Where would you live?

[malditako]

Mindanao for us
I would like to say Camiguin, but Ladybug is too scared of the volcanoes & so am I to a certain extent, from what I've found out...Though Mt. Hibok Hibok hasn't seriously erupted since 1951.

...So I'm going to do what Englishmen said don't do & pick Cagayan de Oro City, where Ladybug lives.
I like the place & it feels right & I regard it as my 2nd home. It's not too big, a bit polluted, but it has a lot going for it, it's easy to get around.... There are beaches a jeepney ride away, a domestic Airport & an international Airport being built...Camiguin's not far away too.

Ladybug & her 2 sisters who are in America, have just bought a lot & a house is going to be built at some point, for family to stay. Her folks live a 5 hour bus journey away, in Bukidnon Province.
...So all we need to do, is buy our own lot & put a house on it...maybe just out of the city?

We think it's a good place to be based & with domestic flights being reasonably cheap, you can explore other Islands, much as you may do when on holiday & which we have done...So that's where you'll find us.

been there in camiguin and i love the islands total package....

[Sim11UK]

been there in camiguin and i love the islands total package....

Yes it's a lovely Island



Here's me on White Island, a sand bank reached by banka boat, with Camiguin in the background...WHOOPPEEE!!!

[Sim11UK]

Sounds perfect Sim.
I haven't ventured down to Mindanao yet, but might give CDO or Davao a try on a future trip.

CDO itself isn't exactly picture postcard, though I love it & I feel comfortable there. Lots of places nearby to discover.
As for Davao, I've not been there myself yet, but hope to soon, as Ladybug has relatives there.

[Englishman2010]

Yes it's a lovely Island



Here's me on White Island, a sand bank reached by banka boat, with Camiguin in the background...WHOOPPEEE!!!

Looks just like Skegness in January

[Sim11UK]

Haha! yes....There is a row of amusement arcades, just to the left, out of the picture.

[Tawi2]

I have stood on that exact same spit SIM,breathtaking place

[grahamw48]

That's got to be a much younger man though.

[Sim11UK]

I have stood on that exact same spit SIM,breathtaking place

I know you're a fellow lover of Camiguin Tawi ...Definately a must Island to visit. When you turn around & look back at the Island from where I was standing, it does look just fantastic.

[Sim11UK]

That's got to be a much younger man though.

October 2008...my 2nd trip to the Philippines.

[grahamw48]

I really must go and buy some hair.

[stevewool]

a hat is cheaper i would think

[gWaPito]

I dont want to put a damper on this thread but, after reading Fred's thread on British detained, its a reminder on what real life is really like there in The Phil. If you intend running a business you are leaving yourself wide open to be 'touched up' by the very people who are there to protect you, the same people (the police) who we take for granted here in the UK. Even my wife's family business was affected with the ways of the police. Imagine what it would be like for someone from the UK. Heaven is much much closer than you think it is. If only life was a beach, its not. Its a dream. Why do you think every man and his dog wants to leave the place. Just my opinion.

[Englishman2010]

Very good points Gwap Which is why my original question asked how you would fund yourself - work or savings/pension?

Personally, I have no desire to work/own a business in the Phil's, for the reasons you've mentioned above. I'm tired of many things about the UK, but it's still the best place for me to make sufficient money to support my family in the way I want, and to allow me to save sufficient for my retirement.

Even after I retire (age 60) I won't leave the UK full time, I'm too close to my kids and wouldn't want to be too far from them, even after they've flown the nest. 6 months here and 6 months there would suit me. The only way I'm going to fund that dream is by working/saving hard in the UK for another 17 years.

[stevewool]

to right there Ian , i too dont have any intention of working , starting a business over there , all i am doing like you is working hard paying bills here and trying to work out how much i need to live and servive out there , that is why i posted a thread about living close or with family,

[gWaPito]

For us, we will rely on our house rental and various pensions. For sure we would like to go back much earlier than when I retire at 65, we will do all we can to do it but, unless we win the lotto jackpot, I cant see it happening any sooner. We are not sad about it, far from it, at least we are lucky enough to have options. Like you Englishman, we wont burn our bridges with the UK. We have children coming so, there needs will be considered. My sister left for Oz with her husband 6 years ago. They have regretted it every since, they are stuck there now.

[purple]

Bohol for me, and no my ex did not come from there, I liked it there as it seemed safe and is in a lovely setting
Mick.

I like Bohol as well... laid back, near the beach, friendly people.... I'm from Cebu but I think I will love it there.... it is warm too... Unlike the cold weather here.

[alanmf1]

I like Bohol as well... laid back, near the beach, friendly people.... I'm from Cebu but I think I will love it there.... it is warm too... Unlike the cold weather here.

me tooooooo...... but im a little biased.
Bohol is awesome and very central for moving around be it by plane or ferry.
So far the lack of commercialism is the key even if Panglao is becoming the prime spot for foreigners.
I will be interested to see the movement in this situation over the next few years.

Like most i would be over the moon if i could spend 6 - 8 months in the Uk and 4 - 6 in Phils
Save save save......

