Part 2 - Can I Live On $2,000 A Month In The Philippines?

[stevewool]

Its like anything , some cannot live on that amount some can live and maybe save a little too, it all depends on you and your good lady for making the cash go further,

Thats around what my budget will be and i know that half that will be put away for saving each month, we are building our own home so when the time comes there will be no rent to pay, but as i say each to there own , good luck

[JJReyes]

That's an extremely expensive ticket from L.A. to PI. You can find one for under $1000 (round trip) if you shop around. Of course, it won't be business class, but at some point you gotta ask yourself where you will try to save some money.

$3,000 is the correct price for business class. On my next trip to Manila, I am looking at purchasing economy tickets from Los Angeles for around $1,000. On the return flight, assuming seats are available, you can upgrade to business class for $800. The return is when you need to catch up on your sleep. Comfortable sleeping is also helpful in resetting your Circadian clock.

There is a new class of service known as premium economy. I believe Philippine Airlines has started offering this service for long flights. The new business class seats extend to bed size. The premium economy seats are the old business class.

You have to be careful because each airline has a different definition. For Hawaiian Airlines, premium economy gives you 8 inches of additional legroom; early boarding privileges; free movies; etc. Not worth the high price. I made reservations on LAN between Miami, Florida and Cuenca, Ecuador. The main flight is between Miami and Quito. The additional charge of $160 for premium economy is worth the price because LAN does not offer business class on this flight. Our seats will be business class and the total price cheaper than economy class on American Airlines.

Edited February 9, 2015 by JJReyes

[davewe]

This thread is interesting because of how different it is in tone and content to the "Live on $1000/month" thread. That thread was more tailored to - could you reasonably survive in a 3rd world country on an amount of money that few could survive on in a 1st world country. This thread targets an amount that would make you I suppose upper middle class in most parts of the Philippines. By upping the stakes we are no longer talking about can you eat and afford housing and electricity, but can you have a Western lifestyle. So the discussions are about vehicles and insurance and restaurants and parties, etc. And of course you should save some of that $2k/month. The guys on 1k/month are probably not worrying much about saving.

 

So just a couple random thoughts. First, some of these issues are not about the Philippines; they are about retirement. If you're smart, when you retire you look at what you spend money on and make changes. For example, the new car (with associated new car payments) that you believed you had to have while working might no longer be needed when you're no longer commuting daily.

 

About 1 1/2 years ago I looked at my lifestyle as I anticipated retirement. I started cutting back. The line I drew was "Will I need this/want this/be able to afford this in retirement." If the answer was no - I tried to cut it out. With no real change in my lifestyle I cut out $750/month from my budget. There's more to come I'm sure.

 

Point is the guy retires and immediately moves to PI. Unless he was already retired for quite awhile, he is not only adjusting to life in another country, he is adjusting to life as a retiree. How many retirees in the US eat out at fancy restaurants a few times a week - unless you consider Elmers a fancy restaurant :) How many purchase or lease an expensive new car? For that matter, many retirees dump their large homes, since there may not be kids anymore.

 

But we come to PI as retirees and for some we can afford to eat out often, can afford the car, and can afford to keep a nice big house. And we convince ourselves that those are necessities. But the truth is with few exceptions, we'd have to dump them if we remained in the West.

 

And here's my final point. Granted everyone is different and entitled to do what they want but I believe that even if a guy can afford to maintain his Western lifestyle - it's probably not a great idea, especially if his goal is to live in the Philippines forever. By spending the cash, he has no need to adjust, either to life in the Philippines or life as a retiree. He keeps eating his steaks, driving his car, living in his McMansion. No need to learn about the country or it's people or it's culture because after all - he really isn't part of it. No, I'm not suggesting we all live like poor, simple Filipinos in nipa huts, but I am suggesting that those that don't adjust, because their money allows them not to have to adjust - might come to hate the place, because no matter how much you have or spend - it's still not gonna be the West.

 

Of course, I'm still gonna have a pool in my yard - there's necessities and there are necessities :)

[Hey Steve]

   Dave, essentially, I agree with you that a purely (90-100%) Western Lifestyle would have few financial benefits in the Philippines, if any, if that's the choice of a retiree-unless of course the attraction to that cuture is overwhelmingly more attractive than that of his/her own country they are living in now. It depends, I suppose, on how much of your budget goes toward Western ammenities that are bult into your start up costs and/or your month to month expenses.

  Conversely, my wife here in the US has very few American ammenities she wants to bring with her when we move, and looks forward to all that has been familiar to her. (except maybe bagels & cream cheese-lol)-she's addicted to the stuff-I'm her supplier.

