Tukaram (Tim) Posted July 21, 2015 Posted July 21, 2015 Over 3 years old this thread, so who did manage to make the escape and who is still working , be nice to know I replied to this thread before I moved over here, and I think I replied aafter I moved? Not sure... too lazy to check ha ha I quit work early, at 48. I cannot retire until 55. But I have been here for 2 1/2 years and doing well. Only 3 1/2 years until I get my first retirement. I stay mostly broke, but I was mostly broke in the US, so no worries. We are just finishing up building a small house. Should move in the last week of August (2015 - in case this thread goes another 3 years!). My health was vey bad in the US but when I came over here my seizures have really slowed down. My wife worries but she should have seen me back in the old country. Anyway it more about quality not quantity. I know too many gys that came over here at 70 years old and can barely walk. I am glad I came early enough to enjoy myself! :tiphat: 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post virginprune Posted July 21, 2015 Popular Post Posted July 21, 2015 Over 3 years old this thread, so who did manage to make the escape and who is still working , be nice to know I turned 60 last November, I then received my public sector pension. I have to wait until 2020 for my state pension. This year I sold my house and made the move here on 1st June. I have not regretted a minute of it because now I'm living the life I've wanted. Life is too short, if you want to make the move and can, then do it mate! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevewool Posted July 21, 2015 Posted July 21, 2015 Thanks boys for your great stories, Some may think i am always talking the talk and some may think he will never come here, but the more i am asking the more i feel it is my sort of place, hang about it had better be we have a house there now, paid for too 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bows00 Posted April 12, 2017 Author Popular Post Posted April 12, 2017 Man, it has been a very fast 6 years since I originally posted this. I have decided to go for it at the end of this year (2017). My plan is to travel light, and move around from hotel to hotel for the first year, until I find a place to settle. My travel plans start off in Makati, then venture to Tagaytay, Baguio, Angeles City, Subic, and Dumaguete. I cannot express my gratitude for this website, the information I have gathered here was truly invaluable. Mahalo to all the members here. I will continue to lean on your experience as I venture forward... 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted April 12, 2017 Posted April 12, 2017 (edited) 11 hours ago, bows00 said: Man, it has been a very fast 6 years since I originally posted this. I have decided to go for it at the end of this year (2017). My plan is to travel light, and move around from hotel to hotel for the first year, until I find a place to settle. My travel plans start off in Makati, then venture to Tagaytay, Baguio, Angeles City, Subic, and Dumaguete. I cannot express my gratitude for this website, the information I have gathered here was truly invaluable. Mahalo to all the members here. I will continue to lean on your experience as I venture forward... Don't worry Bows if you venture backwards too.....he, he. It's all good! Edited April 12, 2017 by Jake 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RBM Posted April 12, 2017 Posted April 12, 2017 2 hours ago, bows00 said: Man, it has been a very fast 6 years since I originally posted this. I have decided to go for it at the end of this year (2017). My plan is to travel light, and move around from hotel to hotel for the first year, until I find a place to settle. My travel plans start off in Makati, then venture to Tagaytay, Baguio, Angeles City, Subic, and Dumaguete. I cannot express my gratitude for this website, the information I have gathered here was truly invaluable. Mahalo to all the members here. I will continue to lean on your experience as I venture forward... Many find hotels get rather tedious after a month or so although they do offer the freedom. Becoming more popular now are Apartelles which one can usually rent for a week or less, AB@B also worth a look. If you find a city which seems to suit it will feel a little more like living there. Cannot belive the hype over Dumaguete, (sorry to ex pats there) to me if I was offered a free apartment would still never live there. Now Valencia that's a different matter..... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russellmania Posted April 12, 2017 Posted April 12, 2017 14 minutes ago, RBM said: Many find hotels get rather tedious after a month or so although they do offer the freedom. Becoming more popular now are Apartelles which one can usually rent for a week or less, AB@B also worth a look. If you find a city which seems to suit it will feel a little more like living there. Cannot belive the hype over Dumaguete, (sorry to ex pats there) to me if I was offered a free apartment would still never live there. Now Valencia that's a different matter..... Whats the deal with Dumaguete..why you dont like it there? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hounddriver Posted April 12, 2017 Posted April 12, 2017 52 minutes ago, russellmania said: Whats the deal with Dumaguete..why you dont like it there? I can walk from the edge of the city to the boulevard downtown in just under an hour. In bad traffic it can take half an hour to drive it. That might put some people off who don't like walking, especially when the traffic is playing "frogger" with the pedestrians. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Snowy79 Posted April 12, 2017 Popular Post Posted April 12, 2017 You can tell I've retired as I've just read this thread from the start and it's great to get an insight. From my perspective although I tend to be a calculated person I still fly by the seat of my pants now and again. I'd half heartedly decided to retire when I reached 55 and my Military pension matured. I used to discus it with another ex forces guy and we decided we were going to pool our resources and head east to go out with a bang. When I hit the big 51yrs I was going through a dodgy patch at work and in my social life. I was fed up working with idiots and was getting serious grief from my soon to be ex wife. I decided there and then that it would be in everyone's interest if I just dropped everything and left. The minute I finally got my divorce I told my boss to take his head for a sh@t, pretty much gave everything away for peanuts, sold the house and jumped on a flight. I'm now two months into living here and can safely say even though I've been laid up with a knackered knee I wouldn't change a thing. Long term I have no intention of heading back to the West. I was fortunate in that I got enough for my house which is a nice safety blanket for me. My pension from the military is commuted so I barely get 48,000 php per month but in 2020 it should almost double. By no means a fortune but from my perspective once I decide where I'm setting new roots, and buying a residence I'll be more than happy. Even now in Manila my tiny condo in a nice area (oxymoron) is only 18,000 php, with dues, utilities, phone etc I probably spend about 28,000. I don't smoke and rarely drink so I get by with just dipping into my savings a little. Next month an endowment pays out and that would cover everything up until I'm about 58yrs old without touching my savings. What I've gained by retiring at 52yrs is my sanity and life back. It's gave me time to think and I wouldn't swap it for anything. In the mean time my mate who was planning to jump ship with me has discovered his kidneys are packing in and he's now wedded to the UK health service. He's 52 and pretty screwed. I've also lost about 6 good mates all under the age of 60yrs. Most to cancer. One in his sleep. As the saying goes " We're here for a good time not a long time." Some hang on and work until they've saved more but for every year you save your medical insurance will increase and health will certainly deteriorate. Property prices will continue to rise in the decent areas of the Philippines and society will become more Westernised. You'll basically be leaving the West to join the new West but in less of a condition to enjoy it and paying for the pleasure. My current plan is to look forward to my pension maturing at 55yrs and by then I'll have a property and touch wood more than enough to see me through until I'm 67yrs when my Government pension kicks in. If I need more money than that I think I'm doing something wrong or if my health deteriorates I'll be heading to the UK to get my moneys worth out of the system that's shafted my pensions. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jake Posted April 12, 2017 Popular Post Posted April 12, 2017 1 hour ago, Snowy79 said: You can tell I've retired as I've just read this thread from the start and it's great to get an insight. What I've gained by retiring at 52yrs is my sanity and life back. It's gave me time to think and I wouldn't swap it for anything. Triple LIKE Snowy! Many of us don't have that courage. Well done sir! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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