I was wondering why some people say all you need is 1000 /monthly to live in the Philippines? so I would think 1300 / monthly would be sufficient

I'm 54 and my wife and I are VERY worried about our future, gas and food prices rising daily. We have had our savings dwindle with the cost of living into the stratosphere, and we are finding it impossible to replace them. We can get by, but can't seem to get ahead. My condolences to anyone retiring in this crisis, 30 years nonstop just for a crooked system to take all you worked for.

I have lived there 8 years, i can speak Tagalog, own 2 houses, one in Alaminos Pangasinan and one in Baguio Benguet. I started out being stationed in the Air Force in Clark Air Base Angeles City Pampanga 3 years then returning after a short tour in Korea at Osan Air Base another 5 years until Mt Pinatubo blew its top in1991. I ended up married to the daughter of Fernando Gines chief forester of the Philippines and still married to this wonderful lady. We now live in Corpus Christi Texas but often go back.. I love the Philippines and the people there. I will soon return when my wife retires as a nurse practitioner in January 2024. Life is great

The best you could add is to marry an educated hardworking Filipina with good family that will not take your money.. be honest to them coz they think foreigners are rich people

Love this video. You are blunt, to the point, no extra chatter. I appreciate your well experienced comments. Thank you, Dk.

You made this important point very succinctly better than anybody else who had talked about the issue. You hit all the right notes. Good job!

sound advice. After 10 yrs living in the Philippines, I was in a car accident. Once physically able to travel back to California for rehab, we stayed for one year. My wife and I travelled back to the Philippines, but now only stay 4 to 6 month at our home in Naga. What saved me from major problems, I kept my home in California and rented it out while in the Philippines. You must have an alternate backup plan in an event of an emergency. Moreover, I don't recommend staying longer than a year in the Philippines due to the medical/living conditions.

If your a Filipino woman that has to listen to him, don't come to the Philippines 😊

Very sound advice. Pay attention. Actually, it applies to anyone wanting to stay or live in a foreign country for an extended period of time. Always have a “plan B or C”.

When I came to Manila to meet my LDR filipina, we spent 2 months living together in a condo to see how we got along together. It wasn't a vacation, she cooked and cleaned while I worked on my computer and paid the bills. That was a great preview to our future life together and it was great!

You are helping by telling these truths. It could save someone a very bad time and life . Thanks. Salamat

Mabuhay Sir, I am a retired nurse...and I came back home..agreed to all !! I am well aware of our country ..the good and the bad, I left 50 yrs ago and with all the noise, traffic, pollution, etc...there is no place like home...the smiles, the resilience of the people, hospitality, kindness...the...simplicity...of life ..priceless!! Thank you so much for your input...well said Sir...and God Bless your family.

My husband and I are living comfortably here in the Philippines. We used to live in Colorado and we decided to live in Davao Philippines close to my family. He receives $3000 pension per month. I work as a Claims Case Manager ( Accommodation Consultant) and I am very lucky that the company I work for in the US allowed me to keep my job so I can continue and work remotely from Davao. Instead of staying at home and depend on my husband monthly income, I decided to continue working from home. We love it :)

Great video, Mike. I am contemplating Philippines in my retirement. But I am a different sort. I lived in Honduras for 7 years. I saw the alcoholics and the guys with no money, and the complainers. I was there as a young teacher at an international school. The honeymoon wears off quickly. I loved the slow pace of life, but there are a lot of frustrations. I am in a good position financially to make the move in retirement. But I am only planning to visit for a couple of months. I may not like it. Who knows? This video is really important, because so many videos only talk about how great everything is there, and what a paradise it is. Yes, it is a beautiful country, but not for everyone. Keep up the good work.

I did many mistakes. I'm from Montreal. I met a very fine lady online and got engaged before I visited the PH with plans of retirement and buy a few hectares of pineapple farm. We spoke for many months on messenger. Then 3 months before my first visit there, I began to have strong doubts about my capacity to adapt to life there . I went for a month anyway and was very disappointed for many of the reasons you mentioned...the noise at night, the food, the cities...now I'm back home in a very sad state of mind 'cause my Filipina and I we truly love each other but I don't think her country is for me.

Yes Mike Very Good Reasons! Thank you for being Straight and Honest! Many Country Video Segments hardly talk about these very valuable topics! Best to You!

