Worst Advice For Expats Moving To The Philippines... (AVOID THIS)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 พ.ค. 2024
- In this video, we discuss the worst advice commonly given to expats moving to the Philippines. This list contains ten pieces of advice that expats often hear but lead to either bitter disappointment or confusion when living in the Philippines.
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Timestamps:
0:00 Worst Advice For Expats Moving To The Philippines... (AVOID THIS)
0:12 Worst Advice #1: “Live Like a King” Advice
2:14 Worst Advice #2: Fully Settle Down
3:57 Worst Advice #3: Communicating is Easy
5:23 Worst Advice #4: Live The Provincial Life
6:17 Worst Advice #5: Make Friends With Everybody
7:17 Worst Advice #6: Start a Successful Business
7:59 Worst Advice #7: Work Longer Before Moving
8:54 Worst Advice #8: Meet Women Anywhere
9:41 Worst Advice #9: Help Everybody
10:24 Worst Advice #10: Everything is Dirt Cheap
11:13 God Bless
Current sub count: 8,828
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• Why The Philippines Ma...
Things You NEED To Know Before Moving To The Philippines
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• Top Three Places To Li...
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Tags:
Tips For Moving To The Philippines, Moving To The Philippines, Living in The Philippines, Philippines Advice, Philippines,
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@Con Descending you can tell him when you will be back and he can meet you around that time. It might cost extra but it might be worth looking into. Negotiate the price. 👍
I have lived here 21 years. The pattern I have seen for Expats is after getting settled in and developing a social network the biggest challenge they have is finding things to do. A life of no challenge, no learning and nothing to do is not all that it's cracked up to be. A lot of expats who fail at this wind up literally drinking themselves to death. I've attended more than one funeral of expats who drank themselves to death here. Luckily I have been able to keep myself busy. I have volunteered, tutored, taken courses online, establish an exercise routine and healthy lifestyle, learned gardening, restored houses, learned cuisine, charitable work and got involved in church. I have discussed this with expats who are so negative thinking they can not/refuse to think of anything to do and end up in bed 24/7 (even eat in bed) staring at 4 walls. These seem to be the most unhappy people and they aren't difficult to find among the expat community. IT IS A MAJOR KEY TO FINDING CONTENTMENT AS AN EXPAT.
I totally agree: Those broken people are more common than the ones that find real happiness in the Philippines. And they drink themselves to death, some slower, some faster. The only thing is: Keep yourself busy and curious and try to discover new things and places.
Exactly. A person who can't find something to keep them engaged in the world/society will eventually develop bad habits and fall into those same traps you listed above.
Spot on.
if you have not planned what to do in "retirement", start planning now. ideas - write a book, play golf/etc/for health, volunteer/teach, start a small biz, travel in Asia, Europe.
That's what I do. I still have investments , all passive- real estate, stocks/trading, so I keep abreast of the market, i get busy sometimes managing money, property managers, etc.
Best over comment I have read about this yet. Thank you sir
hi! I'm a fil-am and just moved to cavite for med school this past september. I watched a few of your vids out of curiosity and just want to let you know that you're doing a great job! great quality content delivered in a clear, concise way. hope many expats find your channel because you're speaking nothing but the truth! good luck on growing your channel!
Thanks Jesse!
The content is great, I agree. I watch the vids as I am planning on moving to the Philippines asap. Really helpful!
Tuli,
I lived well on $1000 a month in the province but you are right, it sure was not living like a king. It was hard for me to "fully settle down" in the islands of paradise
I do not want the rat race but l do like the hybrid lifestyle.
I have to repeat myself in English quite often. I have found older people speak more English that the younger crowd, (unlike you). I made a lot of acquaintances but few close friends.
I shunned going into business. I lived there about 6 years until my health gave out. Churches and schools seemed to be the best place to find good women. Hospitals are another great place to meet good educated women.
I like a hybrid lifestyle instead of a local lifestyle.
Thank you for sharing some very valuable advice.
Exactly James. The hybrid lifestyle would fit most expats' preferences. The best girls to meet are also at the churches too. Thanks for sharing.
