of western style foods the cost will not be enormous compared with what you would pay back home.Clothes can be considerably cheap as well it depends upon the person. so let's say 25,000php a month budget is enough for you to survive and live here in The Philippines.
Not really trying to be silly but you have to understand that foreigner's money can go far in The Philippines since his dollars will be multiplied...
And to sum up everything ,
The cost of living in the Philippines is considerably cheaper than in western countries. How frugally you want to live is entirely up to you, as the options are many.
well i am speaking as an expat ( ie forum is called Expat.com) that comes from a western country and lives here ( for a quiet a long time) in the philippines.
Im not talking about a view from a filipino that lives here all her life and does not understand what an expat is looking for or talking about.
7000 peso a month for food for an indvidual is quiet high being that the average monthly wage here is less then that.
Fact foreigner needs to live somewhere somewhat secure.... reasoning well a lot of crime of theft and robbery happens to us as some members of this country think we fart money
Fact average cheap clothing here is for skinny small people... reasoning I know i shop here for me.
Fact food budget for foriegners will be higher then filipino...
reasoning we like good produce...
Fact travel and other basic living expense will cost a foreinger more.. reasoning one price for u one price for us mentality of the phils.. also even though i catch jeepneys and public transport for a person new to a town or city taxi's are more often then not an easier and safer option.
Unless u have lived in another country and are not from this country and then have lived here as an expat i think u should probably reconsider giving advice on this topic.
U will need atleast 50 thousand peso's a month here to live
minium of 80 thousand if u want to live in manila
davao u can get away with around 50 thousand but keeping in mind u will probably be travelling and spending more than u usually would in the first year or two here while u get the lay of the land.
U seem like a lovely girl anahiem and the reason i said i loved my gf was a statement as i said first i loved this country then also my partner before i then pointed out some of the issues an Expat would have to learn to deal with here when and if he decided to live here( ie so people that are locals did not get offended and say something like " if u dont like here then why dont u go home" get my meaning?
Things that expats take for granted as being cheap like broccoli and milk and bread are a lot more expensive here also pasta is also.... remembering these are western staple foods not unlike rice is here. It is a hell of a lot more humid here so u will find most Expats use a hell of a lot more electricity here then u would for running aircon.
Medical treatment will be higher here for those from commonwealth nations where we have free medical
The list can go on and on the question the OP asked is can i live on the philippines on my old age pension which the answer is yes can u live like a king the answer is no... will your life style be somewhat better than oz yes yes yes with a wife and 4 kids no no no....
Should he come over here with no additional money and just reply on his pension A big bloody no....
Unless u have lived as an expat in australia and know the cost of living there compared to here then I can not see how u can even give advice on this subject of course a filipino would say we have big money it is many times more
That is true somewhat but also unrealistic comparatively speaking to two different cultures and countries and standards of living take care and god bless I am always here to help anyone that needs a question to be asked i will be blunt and straight to the point but i will also be honest and realistic I actually live on a lot less then all my expat buddies here in the phils but also i adopted this culture as my own and very simplistic needs and wants my life and lifestyle is not for everyone that is an expat actually most of my mates shake their heads in disbelief
but at the end of the day whatever floats your boat...
anyone and i do mean anyone that is considering retiring here in the philippines and has only spent a few weeks here should live here for 6 months first before making that life changing decision.
Also any expat that has decided to live here and does not have an exit plan in case things go bad should really perhaps reconsider how their brain works and maybe study a little bit of history regarding south east asia
Thatawesomeguy wrote:ha its not that bad my rent is 9000 a month
food is about 5000 a month ( i cook my own food)
my basic power water is about 4000 a month and my cable and internet is about 5000 so all my basic needs are covered for 600 bucks a month
i dont drink so i save a fair bit of cash and my gf makes me catch jeeps when we can.. that leaves us 15000 a month for whatever it is we are doing that month actually a bit more but i keep that for emergency's
i dont live large here and i like to keep a low profile.
it all depends on your lifestyle me and gema we have alot of fun we just dont spend money like a westerner a lot of great things to do here on the cheap just got to get your mind around changing your way of life
From your earlier quotes to expats and the quote stating you live off of $1200 month; then how is it your basic needs is only $600 a month..Your statement in this quote states you have 15000 left over for whatever you fancy but by my calculations you would have at least 25000 left over...That is more than your basic needs..You are full of contradictions in much of the advice you are giving to expats...You just told Anaheim you must have a minimum of 50,000 and then some to survive in the nation but at the same time you are telling me you do it on 25,000 month... WHICH IS IT??...
Another inconsistency is your quoting stats with no substantial backing...Example: The average monthly income of locals is near 10,000 not less than 7,000 as you say and those whom work for less than that pool their funds with the rest of the family to make ends meet...However, it is true there are people here working for less than 50 php a day but more likely than not they live in extreme rural areas and live off the fat of the land... Hell, beggars can make over 7,000 a month some of which live quite a good life...You also complained about the inflation and how rice and other staples have doubled...In some countries it is much worse..Even in the USA I watched eggs alone go from $.69 dozen to $2.20 dozen in less than two years...However, I do agree with you costs of some foods here are very expensive...
If you're going to keep giving advice at least be consistent and research your facts before you type...