I found out something interesting today. I moved to the Philippines from Arizona USA. It seemed to me that sounds travel faster and louder in the Philippines. I Google it and sound does travel and sound louder in a humid climate. Who would have thought

Mike right now i am talking to an agent in Cebu, they are building a lot of condo and houses and they are planning a lot of expat to come over. This is the same thing as some videos in Dumaguete about expat being disrespectful to the Filipino people. Sadly this won't stop those people who are idiots and respect no one. Lots of people are going to come to the PH to retire and lots of them will get drunk and party all the time, its sad but that is life. Some people simply have no respect for nothing, i had a condo near Montreal the guy next door had 2 young kids, marijuana was not permitted but he smoked it day in and day out, i sold my condo because of this, even is girlfriend was stupid. For me if i even retire to the PH i am going to keep a low profile, i keep fit i love training i do not drink nor take drugs and i will try to avoid any encounter with other idiot foreigner who lack respect to others.

Over the past 5 years I have spent 30 months in the Philippines. I'm a senior married to a Filipina we are back in Canada having a rest. Philippines is a tough place to live and patience is a necessity. Philippine way of life is very different from the west and comfortable living will cost more. The heat can be oppressive and is often the reason foreigners tap out and leave. Also food is not cheap no matter where you buy it.

Great content! I would make it simple: if someone is not 100% accountable and 100% responsible for their choices and behavior, do not go. Also, if someone doesn’t have a contract with reality and is not living with magical thinking, do not go. I think if someone doesn’t live with the philosophy “do no hard” do not go. Thank you 🙏🏼

Most of your points make sense and are true if you've never travelled much or actually never been to the Philippines. The biggest mistake anyone can make in my opinion is proper financial planning as well as an exit/backup plan. But since most of your audience is 55+ I would think (maybe hope) that they have taken the time to sort that out already.

Anyone who is considering moving to Philippines should view this more than once. Please understand what Mike is sharing is important information.

Thanks for the valuable tips Mike. I'm a 45 yr old New Zealand Maori living and working in Australia. My wife whom I met in Australia, recently moved back to her homeland in the Philippines with our 5 year old daughter. I'm actually planning on moving over there to be with them full time, in about a year or so. I totally agree on how important it is to have certain plans set in place, before moving somewhere foreign. Back up savings, exit plans etc 100%. I couldn't imagine nothing worse than having no plan and no money whilst being stuck in another country. I do own an investment property in Sydney, which is currently being rented out and my background as a miner allows me to travel back and forth frequently, so that's definitely part of my backup plan. Fortunately my wife has family, a nice house and a small business in Bulacan, but at first I was totally against the idea of moving over there. I had absolutely no intentions what so ever. Questions like, what would I do for work, how could I make an income, could I handle the life style/food, could I handle living abroad in a country that is way different to where I come from. What happens if I become ill, let alone homesick. Do I want move there? Well obviously, my wife and daughters there, I've got no choice. So finally after months of thought and planning, we agreed that I could make the move without potentially putting myself at risk. I have been over there once for a short vacation to catch up and honestly, I didn't like it one bit. It reminded me of Thailand where I spent 3 years lol.. Only difference being was that I wasn't far from the beach then, where now Bulacan is out in the country and hours from the beach lol...besides that, I get on really well with the family and I know alot of them from when they were on vacation or living in Australia. Honestly I think by truly respecting the people and understanding their values, would also help by adapting and having a tonne of patients as well. I'm not a heavy drinker and don't do drugs, so trouble is the last of my issues. Although I'd have to work most days to keep myself occupied, otherwise I go mental. One of my problems is that I work to a point where I expect today's jobs to be finished yesterday, you catch my drift. So yeah, adapting to the pace will definitely be a challenge but doable I think. I have a business idea in mind doing Texas BBQ. I'm investing in a smoke pit rigged up on a trailer, which will allow us to move it around to different locations. It's a passion I've been working on over the years. The focus would be catering for Commercial and local Businesses, (Promos, Xmas parties etc). Also serving to the Public at special/sporting events, pop ups and Private functions (Birthdays, weddings etc). I also think it would be the perfect way to give back to the the local community (schools, hospitals etc) by doing fund-raisers and basically helping others somehow. I'll test the waters first, but really look forward to the challenge. One step at a time as they say. I really appreciated your video mate, a real eye opener which points out great and useful tips for those thinking about making the move. Always learning something new, thank you both. Salamat 🙏 Best wishes Cheers Jim

Ooh you made me cringe when you’re 58 sitting next to a woman who is 31 and talking about “great sex”. I wonder how she feels about that!!!

I'm a US navy veteran and have spent several years in the Philippines at times but your advice is extremely true and helpful for people who don't know, I'm in planning stages to move to Philippines maybe a yr or 2 away. Planning is key.

A couple of other things that guys from the U.S. might not like (or at least, I don't like) are the loud drunken music on New Year's Eve and at birthday parties and also when they burn leaves and make the air smoky. Those are my pet peeves but at least they're not done everyday so that I can put up with them. I love my Filipina wife and her family and am generally happy with everything else here. I was lucky that things worked out on my first visit and we got married after I had been with her for three months after chatting with her online for two years. Eventually we'll go to the U.S. but just for a visit; the Philippines is my home now.

1. you don’t like rice 2. you don’t like veeeery nice people 3. you don’t like hot climate 4. you don’t like beautiful girls 5. you don’t like beautiful beaches 6. you don’t like affordable living conditions 7. you don’t like meat 8. you don’t like to pay less than 200$ for health insurance 9. you don’t like roosters and dogs 10. you don’t like a simple and peaceful life

Now I have more knowledge about personal finance. I just subscribed to your channel. Big ups to everyone working effortlessly trying to earn a living while building wealth in this recession. I’m 45 and my husband is 51, we are both retired, no debts. We are planning on relocating to Thailand. We are currently living a frugal and financially savvy lifestyle and generating passive income even during this recessionary period. Our commitment to saving and investing in the financial market has enabled us to maintain this lifestyle and continue earning monthly passively through investment!!

Best advice around. Been there 15 times. And this info is very solid. Listen closely to this man

Mike - I have been told that pre existing conditions are not covered for the first year of the insurance plan. That is am important detail to make your viewers aware of.

I have to smile a little at what you're saying Mike, but you're right about every word you say. I've been to the Philippines twice, twice for two weeks. I have my super dear girlfriend here and from the rooster, dog, chicken to karaoke, patience and volume - everything is right. But I love it, it all belongs to the Philippines and makes the Philippines so unique, unique and such a livable and lovable place for me.

Luckily, I’ve been to PI in the past and yes, it was an eye-opener of adjustments. But that was sometime ago now I have plenty of friends well let me say I have enough friends who are Filipinos and they are willing to guide me wherever I need to go since they live in the states as well. So I travel with them and they gave me the full experiences by island hopping. I could not ask for anything more! Live and learn!

Very good advise, all points are valid. I have retired to the Philippines since 2022, but me and my fiance planned everything before hand we new what we wanted to do and knew we had to have an income separate from pension, so we bought a small rice farm where we can also plant vegetables and keep animals for meat. Guys if you want a happy retirement, you are over 60 don't fall for a too young girl, there are a lot of super sexy beautiful older Filipinas that will treat you like a king, the young ones still want to party and have babies, do you really want a baby when you are 60+ years old?

Another video packed with true facts. I visited the Philippines twice, once in Feb-Mar/22 and in Oct-Nov/22 for 30 days each visit to visit my fiancé’ who lives in Manila area The points you stressed are all true and need not taken lightly. I, personally would enjoy the Philippines but away from the Manila area Are there good hospitals in the Dumageti area Thank you both God bless you Thank you

This is a must see video before moving to the Philippines. It will be great to see what you and Paul come up with on your collaborations.

Thank you Mike and Janet. I am planning to retire in the Philippines in the next 5 years from Australia. Your video has been extremely informative and an eye opener . 👍🏻

Hi Mike and Janet, I've landed in Cebu two days ago. I watched your honest down-to-earth vlogs Thank you for them I was in Thailand for six month but I was isolated and lonely because Thais' generally don't speak English. Thailand is not ready for the prime time. So I am here for retirement. I will be watching your vlogs for helpful hints. Thanks!! Mike

Mike and Janet I really enjoy the channel and the great information you provide, I am planning on visiting the Philippines by the end of this year, I have been doing a lot of research and your channel has been a great help. Thanks again Gordon

I’m a Filipino/American and just returned to the states.I guess you’ve just described my attitude Mike . 😂 sometimes I’d like to go out and clean the streets!

I really agree with you 100%, you have an excellent, and honest opinion, you have a good heart, for anyone that wants to come my native country, they need to learn from you, Janet, you are a very lucky one, I am away from my home country, the Philippines, I am married to my American husband for almost 40 years, very happy with spoiled 3 kids, hopefully I can bring all of them for vacation including my in-laws, I been away for long time working as a nurse, and I am watching you, and love your vlog, pls. continue blogging, and “GOD” bless you and your beautiful wife

Thank you for your kind advice and guidance . All what you’re saying is the truth 👍🏻 from San Diego California USA 🇺🇸

outstanding vlog Mike. A lot to think about before committing to moving to the Philippines. I'd like to move there, hopefully with my son and his Filipina wife, who has family in Antique. If I live by myself, I'd prefer a condo with a nice swimming pool and security. I'm already 73 and single, and in decent medical shape, so far. So I'd prefer living close to a good hospital, just in case. Otherwise, my family wants me to live with them there. Hahaha, my son even told me I can have a gf, as long as she's cute.

Too true, especially the drunks, gamblers and complainers. Nothing's worse than a walking disaster with an attitude.

I travel a lot and lived in several Asian countries as well as Australia and Europe, you are right, similar thing happened to me in Thailand,, things got bad with the girlfriend's mother, the money was never enough until I started giving my possessions away secretly moving them to a friend's house then one day I said I needed to renew my passport in Bangkok, never went back, barking dogs, I sold my house in Europe because of that, it's just me, I sail around the world as well, people often ask how do you fund that life, for many sailors you will find they have some rental property that sustains them while they trot around the world, I've seen so many people loose everything to the girlfriend it's nothing new, In Bangkok as an example you will see beggars near the metro entrances only to take a closer look at them and see they are foreigners with no cash to go home, don't be that guy, your money will evaporate so quickly have an exit plan.

Hello Mike and Janet i am a fairly new subscriber to your YT channel. After watching your 10 reasons why you should not come to live permanently in the Philippines. Thank you Mike i have found your advice to be totally 100% brilliant and oh so very true. I am one of these foreigners who is planning to come to the Philippines with the goal of either renting or to lease land and a property. Luckily i am financially solvent and i know exactly where you are coming from Mike after living permanently in Thailand between 2014-2016 with my ex Thai girlfriend. I have decided to give the Philippines a try mainly because i believe around 80% of the population can speak good English. Very informative vlog Mike. I think this kind of video is a first on You Tube very well said and some very good advice Mike and Janet. You both have a lovely day. I may be possibly the 7,001 foreigner who ends up in a place like Dauin or Valencia and or just stay in Dumaguete whilst i take plenty of time looking at land and property to rent or purchase just like "Building the Philippines with Greg and Wilma" YT Channel in Dauin. Their house build has almost helped me to decide to come and live permanently in the Philippines for the UK Government has crashed the economy and it will take several years for the country to recover. Thanks to Greg's videos i have been following i now know that i can easily afford to buy or build a similar property and with a private swimming pool which is a main wish for me coming from much colder Scotland. After living in very hot Thailand with Avg temps of 33 to 40 degrees for 10 months of the year the Philippines heat and the torrential downpours of rain i can totally get where your great advice is coming from Mike and everything you have said is true. My first 59 day trip is to decide on where i would like to settle down. I hope to visit Puerta Princessa, Palawan and Coron islands then fly to Boracay and or Cebu Mactan then after Boracay i will come back to Cebu for 4 days visit only then fly to Dumaguete and stay for 29 days and go to a lady realtor in Dumaguete that was showing a 4 bed 3 bath house with its own private pool which was on Miss Pea YT channel. At 10 million PHP i too thought the property was a little over priced especially when you compare the grand total price of Greg and Wilma's house and pool build and land costs was only 8 million which is around my own budget. I will still plan ultimately to buy a new 4x4 vehicle of some kind plus buy a new Honda automatic 150cc scooter but only to drive around the provinces not in any city. I ain't that crazy! Ha Ha. When i arrive in Dumaguete it would be lovely to meet up with yourself and Janet and go and enjoy a nice dinner and drinks. I do not smoke and i do not drink any alcohol or atleast not since leaving Thailand in 2019. I can enjoy myself fine without alcohol i can take it or leave it just to be sociable. You both have a lovely day. From Roy in Scotland. 😊😊😊❤

Don't come to the Philippines if your going to put everything you buy in your girlfriend's name. Car, house, property. If things go South, you got nothing. Best to live together or be partners. Don't rush to get married. Take your time and be sure, she is the right one for you.

Great advice and information for those who dream of relocating. One item I'd recommend folks have would be adaptability. There are no 'full proof' plans, and having redundancies still can run into unforeseen problems/changes. With the ever present threat of power loss, communications down, typhoons, volcano eruptions, tsunamis, and various other things that can disrupt one's 'plans', being able to adapt to those changes will make life a lot easier. It should go hand-in-hand with that valuable patience one should bring with them. Be safe and looking forward to other great pearls of information!