[Jack Peterson]

No need to learn about the country or it's people or it's culture because after all - he really isn't part of it.

 

 

 Davy, that really does say it all, Integration is the way to go if you need to Live on a Figure or the two Figures we have spoken about of the Last year or so. It really does depend on How you wan to Live. Those that are here for good to live out there Retirement Content with the Family they now find themselves with, will and Do live on the Funds they have available and are mostly Happy. Those that just want to come and Live in a fairly Cheap Country will I guess never be happy no matter what amount they have. They will be the Target for ripoff's. OH! we have seen it so Often. In Dumaguete we see them and have Heard them in the Foreigners Embassy ( MCDo's ) The Special Forces Brigade of I've done this I've Done That, Got This Got That, yet in reality they have got Nothing. Live in Pensions and Brag, Brag, Brag.

I have always Found those with Money never talk about it. For me those that say they can only live on 4/5/6000$ to me are not really Interested in Life here, just what extra they can get for the Money. Well I do not mix with these People mainly because I came here to get away from them. I have utmost respect for the Man that has made his life around his available Income and little for those that keep telling us I Need  XYZ amount more. Why? are so many hell bent on Living a Standard of Life that in reality is Not here however much we have.

 

How does it go "Dorothy we ain't in Kansas no more."

 

Sorry if it seems I have my Negative and Harsh Hat on this Morning but the BOI and Breakfast at McDos has soured me a Little.

 

maybe those that Can't live on the $1 or $2.000 amonth should Start a new Thread on my Pension/ Income is bigger than yours OR

Let's keep up with the Jones's

 

 

Hmmmmmmmmm  Sorry, Did I digress here?

 

 

JP :tiphat:

[UnCheckedOther]

As soon as my thumbs find their way out of the snow piles of Boston, I'm holding them up to say heck ya to you, Jack. There is a difference between wants and needs, and oftentimes when people say they possibly canNOT live on 3k or whatever each month don't really want to. Merton's Theory of Self-Fulfilling Prophecy.

You can still have some of our Western comforts but just in a Filipino way or in moderation. You cannot have it all at 100% so you need to figure out which one is your top priority. Even when you're operating at 75 ot 80% of your ideal lifestyle, it's still yours.

The whole keeping up with the Joneses is BS, IMHO. Do they pay your bills, retirement, or your kids' education? Did they give birth to you or donate an organ to you? There's no need to impress them. You're not an important part of their lives, so why the heck would you waste yours trying to measure up to them?

[Jack Peterson]

The whole keeping up with the Joneses is BS, IMHO. Do they pay your bills, retirement, or your kids' education? Did they give birth to you or donate an organ to you? There's no need to impress them. You're not an important part of their lives, so why the heck would you waste yours trying to measure up to them?

 

Agreed but you would be very surprised at How many here from all Countries feel the Need to do just That.

Scenario: 

18 months ago we Hosted a Wedding for My Wife's niece. Nice Little Do for 40/50 pax  

 A foreigner neighbour who was invited decided to do the same only he had to go one better and used a caterer.

 Then just 3 months ago yet another Foreign neighbour had a Wedding Bash only he went totally OTT 

 Now this is what I mean and on that basis before Long we Will be in the "Anything you can do I can Do better" Syndrome. then we will have not just the Keeping up with but bettering the Jones's.

 

 Now as I said before, I came here to get away from all this but there are those that are not the ones that we are discussing here, are they? Here we are saying you can live on $2.000 a month if you keep life in reality.

 

Yes my friend you are right it is all BS But....................

 

 

JP :tiphat:

[stevewool]

Love it all, I do not know of any person called Jones, does that mean i am onto a good thing

[stevewool]

I have a budget, i will have no more or no less, yes lots of saving for the just in case ,

Do i know what i am on about moving to another part of the world, not really, its a dream and a plan,

Could i afford to live there well again i hope so, but i do know that it would be hard to live here where i am at this moment, so in other words all i know is i would like to try to move to the Phils one day with my wife and try to live happy safe and warm, ride my bike take some pictures and have something nice to eat when i want too, sod the jones,s, let them try to keep up with me being happy

[Jack Peterson]

sod the jones,s, let them try to keep up with me being happy

 

 

That is well said and that's the way to be. Just stay away from those under the Escalator in the Malls and if in Dumaguete, away from the Foreigners Embassy that Holds Court daily in Mc Do's. Not many of them could Spell H.A.P.P.Y let alone be it.

 

JP :tiphat: