Economic Expats

[mogo51]

In a world that is changing so rapidly, there is little wonder we all want to 'get off' the

the merry go round. I wonder how many like myself are economic expats? I am certainly

one.

I am fortunate to have been raised and lived in Oz and seen the good times there and now

IMO seeing its decline. Cost of living in Oz is horrendous. Depending where you read it

is somewhere between 1 and 5 in the world!

Due to events in my marital life, ie divorces! I was left rather skinny in the monetary

department. So I decided to head to Thailand and see what life is like there.

It is as we all know much cheaper than where we originally come from, so it is a 'given'.

What I did not do was look at the whole picture and study lifestyle and conditions in

the country, prior to going there.

Would I have changed anything, probably not. There is no Garden of Eden or Eutopia, as

I see it, every place has its plus and minues. Overall I cannot complain. I have a good

lifestyle here, far better than in my native country, where I would lead a str8ggling

existence.

How many members are in the same situation? How have you fared in your new country? I

admit to often feeling home sick, but have learned how to deal with it and look to a

much higher living standard here and eventually Phils.

[Jake]

In a world that is changing so rapidly, there is little wonder we all want to 'get off' the

the merry go round. I wonder how many like myself are economic expats? I am certainly

one.

I am fortunate to have been raised and lived in Oz and seen the good times there and now

IMO seeing its decline. Cost of living in Oz is horrendous. Depending where you read it

is somewhere between 1 and 5 in the world!

Due to events in my marital life, ie divorces! I was left rather skinny in the monetary

department. So I decided to head to Thailand and see what life is like there.

It is as we all know much cheaper than where we originally come from, so it is a 'given'.

What I did not do was look at the whole picture and study lifestyle and conditions in

the country, prior to going there.

Would I have changed anything, probably not. There is no Garden of Eden or Eutopia, as

I see it, every place has its plus and minues. Overall I cannot complain. I have a good

lifestyle here, far better than in my native country, where I would lead a str8ggling

existence.

How many members are in the same situation? How have you fared in your new country? I

admit to often feeling home sick, but have learned how to deal with it and look to a

much higher living standard here and eventually Phils.

Triple LIKE Mogo!

[Thomas]

I'm very economic - but not stingy   :)

 

By that I have managed in SWEDEN:

When I lived in city: 

Two appartments of which one I used the main part of to office. Billiard. A summer house. Small sail boat. Played much tennis. One car and one minivan.

 

After I moved to a villa:

6 room villa. Plus 75 sqm storage. Some land. Billiard. Small sail boat. Played much tennis. Eating healthy. Car. Off road motorbike.

 

Each at what's counted as  "existence minimum" cost per month here, which many Swedes have problem surviving at...

Of course I needed more money the months I BOUGHT things, but it's still "existence mimimum" if spreading the costs through the time it will be used.

 

In Phils I aim at - still at "existence mimimum"   :mocking:    I asume it's possible in Phils, because some costs are lower there than in Sweden:

Around 200 sqm* including garage villa, but some will just be prepared to be finnished later when it will be needed. Less is needed before kids arrive   :)  At least 3 hectares land, to get control of keeping neighbours far away enough in the future too  :)   Some of the land will be used to grow some for OWN USE, plus some to get some extra earning to stay within "existence minimum" cost per month. (The part closest to the public road will be used for the business anyway, if I start something needing land.)   I HOPE I can find affordable land beside a calm river or a lake/lake looking dam where I can put a small boat. Car plus motorbike so wife and I have vehicles to go to different places. I hope I can afford a 4 wheel offroad too, less hard to afford it if it will be needed for the business  :lol:  I chose to start.

 

*It need to be big enough to have space for office, and to do some hobbies inside during rain season.

[chris49]

Mogo, those of us who have worked, like yourself and built up funds, like Super, do deserve to be slightly better off than those who have been on DSP/Other, long term.

 

As part of the good life overseas, we do need those little extras that we would take for granted back home.

 

IN MY CASE.

 

A decent model car, maybe a pick up or SUV. Having run 1-2 cars since age 18, and currently not having one, it is humbling, but as soon as I can will have another one (replacement for one that was "stolen" 3 years ago)

 

Air Con. Currently this house is not condusive to having AC, but as we improve it, i think one enclosed room for comfort will be possible. In the grand scope of things, I think for personal comfort, I would like that.

 

A decent night out with Gina one a week. Proper restaurant with an eclectic menu, bottle of wine, that kind of thing.

 

Economically we can do without all that, but if you ask me about my personal comfort, those are a few of the things we like to have.