Greetings from Thailand. I do agree with most of your list, and it applies to all of Southeast Asia. Being on vacation (week end millionaire) in Asia and living there are totally different worlds. Living the expat life in Southeast Asia isn’t for everyone. Take care

Wow. I met a Filipina online about 1 1/2 years ago. She lives in Laguna area and I in California. I've helped her out monetarily on several occasions. I don't mind helping out. I make good money. Recently I cut her off from everything. She tried to get me to pay for a few things again but I just ignored her. She talks to other guys online in the same app. I've questioned her a lot about these other guys but she just ignores me. Now that I've cut her off, there's no more conversation. She's very deceitful. Thanks for confirming what I've already known all along.

A man with wisdom. Great info.

Mike. If I could make a recommendation, maybe take turns with Janet when speaking about the "top 10" things. You do one, she does one. If she's comfortable with her English enough, that is. IMHO, having her speak the point would allow her to interject her thoughts as she lists out the information.

I deeply regret not doing more research before making a move as small as moving from Tennessee to California. I've felt horribly alone for the past 5 years. I can only imagine the consequences of moving to somewhere like the Philippines before doing your due diligence. Change is hard. If you're unhappy where you're at, don't expect a change of scenery to be the answer to your problems. Wherever you go, there you are

This is a great checklist. Really gets you thinking about the challenges ahead. The one thing I wasn’t prepared for (on my 3 week PH vacation) was just how slow the pace is. The best way I can describe it would be “it was below my stall speed”. I was resisting the slowness. Only in the 3rd week was I beginning to acclimatise. The other thing that surprised me was how quiet the Filipinos themselves generally are (karaoke aside). All of the noise in PH comes from Roosters, Dogs and internal combustion engines with loud exhaust (and Karaoke).

Good morals and values on display here. Thanks Mike.

Hi Mike. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I plan on going to Manila for four weeks in November 2023 and staying in a very nice area called Uptown because I can stay at a friends’ Condo for free. If I like my experience, I can go back and check out some other areas of the country. I’ll take your advice and be careful and respectful while visiting the Philippines.

I am 57 yrs old been leaving here in Canada for 40 yrs and after watching this video I will sell my house there in the Philippines and stay here in Canada forever (due to medical reasons that’s why I decided to retire here in Canada instead of the Philippines)….. thank you for sharing this 👍👍👍👍

Mike and Jan, all great advice and indeed is very helpful...you guys are lucky to have found each other... but, Mike, with all due respect, you just described mostly the so-called "undesirables" that are not desired nor welcomed in any country, starting with the US, or anywhere in Europe, Asia, Africa, or someplace else in between... don't be a drunkard, a drug addict, broke with no money, no savings, no income, no emergency funds, no serious health issues, no complaining, put up with noise pollution, be patient, or don't come to Philipines, as no one wants you... no one wants you in the states either or any other place... Mike, if I'd have great savings, a great stream of revenue, a stash for emergency situations, great health, a great adaptable personality not being bothered by noise pollution, long lines in the stores, hectic traffic, critters, and if I'd be "desirable" as opposed to "undesirable' and if I can afford over $1500-2500 per month in expenses then yes, I'd be welcome in Philipines, as in the states or any other country in the world... everybody, everywhere in every country wants you, as long as you can spend your cash there, don't complain and go with the flow... but if you don't have the cash to spend, and you complain, or you want modern amenities and quality in service, then no one wants you... doesn't that seem to be a bit unfair..??..

I’m a Filipino/American. I just returned to the USA 🇺🇸 and I guest I’m also guilty of that. I complained about everything that surrounds me 😂 I live comfortably in America and I guess I’m spoiled of my life style.

This is one of the best summaries of the differences of our respective cultures that may affect the enjoyment of everyday life as a retired foreigner I' ve encountered in KZfaq. His advice is a 10 out of 10 on the reality meter. You need a lot of patience, money and flexibility to thrive in the Philippines.

Great advice!!! Nailed it about not complaining, having no income or means to support yourself! Yes, PATIENCE is needed and CANT be picky, entitled or act bougie! I lived in the Philippines 11 years and yet would NEVER retire there. Life IS HARD…I love just to spend a week or so to see friends and see stuff but after that I wanna go home.

What I like the most about your videos is you come to the point right away, as against giving a long, mundane hour-long introduction speech boring the crap out of your viewers.

