You are here: Home / Archives for Philly

Is Where You Retire Really That Important?

June 7, 2013 by 8 Comments
1875_gold_dollar_rev.jpg

Recently I made a fellow member of a forum I frequent unhappy ... maybe he was actually pissed off, but at the least he certainly wasn’t happy. I didn’t mean to do this, I just sort of let my frustration show, because this fello9w was joining in yet another protracted query session about how much it really cost to live in the Philippines … accompanied by the usual queries about, “is the cost of living in the cities in the Philippines really a lot more than living out in the provinces in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Retirement Planning Tagged With:

Get That Permanent Visa in the States or in The Philippines?

May 31, 2013 by 15 Comments
soaring-eagle-3.jpg

Probably one of the most frequently asked questions around here.  It can also be one of the most hotly debated.  Here are some answers including what I consider to be the absolute best answer: It Depends really and truly, folks, the amount of debate, research agony and soul-searching that goes into this question is probably one of the energy sources that could power the globe is only we could harness it.  Everyone has their opinion, and everyone knows the FACTS .. and at the end … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Phils Visas Tagged With:

Want To Move To The Philippines Without Leaving Home?

May 31, 2013 by 2 Comments
Illusion-of-Wealth-538x218.jpg

A huge percentage of my guests here have the goal of moving to the Philippines “someday”.   Typically those who haven’t made the move yet fall into three main groups: The “Never Happen” Group For some of you. “Someday” will never come, because you are not really to make any move and never will be .. your hobby is planning and researching and “thinking” about things. Well I won’t chastise you for that, as long as you are happy. (and as long as you realize that the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Moving There Tagged With:

Another Philippine Pony Idea — Kids Parties

May 26, 2013 by 2 Comments
moneymaze

This article was published a few months back, but I just came back from lunch at a nearby restaurant where there were three different lunchtime birthday parties going on.  Seeing what people (who often won’t spend 10 pesos on medicine to cure an illness) will spend on commercial birthday parties inspired me to think about this Philippine business plan yet again. There are so many kids and so many birthdays, and it is so easy (especially for those of you who are parents with young … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Philippine Pony Tagged With:

Putting Bananas in the Bank — Philippines or USA

May 23, 2013 by Leave a Comment
1875_gold_dollar_rev

A lot of people thinking about moving to the Philippines, actually moving to the Philippines, or those already living here have money on the mind. How much do I need, Will I have enough How can I make some more And so forth.  Nothing wrong with that in my book.  Someday there may be a world without money,but likely not in my lifetime.  Money makes the world go ‘round.  It’s also the only way I have found, so far, to make my waistline round. The “Old Gray … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Retirement Planning Tagged With:

Philippine Cost of Living — Don’t Be Too Damn Cheap

May 18, 2013 by 7 Comments
eztrip_tag.jpg

Articles about how cheaply one can live in the Philippines are always popular here. Also, particularly if you are an older, retired guy like me. you’re whole news article, magazine and Internet reading world is likely to be saturated with “Save Money”, “Live Cheap”, “Economize Now” and an infinite number of other articles, all yammering on and on, ad infinitum about “How To Pinch a Penny”. Now there is nothing at all wrong with saving a buck as well as avoiding some of the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Costs Tagged With:

Low Cost Places to Live in the Philippines — Perhaps The Subic Bay Freeport Zone?

May 16, 2013 by 17 Comments
2012_0508105035_225.jpg

Well first of all I have to apologize, especially to my colleague the “Subic Sage” who helped research and write much of this article.  The information actually was provided quite a long tome ago, and I really have no excuse for taking as long as I have to get this up in print … but life is what happens when you are making other plans, so here it is. Every article I publish here answers (or at least should answer) a question in my reader’s minds.  The question behind this article is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Places, Subic Tagged With: ,

Little Guys Are Important in the Philippines

May 13, 2013 by 4 Comments
secu.jpg

In a recent post here at PhilFAQS, where I try to answer everyone’s questions about Living in the Philippines, Customer Service — Getting Your Way , I used a headline I didn’t like very much, after I saw it in print. I said “Don’t Talk To Underlings”.  My meaning (which I did explain) was to avoid the useless agitation and even hurt feelings involved in asking, for instance, a gasoline station pump attendant for help in fixing a problem with the station owner’s business rules … [Read more...]

Filed Under: How-To Tagged With:

What Do We Need To Do To Move To The Philippines?

May 10, 2013 by 4 Comments
Philippine-Cost-of-Living.png

Help For Philippine Wannabes and a Rant: Here's a pretty typical sort of comment I get on a frequent basis.  The gentleman asks some good questions and I am going to answer them in some detail, bit I would like to address the last part of his comment first ... especially for those who may be new here: I quote: ... If you can provide some information we will be grateful; it may also help others. ... I find this request perhaps a little frustrating.  I have been writing, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Costs, Retirement Planning Tagged With:

US Military Retirees — Tricare Philippines Newsletter 13005

May 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment
USMRoP

Some of my readers are US Military retirees living here in the Philippines.  Others are not.  If you are not a retired member of the US military then probably this article is not for you.  If you are a US military retiree, better read and learn.  Special thanks to the USMRoP group for the work they are doing here in the Philippines to help US military retirees get the services they are entitled to..   Military Retirees are Extremely Happy with Their TRICARE Benefit in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Medical Tagged With: ,

Customer Service — Getting Your Way

May 9, 2013 by 5 Comments
image2 (1)

Revised and updated, 09 May, 2013 Recently I wrote Customer Service Philippines Style regarding some of my adventures in Philippine living and the issues you should be thinking about rather than just the perpetual “">">">How Much Do Things Cost in the Philippines?” question. (See also excellent blog on What things cost in the Philippines, from Christian Skoda, his costs are from early 2008 and have not changed much, if you apply today’s slightly less favorable … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Costs, Phils Business Tagged With: , ,

Customer Service Philippines Style

May 8, 2013 by 5 Comments
Can I help you?

It’s good to go back and reflect on older articles sometimes (and correct a few typos now and again).  I wrote this article some days ago and looking back now I am surprised by how so little has changed.  It’s mainly talking about the “Philippine brand” of customer service, but more importantly how the common question of “How much things cost in the Philippines” is perhaps the last question you need to ask, instead of the first.  Enjoy. One of the things people … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Costs, Phils Business Tagged With: , , ,
«Older Posts