@@TheSavvyExpat The best place for us to search for gold is gold mines. The pastor's daughter was my target, as long as I behave to her before vows Pastor will not target me 😁😅😂
@@TheSavvyExpat good info, bars are not the place to meet woman. And this video speaks the truth. You want to live good here I agree with the 2500 us a month or more. I make less than that I live in province and get by ok. Far from living like a king, have roof 9ver head, food to eat and a beautiful girl by my side who keeps me on a healthy unhappy diet, no Pepsi or junk food. She good. Not a bar girl.
This is what I call quality content not some random trust fund baby vlogging about their staycation in the PH "juicy vlogs" "making it happen" and others.
I'm not even an expat I'm a local Filipino and I subscribed because you're very interesting to listen to! Straight to the point, concise without sounding boring. Good work sir!
Thank you very much!
I appreciate this guy’s advice. I was in Manila in 2002 and got into a few really great conversations. I was always very careful about being too opinionated. I usually let the other person set the direction of conversation which I think is a good way to have rewarding conversation.
Evan, you are wise beyond your years. Your growing up in a western lifestyle and then moving to the Philippines at a fairly young age gives you an unique and interesting viewpoint. You are the youngest vlogger I’m subscribed to and I like your advise and insight. Thanks for sharing!
I really appreciate that Gary 🙏 glad I can provide some insight for you my friend.
Agri
I agree thats why I subscribed to Evan. Im tired of listening to Joe blow who just moved to PH 3 months ago and has never encountered a filipino in his life in the US lol.
This is the most accurate piece of advice I watched. Thanks Savvy Expat. Im a Filipino, as a general rule, this scenario could happened to you wherever you are but I really appreciate your thought about living in the Philippines and also it all depends on your purpose in life living here. After all, we all strive for happiness.
Back in the day when I was stationed in the Philippines (NAS Cubi Pt.) before the bases closed, and the peso rate was P20 to the dollar. Me the lonely E-4 making $714 a payday... Not even back then did I think I was living like a king. I did keep an off base apartment the whole 3 yeas I was stationed there, and a car and finally a motorcycle, but I wasn't raining in any left over cash by the end of the pay period. It was the best years of my young adulthood life and I did meet Mrs. right, and we'll be celebrating anniversary #31 later this year. We've started to gear down for retirement and are both looking forward to the quiet life of the Philippines in the next 18 months or so, and yes, we'll be in the more than comfortable living life style $$ range if we so choose so, but I am looking forward to the slower provincial life.
!!!-MABUHAY-!!!
Shit River commando
It doesn't matter how much your monthly budget is, it really depends on each person's individual lifestyles..
Hello Savvy Expat. I totally agreed with you. I’ve been to the PH many times for many different reasons. I couldn’t agree with you that meeting locals are amazingly friendly. Monthly expenditures of 2,500 or more would be a reasonable lifestyle. Besides, things and services will continue to increase. Great advices.
the second point is accurate, i was in the province side of philippines and it actually gets boring overtime. Just being at the beaches with perfect weather.. I start to lose motivation. Now I'm back in Canada I realized how much I loved the fast paced life here.
Agreed Roman. You can only go to the beach so much before things get old.
Great job !!! Thanks for sharing.
All brilliant advice. Thank you
Nicely done. Thank you for sharing.
Concise, detailed and honest. Thank you
glad I stumbled across your video - thanks!
Excellent video. Thank you.
Another great video, thanks bro
You got it Azad 🙌
Excellent channel! Great advice.
Thanks Evan, Great information, Well done my Friend.
Excellent video, you're good ant this!!! And great advice, thanks!
Wow! Honesty instead of the bahala na-mentality! Good job! Keep it up!
Outstanding video. Many thanks for the valuable insight and info.
Another brilliant video, excellent work man.
Thanks for watching as always brother 🙏
Keeping it real ! Good work 👍
Good video, subscribed.
Glad you enjoyed it 🤝
Great advice. I’m currently vacationing in the Philippines and everything this guy said is 💯% true.
Very good advice!
Truly a great video. I'm not one of those that could live the province lifestyle, but my wife and I recently moved into our own little condo in the beautiful city of San Fernando, Pampanga and I love it there. We're currently back in Vancouver, but planning to be back perhaps permanently this October.