Once again really great advice for people who have never been there and really do not know what to expect. You are doing a great service to people who think that they're going to move there and be in Paradise without spending some time there. When I was there last summer for 6 weeks everything seems so strange by the time I left I knew that I would be back to stay in as soon as possible. Let me know if you got my emails with a videos of my house in Toledo Cebu

A lot what you say about the Philappines applies to other places as well especially Latin America. I retired to Panama 23 years ago and I am still here. Panama has the advantage of being much closer to home a 3 hour flight to Miami. Also the US dollar is the official currency but otherwise some similar concerns.

Dont retire/move to Philippines if you cannot discern people who are gold digger/scammer because majority of those who retire here got stuck with oppurtunistic and doesnt feel genuine love for other people other than themselves. I am a filipino and i am from dumaguete, Literally i've seen a lot here. I can say only 5 OUT OF 100 people you may have relationships here are genuine.. So plan well.

Very good and common sense information. My father had a heart attack overseas (he survived, the stint procedure only cost $1800.00 in 2011over there) but Medicare would not cover it. Overall, it still amazes me that most Americans continue to live in debt with very little savings. Hedonism and consumerism has destroyed us.

I just retired at 60. I've worked all over the world during my career and wouldn't be nervous about the cultures. Trust me, I've seen just about everything. But after a lifetime of traveling, I do really enjoy my home here in NH and it suits me and my wife just fine.

Great job Mike! I agree 100% with your 10 reasons not to retire in the Philippines if you are foreigners.

Mike, great advice. My system is we live in our nice house in Imus Cavite for 7 months and then go to our vacation house for 5 months in upper washington. This gets us out of the cold in the winters and out of most of the heat in the summers. We take care of our medical concerns while in the States like physicals and medications, which we bring with us. My wife has lots of family in Cavite and gets to enjoy their company while there. Then we get to pursue our summer interests while in the states. We did this by selling our house in the states. We split up the money for 1 house in P.I. and another small house in the States. And about 25% went into a nest egg. Now our SSA gives us enough to live comfortably in both places w/o worries. One really needs to plan ahead to live in both places. We buy our plane tickets shortly after getting back to the States, which helps keep the price down quite a bit. And you are right to say “Don’t come here if you don’t have an income”. I’ve estimated it costs around half as much to live here in P.I. if your activities are no different then in your other place. But if you want to travel and see the sights, it’s going to cost you. If you stay longer then a year, it’s going to cost you. If you want luxury, it’s going to cost you. I use Grab, busses and trikes, but to own a car will cost you. We have an electric vehicle for just getting around the neighborhood for minor supplies and visiting family. BTW - Drugs could get you killed! Our Regards to you Mike and Janet.

You're absolutely correct. Me and my wife lived in Cebu for 10 years and I saved enough money and have a pension. If I didn't have that money there is no way I would have went to the Philippines. You really hit on what the Philippines is all about. I

Retired expat from the US living in Thailand. Same advice for here. I have a great life, great GF (soon Wife) and love it here. Great video. Do your planning if you want to live overseas.

Mike, I thought you were going to give me bad news that I didn't already know. Everything was on point. These are things you may want to cover if you're thinking about another video like this. 11. Minimum requirements for getting a driver's license versus hiring a driver. 12. Buying a truck versus renting for the day. 13. Minimum requirements for opening a bank account. 14. Minimum requirements for having high-speed internet. 15. Android versus iPhone, which is better in the Philippines. 16. The language barrier. 17. Building versus renting (buying land) 18. How to prep ( or evac) for Typhoons 19. Power outages and brownouts These are things I should put on my channel but you seem to have a better handle on this than me.

Great video! I specifically like rule number three… If you’ve never been there, don’t just go there. You have to experience it first. I happen to have lived there for two years and just came back recently after being there for two weeks. I still love the people, and I still love the Philippines. I am considering moving back

Hey Mike , Couldn’t agree more with your list . I’ve been married to a Filipina for 18 years and visited a couple times . My wife is from Siquijor . I love the Philippines but I knew it wasn’t for me to live yet . But I do plan on moving in 5 years after my 3 boys finish school and I get closer to retirement . Thanks for sharing .

Hey Mike/Janet, a good compilation of issues that are both broad and can be somewhat personal but needed to be mentioned. I believe getting in the right mindset in terms of "retiring" will initially reduce a lot of the annoyances and anticipations related to time, money, and the stress that we normally experience outside of retirement. It'll be an adjustment for anyone, keeping an open mind, personal accountability, and remaining somewhat nibble while immersing into the local culture is what I look forward to.