 

The other thing Mogo, and you are lucky in this respect, out of our income, i would say if i was spending $1000-1200 USD PER month, there is probably 20% of that going to the extended family, mostly food. Then a few grocery items and sundry items, that they can't seem to get along without. Right now it's about 4 litres of coke per day which they seem to need in this heat. So instead of saving that or spending on ourselves we give that willingly with only a minor grumble....grumble...grumble...

 

I would also reserve the right to have the occasional trip out to see my kids, even though it is not frequent, by 2017-18 would like one longish trip to the USA, so reserve from now a little cash for that.

Edited June 28, 2015 by chris49

[virginprune]

I would say I am economic too but that is not the be all and end all. Economically though, I would have a pretty miserable existence in the UK. There are many pensioners there who have the choice of eating or keeping warm in the winters that seem to last for a very long time. This is especially disheartening when the average English summer lasts for about 3 hours.

Here my lifestyle is good but not ostentatious, that is the way I always envisaged my retirement. I eat well, can afford a beer, can afford the cinema etc without breaking the bank and most of all have a lovely gf who is wonderful to me.

For me, the UK sucks and I cannot imagine why anybody would want to live there!

[frosty (chris)]

              I would be a bit of both I suppose, in Aus I  was doing just ok, with my little business and some extra cash I have, but the rat race there is full of rats, it just struck me as the time to leave, I really don't miss it at all. Been back twice in 18 months, once for my daughters uni graduation ceremony, once for my dad's death, couldn't wait to get back on the plane to leave and comeback here.

             Made some good filipino friends here and enjoy there company, always good for a party party and a laugh and they tend to look after me. Found myself a beautiful lady that is too me a keeper, just a wonderful,sweet,honest person. Have everything I need here, nice unit, car, all the mod cons.We eat out when we want, but don't go over board, she is more careful with money than I am.

           I do a little forex/index trading that keeps the wolf from the door, so all in all life is good.

[stevewool]

I would say I am economic too but that is not the be all and end all. Economically though, I would have a pretty miserable existence in the UK. There are many pensioners there who have the choice of eating or keeping warm in the winters that seem to last for a very long time. This is especially disheartening when the average English summer lasts for about 3 hours.

Here my lifestyle is good but not ostentatious, that is the way I always envisaged my retirement. I eat well, can afford a beer, can afford the cinema etc without breaking the bank and most of all have a lovely gf who is wonderful to me.

For me, the UK sucks and I cannot imagine why anybody would want to live there!

It amazes me how some people live on there pensions and how different the figures are too,

I can remember my mum and dad sitting at home in winter worried about the electric bills and sometimes not having the heating on ,

I dont ever want to be like that, thats why i am working hard and saving hard too,

Its not to live a good life here in England but to live a good life where ever we chose to live,

So yes i shall be a economic expat, spending wise and hopefully living a good life

[i am bob]

I, too, an living as the economic expat... After I retired from the Air Force, I had a business that (on paper) was worth more money than I ever thought I'd see in my lifetime... I had the huge mansion in the country that was built in the 1800s by the old ship builders and was more solid than if it was brick - and sitting on 5 acres of gardens, 3 acres of orchard and 2 acres of hardwood... I had it all - including a divorce where I walked away and gave it all to my ex... Since then I could never seem to get back in the groove and get ahead... In fact, I ended up back in debt... So now I'm here in the Philippines, paying off my debt, about to amalgamate a couple of households (Av and mom) and still living better than I ever did! Do I ever want to move back to the Great White Nord? Maybe for Av to experience the snow for a bit but I love it here much more... Here? I'm home!!!

[mogo51]

From the responses by members, it is clear and also as I suspected, I have many friends from this forum in

exactly the same position as myself.

I live on about 40,000bht per mth ((53k pesos) and this is just short of my Oz pension. As of next year I will

be able to access some additional funds from a superannuation fund. This will allow for a little extra luxury maybe

a holiday once a year.

Mostly it will allow me and my partner to live in dignity until I check out. She will then be well cared for

in her aging years.

[chris49]

From the responses by members, it is clear and also as I suspected, I have many friends from this forum in

exactly the same position as myself.

I live on about 40,000bht per mth ((53k pesos) and this is just short of my Oz pension. As of next year I will

be able to access some additional funds from a superannuation fund. This will allow for a little extra luxury maybe

a holiday once a year.

Mostly it will allow me and my partner to live in dignity until I check out. She will then be well cared for

in her aging years.

 

Very humbling, but also a good experience, to undergo a little hardship, Mogo. Growing up in the 1950's we were not poor, but we did not have much luxury. But over the years acquired certain tastes, stuff you don't need, but got used to it.

 

A little above the pension is something I have worked for, so that's where I'm aiming.