Hey! Great video! You make some very valid points, and I totally agree. I am happily married to an amazing Filipina, whom I met after several travels to your beautiful country. I hope to retire there in a few years and you bring up valid points. I would encourage everyone who think along those lines to visit frequently before to understand the culture and experience first hand how it is
I'm new to your channel and you give excellent advice for foreigners wanting to move to the Philippine. Love it, gonna follow you
amazingly nuanced and realistic observations evan, thanks. i am transitioning going back to the philippines. i was born there and miss the sense of community and humor that seems to be missing in the west because things just don't resonate as much and time is scarce.thanks.
Nice vid!
Thank you
Thank you Evan for another great video. Could you do a video on the best ways to help the needy there. Some of us are charitably inclined and with your caveats, I would be interested in knowing from your perspective on the best ways to help people there. Thanks again. God bless you and your family.
Coming up Jimbo! We have some experience in that area so I have been pondering on a lot of good tips for doing that. God bless.
Working thru the locals is really the best way. They know the needs, and the people. For example, our cousins provide a food bank for the needy in their province. The past two years have hit many families really hard, and struggles to even survive have turned into a daily challenge. There is zero dollars used for administration, and everything they receive goes directly into providing the necessary food for families. Looking around the local area should provide you with a similar opportunity to work with the Filipinos who are taking care of their extended communities on some type of project.
Very great video. It is to the point and not fake just to get viewership. Quality content rather than contrived comments. I am glad your family got out of Chicago.
The topic I found interesting personally was the generational English speaking gap where you said younger folks spoke better English today than the older ones. This can be true depending on location, class of people and profession. If one were in the central business district, chances are yes English is an easier tool whereas the provinces not so much. Although when I was growing up (I am a bit older than Savvy), English was widely spoken not too long ago at least during my generation and it did not matter where you were or whom you were talking to due to the American Influence and presence. A very good example of this was a video that was posted showing a Filipino youngster speaking great English (Contreras 1956). Very much like when Spanish was widely understood perhaps a generation or two before Conteras.
I think the decline of English today was due to the economic struggles and poverty which culminated back in the late 70s, 80s and 90s when many Filipinos ended up in the diaspora for better opportunities. It was the brain drain era. Today, it is starting to pick up due to Call Centers and BPOs as well as tourism along with more work opportunities in the country where young folks can participate. English is now being promoted in schools once again as Marcos indicated in his speech. Again, watch that high school Filipino student “Contreras” as well as past presidents like Quirino and Diosdado Macapagal speak English and Spanish very well. These people explain the level of education and environment compared to the Philippines today.
This is just an add-on for those wondering why older generations today may not be inclined to speak better English than the younger folks.
I have been in more countries than an average person, Philippines being the most visited. I found your information to be most accurate about the Philippines.
It's true what u said Savvy, u cnt help everyone but just do what u can afford .use ur discretion tho.. with empathy 🙏
Thank you for putting first things first. My favorite TH-camrs have become my not so favorite by always building a new house, out spending money like crazy and avoiding typhoon relief by fleeing to safer islands. Sad but true... we can assimilate into the culture and enjoy the people and places without being extravagant.
Thanks for more good advice, you have a different niche and perspective to many other vloggers.
Hi, greetings from Germany.
I just spend 5 Hours watching your clips.
They are all unbelivible informative.
Way better than the vids some creepy expats do. Not all of them, but a few.
Thank you very very much
G' day Evan, new subscriber here.
Thanks for your advice, look forward to seeing more videos from you.
Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺
Very good. Nicely done in explaining
Thanks a lot
Absolutely spot on. But it still takes a cool mind to accept the truths you've just told, before going there and fail in two, three... or all of them simultaneously, haha!
such a wise video. Thx
Nice resume, quick, short and good👍
Always 🙏
Another great vlog
Kuya, excellent video! Thank you po.
You got it! Thanks for watching
Thank you for your great advice!
Great info, thanks for sharing
You bet
Good video. Just a tip: weary, wary and aware are 3 different words with different meanings.
Love your channel very good advice my friend thank you
Thank you for some good advice
Good advice.
Wow, it's really refreshing to here how things really are, and what a realistic cost of living is. Thank you.
You do a great job!
GOD BLESS YOU for your HONESTY!!!