You got great advice. I met my filapina on line and came to the philippines and stayed with her and her children in cabuyuo ;laguna visiting for 3 months. Then she came to u s and we were married. She would like for us to be able to visit fron the u s. time to time. She has 4 adult children, and 2 kids. one boy 20, and 1 girl 16. we are still waiting for homeland security to do their interview for living visa in u s. want to keep my house in u s. she has a house she owns in bicol by ocean, but too hot for me. it's ok just to visit. You have helped me with my decisions and plans thank you. Have another american lives there from u s. he says i should retire there. nope, just visit for me. I like the people there. very friendly and have philippino friends. Anyway, you are spot on with your video.

Mike here’s 10 good reasons for anyone wanting to live in the Philippines 🇵🇭 1 ,great weather 2 ,cheaper by far than UK 3 ,Philippino wife 4 ,an abundance of cheap fresh fruits 🍉 and vegetables 🍆 5 ,amazing huge indoor shopping malls 6 ,very friendly people 7 ,affordable hard working staff 8 ,most people speak English 9 ,over 50% of tv in English 10, short travel distances to Thailand 🇹🇭 Malaysia 🇲🇾 Australia 🇦🇺 🤔 enjoy 😎👍🇬🇧

Mike, great as always, very informative. I flunked the quiz!! I got 9 out of ten wrong!! I don't drink... Matter of fact, 30 years and 15 minutes ago I stopped drinking completely an I had my last joint 2 years before that!!!! But I'm a picky eater, but as long as there's pork, chicken, potatoes,corn, I'll be just fine! I don't like sea food 😂. Yes I have heart problems, but I'd rather die living a good, happy life in the Philippines than not being able to afford a bucket to shit in and no toilet paper!!! What life I have left I want to be comfortable and happy!!! Wow I better shut up!!! You know why Janet gets her food sooner..... She's way prettier than you!!!! Hi Janet!!!

Greetings from Europe! None of those reasons are a problem to me! But taking in account all these vloggers talking about the Philipines, Passport Bros, Filipinas who love foreigners, scammers, i guess all that it's been building a socio-cultural mindset appropriate to take advantage of foreigners visiting the Philipines and no one is to be trusted anywhere in that archipelago. I suspect 6 years ago the Philipines could be a great destination for tourism alone, nowadays is a shot in the dark and you'll never know what's falling out from it even as a temporary tourist. Maybe i'm being pessimistic but i already know how humans operate and the last thing a man wants in his last years, is to be taken advantage of and live a life of worries without need, right? Thank you for sharing your experience and advice in your videos, Mr.Mike! I bid you both a happy life and a safe retirement.😉 Cheers from Portugal!🇵🇹

I have no plans to ever live there but a vacatIon sounds nice. The best thing by far about your channel that keeps me coming back is your no BS approach. You guys are likr an on line travel agency that tells thr truth . This is what people need to see.

Good advice. Been there, returning March to be married to a Philippina, a bank officer with PNB. I m planning on remaining there 2-3 months. Then we’re returning to AZ. The details both governments require are tiresome & expensive. We teleconference 2-3 times a day, but there’s always some detail we need to discuss.

I don't have any medical issues at all. Really nothing stopping me, but I just don't want to retire there. I'll probably just go there for a few months in the winter & come back home in the summer. I've paid into social security all my working life. I don't feel like throwing all that $ away & start paying for healthcare again. Just doesn't make any sense to me, but to each their own I guess. Yeah, the whole China/Taiwan/Philippines tensions are worth considering as well.

Excellent video! Keep the good work up providing great common sense advice for frankly moving anywhere abroad.

I'm Impressed......You hit the nail on the head with this video.....Been there 6 winters, married a filipina and live in Canada. Love it in Duma for the winters, but could not live there full time for all the reasons you just mentioned......I'm 80 yrs old and need the health care system now. That was not the case only a few years ago. Dogs barking and roosters prevent me from sleeping, etc,etc.etc.......

SALAMAT ,, agreed with your opinions , liked subscribed looking forward to more . My observation , when you marry in the Philippines your married to her family and church . The country is beautiful the poverty is heartbreaking . Build your home in the province and another in town as a rental . Grow a garden raise chicken's , share with neighbors .. Hope for the best roll with the rest , may God bless . Ps: it's better to be an asset than an ass , meet on the level part on the square Walk humble .

I Hope there will be a follow up video with 10 reasons to live in Philippines no matter what

Spot on, again. I’m happy where I am. The Philippines is a nice place to visit, but I don’t want to live there.

