for british husbands :)

[pennybarry]

Santa "Claws", Penn ... you mean like THIS? :bluegrab: ... no wonder he's a 1-day millionaire!

Thanks Arth! When husband had 2 months holiday in Pinas, he was like Santa Claus. He said very cheap commodities so he didn't stop buying.
He fancied buying knives. It was scary because he was sharpening those knives oftentimes. I remember my dad because he also used to sharp his farm knives early in the morning. Until hubby has collections of about 20 knives and the sounds of knives sharpening became music to my ears. He doesn't allow me to sleep in the afternoon as he always wanted to go to SM, market, and walking around. But if he's sharpening his knives, I have time for sleeping.
In the UK he can only drink 4 bottles of beer, and he has collections of beer grande in the Philippines.

[maria_and_matt]

From a guys point of view (and remember we don't understand women!) I'll take a stab in the dark here.... stop buying stuff!!

its like telling us women not to breath

[maria_and_matt]

I usually send Balikbayan box 2 months before my holiday. Ask them what they want and try to buy.
What I have saved + hubby additional is what I need to budget as I don't want to be in debt before or after my holidays. Husband will help but as much as possible, I don't want to ask.
I have my own in Pinas so no need hotel or other bills.
My expenses is only SM for groceries and meat.
I usually have my two sisters with me at SM and told them our budget for today is not sky is the llimit.
No need to buy veggies and rice as we have loads of them at farm.

Goodluck on your holiday Maria. You are so lucky
I am planning to have my holiday in Rome on July or September.
spend my Christmas in Pinas if no worry.

you're lucky, rome is so nice... i wouldnt mind going back there again

[maria_and_matt]

I'm going for a couple of months, and hoping I can get by on about £500 a month, but we'll see

goodluck on that

[aposhark]

Spend what the hell you like, hubby can't say anything till you get back then it's too late anyway

So that's the secret for a successful marriage, now I know.
Don't spend all your money boss - the reds will need a sub when the yanks leg it

[MarBell379]

You spent £4000 in 3 weeks in the Philippines without paying for accomodation and travel there and back???
Did I misunderstand? Did you mean 4000 PHP?

Unless you have a suitcase like a TARDIS I can't imagine getting close to £4000.

[maria_and_matt]

You spent £4000 in 3 weeks in the Philippines without paying for accomodation and travel there and back???
Did I misunderstand? Did you mean 4000 PHP?

Unless you have a suitcase like a TARDIS I can't imagine getting close to £4000.

i bought a LV bag, we went to cebu and bought yet another bag, i treat my family. it is not impossible to spend money you have. i had it in my hands shopped for nieces and nephew and bang it was gone. i do not think one can survive on 4000 PHP for 3 weeks

[maria_and_matt]

Maria actually managed to spend £4,328 in 3 weeks.

Phil.

[pennybarry]

you're lucky, rome is so nice... i wouldnt mind going back there again

Yes, seen your photos in Rome.
You're lucky as you're holding Philippines passport but big time, can fly anywhere and applying visa is not a problem.

[triple5]

i do not think one can survive on 4000 PHP for 3 weeks

a lot of filipinos manage to

[pennybarry]

a lot of filipinos manage to

You are exactly right but if you think how many stuffs you can buy with your 4,000 pesos in Pinas, and 56.8841 GBP here then you may become considerate.
I bought 2 sweet corn for 1 pound + in Pinas a pound can buy 5 kilos.
1 mango for 80 p
and many more.

And they can sleep good at night.
Most filipinos believes :
Pagkasyahin na lang ang budget para walang utang at ng masarap matulog ng mahimbing sa gabi kaysa makalbo sa pangungutang.

[aromulus]

I bought 2 sweet corn for 1 pound + in Pinas a pound can buy 5 kilos.

How can anyone eat 5Kgs of sweet corn...?

[Florge]

well, a good way to budget your spending is to plan where you want and the activities that you plan to do in the 3 weeks there... i usually put them in an excel sheet so it's easier to compute... put the dates on the left side.. then the estimated cost of a certain activity we plan to do for that day... then print it and have it as my guide...

you can also settle for a certain amount of spending money per day.. e.g. £100 per day and if you go over that, at least you would know...

[Florge]

You are exactly right but if you think how many stuffs you can buy with your 4,000 pesos in Pinas, and 56.8841 GBP here then you may become considerate.
I bought 2 sweet corn for 1 pound + in Pinas a pound can buy 5 kilos.
1 mango for 80 p
and many more.

And they can sleep good at night.
Most filipinos believes :
Pagkasyahin na lang ang budget para walang utang at ng masarap matulog ng mahimbing sa gabi kaysa makalbo sa pangungutang.

agree! some balikbayans think that it is ok to spend for such and such even when not needed for believing that their money would go a long way anyway..well, wrong... when in pinas, spend like a filipino.. and that means, budgetted spending.. not splurging!

[maria_and_matt]

You are exactly right but if you think how many stuffs you can buy with your 4,000 pesos in Pinas, and 56.8841 GBP here then you may become considerate.
I bought 2 sweet corn for 1 pound + in Pinas a pound can buy 5 kilos.
1 mango for 80 p
and many more.

And they can sleep good at night.
Most filipinos believes :
Pagkasyahin na lang ang budget para walang utang at ng masarap matulog ng mahimbing sa gabi kaysa makalbo sa pangungutang.

i am so pleased to say that even with my going over budget we do not owe money to anybody i do stope spending hubby tells me to, only problem is he does not say anything

[Florge]

i am so pleased to say that even with my going over budget we do not owe money to anybody i do stope spending hubby tells me to, only problem is he does not say anything

wow! good for you... got money to spend splurge then.. and don't worry about going over the budget... you're so lucky!

[maria_and_matt]

wow! good for you... got money to spend splurge then.. and don't worry about going over the budget... you're so lucky!

i do worry, dont want to dip in our nest egg.... i am sure i will be able to stick to budget in july.... i will be more 'aware' on what i spend..

[pennybarry]

How can anyone eat 5Kgs of sweet corn...?

Con todo de familia señor.

i am so pleased to say that even with my going over budget we do not owe money to anybody i do stope spending hubby tells me to, only problem is he does not say anything

Me too Maria.
I am very thankful for not owing money to anyone.
Kasi di ako makatulog pag may utang.
cannot make hambog if utang.
Goodluck for your travel soon.

[maria_and_matt]

Con todo de familia señor.

Me too Maria.
I am very thankful for not owing money to anyone.
Kasi di ako makatulog pag may utang.
cannot make hambog if utang.
Goodluck for your travel soon.

korek penny owing money is not the to live.... thank you i am looking forward to our trip

[keithAngel]

From another perspective I averaged over six months an average of 3000 piso a day but that was a total learning curve and I reckon its possible as a single guy or part of a sensible couple living what in the Phils would be an upper middle class life 1000 a day is doable without feeling deprived thats still 5 times average earnings but having uncrowded accomodation and still having some social life thats about what you might earn as a native speaking English teacher for example but as Al will tell you they expect there pound of flesh

[Sim11UK]

That's interesting Keith. When I stayed for a couple of months, I reckoned we could live quite comfortably on 8000 php a week.
That was living in a small Boarding house, no aircon, eating out a lot, but also cooking at home.
I guess it's all down to your level of tolerance.

[keithAngel]

I guess it all comes down to accomadation costs Sim Im working on 11,000 per month +or- for a 1 bed furnished if you were living long term you could get that halved unfurnished the more time your on the ground the more you can find good possabilities.