I like your videos, you always give good advices. I just subscribed. I am thinking about retiring in the Philippines.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks!
Great video! I just returned from Manila I was there for 1 month and I agree with you for 100%.
I am a Fil-Am from Las Vegas. I am retiring in Makati. I already bought a condo there. I have monthly $4,000 net rental income from US, $1500 in other passive income (dividends from stocks, interest, etc) and i also have a 401k I haven't touched and I am not on SS yet. So, my total net passive income right now is $5,500/mo. I live like a king in Philippines. I even travel back and forth to US, Europe, etc. But my base is Makati. $5,500 /mo in US is just middle class, but in Philippines? that is Royalty! Cheers!
Very good points! You can't get what you want if you don't know what you want.
this is a great video man and from someone so young. im 37 and your second point is right on - im living on an island in phu quoc in vietnam and no one here wants to rush and accomplish anything really. but i went to saigon for a month and the city's buzz made me start thinking about all the things i need to do. its is def dangerous to coast in a chill place.. kind of like quicksand. same time i cant stand the cities now so this is complicated issues.
Happy to see my special friend video again. Have a great day my friend
You too Rick. Thanks for watching 🙌
Agree 100% good video and good advice. Not much difference in the cost of living between the PH and the West if you want to live a half descent life.
Exactly
At kung maarte kayo sa uri ng pamumuhay namin , d wag kayong pumunta dito ,
Thanks for been realistic about suggestion!!!
No worries!
HI Evan I will be coming to Philippines in July.Thank you for your help and information.I will be moving to Manilla.
Outstanding advice thank you. I learned a lot from you. Though I'm retiring in a province setting next year, I'm aware of not many pitfalls. I remember of your advices. Not much a believer on most expats comments who barely have $1500 pensions
Thats some good advices👍👍
Outside of Metro Manilla $1,000 a month is more than enough as long as you live a moderate lifestyle and not beyond your means.
Yes $1,500 and up is more ideal but not necessary based on my research, investigations, and talking with a local (my Filipina) for the past 21 months.
This is not a one size fits all thing. Some can live off from much less than others. But all in all no I would not come to live there with less than $1,000 a month for me personally
Very true. To each their own.
Ty sound advice -James
💯 FACTS.
Salamat
Good video and spot on. I'm retired in cebu city and $1700 a month with no house payment gets us by but it would be harder in the USA for that kind of budget.
Keep up the great videos
will do Michael
Very informative video thanks, I'm 71 so it would be difficult for me. From what I've learned living outside a city in a province would be great for me.
Good advice
I'm just in awe how mature and insightful you are because you look so young. Keep it up! Great content.
Thanks Michael
The best way to make one million dollars in the Philippines is to start with two million dollars.
Do not EVER give money to any beggar. Some are addicts, others are scams set up by criminals. Some are sincere, but you are much better off finding a sincere charity and helping them to help the people.
You got that right.
Thx for sharing this video..im from Denmark
If u decide to build a house or have a farmland Batangas would b a good option, very reasonable priced lots available too. Beach is just a few minutes away . Cavite too like Silang...
THANK YOU!!!
Hi Evan great video! Have you thought of taking us on a field trip so we can see the real Philippines where the everyday people live.
That’s good advise 😀
That's some great advice, especially the part about comparing ph prices to us prices. You can easily overspend with this mindset
Wow what a revelation staying in slow island paradise losing drive is true. I suffer from this and now aware of it. Traveling is the spice of life.
Gotta get back out there!
#1 and #4 resonated with me. I always laugh when I see people say they are going to live in $500 to $1,000 usd/mo in the Philippines. I guess they are gonna eat roadkill every meal and wipe their behinds with leaves. Lol. 🤷♂️
And I used to wonder would I chose living there on a beach or live in the city, but you totally made sense here about living in Metro Manila with all the modern conveniences, and still having access to Cavite and Bantangas (for me on weekend trips to the beach). That is having best of both worlds.
I think I would be bored out of my mind living fulltime in the province. So thank you for helping me come to this all important conclusion!
Absolutely man, this how my family lives. We cannot bare living in the province full time, very boring and tasteless at times. But live in the metropolitan and go out to the beach on the weekends and you're set!