[stevewool]

if like al of us it seems wanting to be here and there too, surely there should be a way of buying jointly a large enough place to enjoy with many, sharing the cost of the place and sharing the security too

[alanmf1]

if like al of us it seems wanting to be here and there too, surely there should be a way of buying jointly a large enough place to enjoy with many, sharing the cost of the place and sharing the security too

What u saying Steve.......Filipino timeshare?????
hmmmmm.

But im guessing like your other thread most would also like to be near their Mahal's family circle....

[stevewool]

well i have timeshare everywhere else it seems , its just doing what you think is best at the time, and who realy knows what is best till you are doing it, i just dont want to put it all down to Emma finding a place over there, yes she will be the one to pay and get the best price but realy it will be down to her where she feels at home too,wow just think of it, she does rely on me over here but soon it will be the other way round

[Terpe]

As for me, I will be living solely on pension payments.
Carina, however may have different ideas such as renting out properties and bedspace.
That's up to her. I just want to keep low profile, blend in and enjoooooooooy.

[Englishman2010]

As for me, I will be living solely on pension payments.
Carina, however may have different ideas such as renting out properties and bedspace.
That's up to her. I just want to keep low profile, blend in and enjoooooooooy.

I'll be in the same position, relying on my Pension annuity, tax free lump sum from my pension, plus any other savings or equity I accumulate until then. Based on my own projections of my retirement funds allowing for conservative growth, and allowing for average inflation in Filipino living costs I'll be in a relatively comfortable position then.

However, factors completely out of my control are investment growth rates over the next 17 years, and Filipino inflation rates. One thing that does concern me is that as Filipino's become more affluent, prices will rise there faster than they will here. Currently the Philippines is much cheaper than the surrounding area, I fear it may have caught up by the time I am ready to retire

Edit: another factor is exchange rates. If the Filipino economy performs well over the next 15 - 20 years, it's currency will strengthen, and instead of getting 66-70 pesos to the pound we might only be getting 40. I'm sure that will severly affect all of our plans

[Manila_Paul]

Edit: another factor is exchange rates. If the Filipino economy performs well over the next 15 - 20 years, it's currency will strengthen, and instead of getting 66-70 pesos to the pound we might only be getting 40. I'm sure that will severly affect all of our plans

I will probably be one of the few expats cheering this on in the future. I've got a couple of places here and bought in at 85 to 1. I still think there is a bit of a bubble developing with property here though.

[Tawi2]

instead of getting 66-70 pesos to the pound we might only be getting 40

I was getting 38 pesos for the pound when I first went

[Terpe]

I'll be in the same position, relying on my Pension annuity, tax free lump sum from my pension, plus any other savings or equity I accumulate until then. Based on my own projections of my retirement funds allowing for conservative growth, and allowing for average inflation in Filipino living costs I'll be in a relatively comfortable position then.

However, factors completely out of my control are investment growth rates over the next 17 years, and Filipino inflation rates. One thing that does concern me is that as Filipino's become more affluent, prices will rise there faster than they will here. Currently the Philippines is much cheaper than the surrounding area, I fear it may have caught up by the time I am ready to retire

Edit: another factor is exchange rates. If the Filipino economy performs well over the next 15 - 20 years, it's currency will strengthen, and instead of getting 66-70 pesos to the pound we might only be getting 40. I'm sure that will severly affect all of our plans

I'm at the other end of the scale, so to speak. Already in receipt of my private pensions
with my state pension to come in 5 years. So... no way to increase my now fixed income pensions. (well apart from the inflation increases ...... like that!!)

Englishman, do your research and find as risk-free as possible way to optimise any pension type income. You still have time.
You can never have enough pension.

[Terpe]

I was getting 38 pesos for the pound when I first went

You'll probably find that the purchasing power then, of pound v pesos was about the same as it is now.

For example one pound in 1980 is worth today about £5.46 (per capita GDP)

It's a funny old world, when you think about the price of petrol now and then it's comparable, even compared to average income.

[Englishman2010]

I'm at the other end of the scale, so to speak. Already in receipt of my private pensions
with my state pension to come in 5 years. So... no way to increase my now fixed income pensions. (well apart from the inflation increases ...... like that!!)

Englishman, do your research and find as risk-free as possible way to optimise any pension type income. You still have time.
You can never have enough pension.

I hear what you are saying Terpe, but risk free usually means no growth in real terms after the effects of inflation are taken into account. I still have my pension pot invested mainly in equities, about 50% in the UK and the rest spread around various funds in USA/Europe and the Far East, only a small amount is in Gilt Edged securities or cash funds, but as my retirement date draws nearer I'll gradually switch it out of equities into gilts.

[grahamw48]

Going back over many years, a gallon of petrol here has always been the same price as a packet of cigs.

Property IS more expensive than it was back in 1980 though...relative to average earnings, I think you'll find.

[fred]

I was getting 38 pesos for the pound when I first went

I was only getting 12.00 you lucky git!

[stevewool]

you see ups and down , when many of you was going there so many years ago and at that rate , look at it now around the 70 mark, i would be happy for it to stay like this for a long time