Lastly, as I had told you on the "looking for business" blog...where you had stated to the chap looking to do textiles in this country and where you had told him you are looking to do exactly the same business..After, the long answer to Anaheim and many of your other blogs of advice; once again I say; how in the hell are you ever going to jump start a business or even get the blue prints off the ground wasting your time with criticizing all the other expats who are only looking for solid FACTUAL ADVICE OR trying to truly help others...YOU NEVER DID STATE HOW YOU MAKE YOUR INCOME AT THE AGE OF 35...I must assume you receive a monthly stipend from back home because there is no way you can make 1200 month here unless you are doing it off an internet site...Is that why you are playing the bit of a gypsy moving from place to place..IF and WHEN, that's a big if, you ever get a business off the ground I wish you all the luck in the world cause I can assure you of one thing if you do, you wont be spending any more time on this site..You'll be too busy worrying about how your going to pay all the bills and cut corners to increase your profits if they ever come...LOL...
Well that is my advice and entertainment for today LOL
GOOD LUCK
Anaheim wrote:Thatawesomeguy wrote:Anaheim wrote:Actually your money can go far if you will live here in The Philipines.. cost of living is cheap and bearable.
Cost of living cheap? 4% increase every year of all basic needs...
5 years ago rice was 18 peso a kilo now its 40 peso a kilo.
Crime on the rise do to a larger and larger gap in the haves and the have nots.
Come and stay here for 6 months, a year try it out first before deciding to move here... please.
Do not put all your eggs into one basket.
and remember her line "cheap and bearable"
compared to what>?
i love this country and i love my partner but it is what it is mate dont think it is something that it is not.
Bearable lol dont u think that is an interesting statement...
alright let me elaborate my previous message..
But before that no one is interetsed to know if you love your partner or not..no need to mention that. lol
Am talking about the cost of living here in The Philipines..which is really cheaper or maybe better to use the word "affordable" compare to other countries like Australia. but ofcourse it varies to your lifestyle. If you're the kind of a person who wanted to live the life that he/she can't afford then it's a different story. Food an dclothings are cheap. A regular individual spends around 7k php or maybe less than that every month for food alone.Food and groceries are not expensive to purchase in the Philippines.If you are prepared to eat local foods then your food and groceries will be quite cheap. Even if you allow for a fixture of western style foods the cost will not be enormous compared with what you would pay back home.Clothes can be considerably cheap as well it depends upon the person. so let's say 25,000php a month budget is enough for you to survive and live here in The Philippines.
Not really trying to be silly but you have to understand that foreigner's money can go far in The Philippines since his dollars will be multiplied...
And to sum up everything ,
The cost of living in the Philippines is considerably cheaper than in western countries. How frugally you want to live is entirely up to you, as the options are many.
Hi Anaheim..
I like your answer to Thats.........., but I have a question for you...Judging from your profile photo you seem to be a very lovely young lady, but your message to Thats is so precise and verbally correct(far better than most educated Filipinos) with a flair of being written by possibly an American...I don't want to appear to be stereo-typing but how is it your message doesn't fit the photo...Are you truly one in the same person or are you using the photo of someone else???...
well u know how it is vetretreat i do live off 1200 a month but my basic needs are only 600 some months we spend more ie holidays medical or whatever expenditure i did not for see for the months budget and u know what i am referring to life is life.
As to how I make a living and live here at my age well that is my business sure I could tell u that when i was younger i made a lot of fine business investments and I am ok for the duration of my life but alas I will not go into any further detail
As to the 50 i will say again u need a minimum and i mean bare min of 50 k a month and u can not see u disagree with me
At no point am i complaining
i am pointing out the cost of inflation and that has to be considered for anyone moving here ....or should i not point that out also????
I may have been a little off with the average wage scenario but the min wage here is 3800 a month
Now lets not forget how people come to the conclusion of averages ie take them sum of the totals and then divide them by the numbered work force.
so its not really a fair assessment of what the average wage is the median wage is aprox 7000 and something ( look i can google stats too)
At no point was i criticizing the gentleman on the other thread i was only pointing out the drama's my and my business partner here had when we did the sums on the exact same idea....
ie suggesting he should look into this and i am very very sure he is more than happy with the information i have given him as that is as far as i got with my end of the business my business partner actually decided instead do go to thailand instead we shook hands and parted ways
People will never agree no matter where u are on a whole range of different thoughts and matters
but then again i didn't attack u on a forum and i think i have explained myself rather well( wasn't aware i had to but alas i guess u needed closure on this particular subject)so i hope it made your day dude..
I guess because of my age I must be talking out of my bum.. im obviously not worldly as much as a man twice my age
As to why i have played a bit of a gypsy how would i know where i want to live and stay here if I have not traveled around and lived at places i have considered??? I probably should have mentioned that i used to do a lot of missionary work around the provinces in mindinao and the nature of our work meant that we were never anywhere for longer then a few months but if i had to sit down and tell my life story we would need a much bigger forum.
all i have done here is tried to help give advice ( being that i have lived in asia for a bloody long time) and perhaps stop people from making a mistake or being uninformed before they come here
never fear I will never directly attack someone and I am none to worried about you post
I hope i have answered all your questions please feel free to post some more and i will surely answer them with due diligence with time permitting
take care and god bless
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/1 … d%3D332479
taken from another site it should help u and other a bit
now this is the basic costs in cebu for two people ok
this is far from reality
but it is just a bit more info for u
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