Good advice. I have found that yes......one can indeed live on perhaps $1000 or so, but it's a very, very simple life and usually not the best accomodations, foods, etc.....living in the province, and for sure no rent....everything paid for, your own house, etc. More likely, and a better life similar to perhaps your former western lifestyle would mean something closer to $1500-2000 a month income or expenses, including rent. I have SS of a bit higher than that and live very well, eating out, local travel, importing things from the US when desired, renting, own a newer truck, helping my GF's family, and so on. As to business.....it can be hard here for foreigners. From my experience, investing in and owning titled (important to be titled) land in the name of your filipino wife or a very trusted resource (can be done and retaining control through various legal agreements), renting tourist cottages, etc is a stable way of producing incomes. Otherwise, stick to an internet based business doing business internationally. You're right, the margins are tough here, the laws are complex especially per employment regulations, and unless you have a very, very unique and hard to start concept, every filipino and his brother will copy you and put one up next door to you selling goods for a few pesos less. As to GF's, my suggestion is find a good, traditional but educated province girl, or a city girl who wants to live outside of the city and is interested in a simpler life. Too many now seek the rich foreigner who will support their extended family, take them to the US, spoil them, etc. Avoid this at all costs. So much could be said, but your points are well taken.
Well said. Thanks for your insight.
Hands down the best filam vlogger there is!
Great video my frond lives like a king in cavite for $2,200 a month with a big house and a full time house keeper and cool. He is pretty busy and hasn’t slowed down In 8 years because he has a pretty good business acumen. Your advice is pretty solid thank you for being balance.
great vid, just moved to nabas aklan, its too quiet here so i can relate to what your saying about losing ones drive. Bought a scooter to finally get around made a big difference, not so isolated now. some great locals around me but barely any english. was told everyone could speak english here. lol Its still better than Canada was. No snow for one 👍😎😁
Look forward to seing more vids from you.
This is my comment on one of your other videos. For over 3 years now, my wife, son and I certainly don't live like kings, queens and princes, but we live like middle class provincial Filipinos. That is fine for us...
"How about doing a video for those considering retiring in the provinces! I live in the provinces in a small fishing community 100km south of Cebu City. We built our nice little house on land we got from my wife's family. Total cost was about 300,000 pesos ($5400USD). Now there is no rent, we eat simple Filipino food, and live comfortably on 30k pesos ($540USD) per month. There are completely different dynamics but it is an option for many."
That’s right! It depends on how they live. If those locals and foreign people likes to live like a KING AND QUEEN IN BGC, and other urban city like DINING INNS five star restos, buying branded things online, travel in different countries and local places of course the $ 500-1,000 would not be enough for their family.
Your the best... I enjoy everything you put out..
Blessings.greg
God bless Greg
great advice here.
I am a Filipino American just like you are used to live in Chicago Illinois just like you Now I live in state of Florida, where it’s sunny all the time I have been following you in depth and your point of view living in the Philippines are spot on, yes I do agree. Some of this bloggers tend to be deceptive on their blog Just to attract viewers and likes that is not very good. I am going to keep on following you .
I don't know where you live but I will be arriving in Cebu next week and would be honored to invite you to lunch. A simple thank you for your inciteful information. Well done, well done indeed
I agree, your monthly budget really depends on your way of living and where you live. For me, I like the province lifestyle and when I have gone on holiday there, I try to eat like a local, the calanderia etc. not like a westerner. For sure, if you have minimum $1.5k monthly budget, you can easily live in a province, but I have worked out I can live $750 AUD/month (not including rent) just living a simple non western lifestyle. And that is the key, to embrace the local lifestyle and live a simple life, for me anyway. Good video young man.
Exactly Mark. Depends on the lifestyle.
Love this Video! Don't fully settle down is great advice! Its good to go back home to USA for 2-3 months to reset and get your focus on building more income .. Even if working online.
Good advice. Expats first need to learn to say no. And not all items are cheaper. Many items in the store are higher than the US. A big aggregation I have there is expats that act like kings. I can’t stand when foreigners look down on the Filipinos. Good video. Enjoy watching you
Well said Jene. Thanks for watching.
the "live like a king" advice was applicable 15 years ago. currently, the philippines is like 3rd world country with 1st world cost of living prices, especially in manila