Comments on: What Things Cost attempt number 279

By: Can You Make a Soft Landing? : Live In The Philippines

Can You Make a Soft Landing? : Live In The Philippines — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:11:34 +0000

[...] recently posted our (couple, male US, female Filipina/US, no children) monthly budget on my PhilFAQS site. We can live in the ‘shadow’ of Manila … we are just outside the borders of Metro Manila [...]

By: Philly

Philly — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:10:43 +0000

@ Ellen: I think it says smehting abut the economy in general when we think of a drug that costs a dollar a day or so as ‘expensive’. That certainly is a distinct problem here … prescription drugs. They tend to be more exspensive than their equivalent in the US, many US drugs are not sold on the world market, and it is problematical to get reimbursed by health plans … for me at least. I have a generous plan from the US military which includes a dandy mail-in pharmacy … the trick is the doctor prescribing has to have a US license. Right now my costs for just buying the drugs myself right at the borderline … it wuld cost as much or more to get reimbursed as it does to buy over the counter. Statistically, my needs will get larger as time goes by so it’s aproblem I haven’t solved yet.

By: Philly

Philly — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:04:32 +0000

@Roger Mogg: Ho Roger. Thanks for stopping by and for the kind words. As much as possible I try to write about the things people ask most about … be sure to let me know if I am missing the mark.

By: Ellen

Ellen — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:52:30 +0000

Hahaha, sorry Dave, I didn’t mean to wake you up on this one. Now, for awhile there, I really thought you really have a good control over your expenses and budgets.

But, it is easy to pay 100 here and 100 there. Before you know it, money is gone. I too regretably was told by my doctor I have to start this maintenance pills. Even with Pfizer discount of 30%, it is still expensive – around US$30 per month. On numerous times, I’ve checked my purse, and wondered where all the money have gone.

By: Roger Mogg

Roger Mogg — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:39:44 +0000

Sir; I have been living in the Philippines for 14 years, I am very happilly retired here. Loved your artical. I live like a king in this country on my small pension, but back home in Canada I would live like a squatter. If there is anything I can do to help others let me know. Takes time to get back to you but I respond to all emails.

By: Philly

Philly — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:29:37 +0000

@Ellen: I mant to answer this one earlier. My wife and I have talked this over quite a bit. We spend more thna that. Where does it go?

i suspect I am going to have to start sticking to a budget, sigh, and I have no one to blame but myself. Looking at the past 12 months of our current account here it is clear that we have spent more per month than ~pHp26T … which would be about $600 USD … but certainly less than $1,000 USD (~ PhP 45T or 46T) per month on average.

Part of the difference is drugs. I’ve been blessed by near zero medial bills htis year but I do take two regular ‘maintenance’ drugs per day and this comes up to $40 or $50 USD each month.

I’m guessing we spend more at the supermarket or with the ‘gulay girls’ I mentioned earlier than my first estimate. Still cheap living though.

By: Philly

Philly — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 07:15:54 +0000

@Tom: I probably will buy at some point in the future … actually, in line with current plans, we will build a house to suit us … but since it will never really be in my name, we are not in a rush. I am not passionate aboutthe buy versus rent issue, but some guys make it seem as if it is the deciding factor between them moving here or not moving here … and it just sn’t that important in the overall scheme of things. Thanks for visiting and sharing your views with us, Tom.

BTW, how are things going in the book department?

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 04:39:52 +0000

I think you are exactly right on renting a house. If the worst that can happen is that you have to move, then you have to move. I don’t see that as a very big deal particularly given the amount you would need to pay to buy a house there versus renting one there.

By: Ellen

Ellen — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:03:31 +0000

Hmmm, did a quick add assuming you buy all those goodies and eatouts every week – can live on Php26K per month (excluding emergency expenses, healthcare, medications, vitamins, insurance, clothing, grooming, etc). Is this about right?

By: Randy C

Randy C — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 21:33:57 +0000

Thanks, Dave. Great article, very useful information.