Live, Retire like a King in the Philippines

Less Than Sinful and Self destructive Ways to Play, But Ways You Can Play and Even Become More Healthy:

A round of golf can be played for as low a $2. First run English movies are a dollar. Cable TV with 40 channels is $6 US per month. Pool is king since Efren Reyes has become a national hero. Basketball is on every corner and there are two leagues that never cease. There is so much more, ballroom, martial arts, singing at the drop of the hat, lessons in everything most things $2 US. Some one is always unemployed and ready to play with you. Play Station games, DVD's CD's and game disk like PlayStation can be found at Philippine prices, and are great if they work. Need a partner? Filipinos generally may not be rich in money but they have time. If you have no time you have nothing, even if you own Fort Knox.

Cheap Quality Labor:

A welder is lucky to make $3 per day and begs for your work does not require an appointment, same for a mechanic, bricklayer, electrician, plumber, and locksmith. You no longer have to say sir to a mechanic and beg for service. People want your business here. Craftsmen want to work for foreigners who may pay them more appreciate them more and be kinder to them than they ever imagined. A Handyman does not get $30 for a job, but closer to 30 cents. Some of the greedy kings just than them and give them some rice.

My two live in web helpers and a maid each cost about $45 per month and of course their food. Of course having helpers really makes me feel like a king and take all the chores out of my life. They are helpers, but more like daughters to me and friends. My Filipina wife enjoys the freedom from housework and errands as much as I do. And she is free to study in her pharmacy course at college here and do other thing more productive than mop the floor. She grew up doing her share of that and will never forget who she is or where she came from. Her tuition is $230 per semester. It does not wreck the household kingly coffers.

Places to Live:

I really pay only $266.50 at today's peso rate. But my low cost may be because I have been here for three years. $380 is a more accurate market price today I guess. That is what others tell me. four bath houses with a nice yard, two telephones in a great neighborhood. The maids keep it up with the help of the handyman who stays next door to us in the day time. The house is in the university area of Cebu City, the Paris of the Philippines, I like to say the heart of the Philippines, where the mountains meet the sea. It is the land of scuba diving and beaches, rain forest wandering, night clubbing and bar, hopping. And for a continuing education for you retirees there are colleges and schools everywhere, and tutors or the Internet for self study. And the Philippines are in the heart of Asia. So travel to neighboring exotic countries from the international airports is a breeze.

Internet Connections:

The Philippines major telephone company has DSL at $50 per month, maybe more expensive than the States. But with the low cost of other things you should be able to afford it. Dial up, 33K is about 18 cents per hour, not as convenient as DSL but a lot cheaper.

Medical:

There are excellent hospitals nearby. So if I do have a problem I just get a helper to call one of them and a taxi to take me to the hospital. Office visits to a specialist are USD 6.00. I paid for chemotherapy treatment for a Filipino friend once. She had throat cancer and went to a government hospital. The six month successful treatment including the blood cost $800. If you get cancer, you may be able to afford effective treatment and not meet the deductible on your health insurance policy! My dentist has put caps on my teeth for $60 per cap and sings to me when she works. A face lift, the works, eyes up and down included, is about $3,000 including three or four day stay in a quality hospital. And the many tests required are included in that cost. They are test you must have prior to qualifying for this elective though no dangerous procedure, if done right.

Getting around in a Philippine City or town:

Public transportation is great in Cebu City, a city of about 500,000 hospitable souls. It is not the only great one to live in. Baguio, Davao, Iloilo, Bacolod, Baguio, Manila for those who prefer the metropolis is exciting and affordable too. And there are many small places where you $1,000 per month will make you the richest king in town. See "Places to Live" on the website and "Cost of Living" too. Manila, Davao, Cebu, Baguio and other have taxis, some smaller places have only jeepneys, tykes and private cars. Trikes are cheap but not as cheap as jeepneys.

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