Mike: I do not know how long you have lived in the Philippines, or your experiences prior to doing such, but I completely agree with your summation of living/retiring in the Philippines. As a military member, I lived in the Philippines for three years (and, until just prior to the final base closure in 1992). There is where I met my wife (we have been married for thirty years). While I do not ever see myself returning there for any extended period (i.e. living/retiring there), and as someone who has quite a bit of experience with the filipino people as well as culture, anyone who considers doing such needs to see this video.

I love this video and I really enjoyed the honesty here. What you mentioned here are facts. As a Filipino born and raised in PH, I definitely wouldn't wanna retire here after experiencing living abroad (TP & SG) I can say I love to complain about hearing the neighbours karaoke jams whenever it's someone's birthday, I'm irritated driving the streets of manila seeing vehicles turning without using signals, corrupt traffic staff asking you to pullover without any valid reason on the violation, seeing motorcycle riders without any helmets or head protection, seeing many street kids sniffing solvent or something, street kids grabbing your phone if you leave the car window open, all sorts of mugging or riding in tandem etc., seeing commuters still using cash or coins in 2023 instead of just having an octopus or MRT cards to access all transportation like our modern Asian country neighbors, no MRT/LRT access to airports, all the taxes we contribute we don't feel it's put to modernize the Philippines. Our airport here will definitely not compete against the likes of Changi airport. It's 2023 and I still would prefer living or retiring elsewhere, bro. I'm glad I get to experience living abroad so I can definitely compare the Philippines to other Asian countries

Greetings Mike & Janet, always enjoy watching your channel. Vicky & I will be arriving in Dumaguete this afternoon. We’ll be there through Friday, if possible we’d like to meet with you and Janet. You can let me know if a time works with you two. Thanks

I was in Manila for a year but didn't consider that living in the Philippines it was just like living in a major city definitely looking forward to a slower-paced smaller town in the first thing I'm doing is buying a rooster

I been to the Philippines several times and everything Mike is saying is correct. I am a veteran that received a hefty pension from the government. Because of this l can get my medical treatment from the only VA Medical Facility outside the US. The Philippines is a wonderful place to retire if you are truly ready for different culture change. The weather is extremely hot, they Monsoon seasons where it’s raining a lot, plus they earthquakes and Typhoons. Be mindful and make sure you are prepared for a sudden natural disaster. Yes, it’s true you can meet hundreds of beautiful women to have sex with but at my age l am not looking sex. I like the Philippines because of the cost of living, the many islands to visit, the churches, the people are generally and genuinely friendly to foreigners. Another big reason l like the Philippines is because English is their second language and many veterans from all branches are retired here and have started businesses here. Great networking$ Bottom line, have a well thought out financial plan before retiring here. Enjoy!

Hello sir,sanay na Po kami sa hirap ng buhay.ang mahalaga maging mabuti ka sa kapwa mo.

These are really good facts that not everyone talks about, thank you for putting this important video on your channel!!!

Forget unescessary lifestyle spending such as bars, clubbing, one nightstands, binge drinkings and the likes. Focus on food and accomodation and travel fares. Great advises Mike. You've been here in the Philippines for a long time so you're a knowledgeable certified go to guy of US citizens. 😊👍

Cute you spend so much time with your granddaughter

Love it. Straight up. Be a good representative of your family and home country.

Thanks Mike. You have just given us matter-of-fact, sound, no bullshit advice, which just might save those dreamers out there from making the same mistakes that many others have made before them. As a British man (ignore the handle- my real surname is English ) who is married to a Filipina and has a little spent time there, I can wholly testify to the truth of your words. Philippine people are, on the whole, very nice, but as, Mike says, although the country has embraced a lot of American culture and English is commonly spoken, it is still a 3rd world country and the infrastructure and development lags way behind that of the first world and many other Asian countries, like Japan and Korea. Astonishingly, there is no national railway network, and what they used to have ,was more developed decades ago than it is now. If you like variety in beer, forget it ; it is 'San Miguel' ( which has a monopoly) or ...nothing. The spirit is 'Fundador' , also distilled by 'San Miguel', I believe. I am also sorry to say, that the food doesn't have the same international appeal as Chinese, Indian, Mexican or Italian, but then, that goes for the food of most other countries in the world. Consequently, life-style is generally more 'laid-back' ( 'manyana' ) than your average US / European lifestyle, which can be a source of frustration, if you are highly-strung American/ British/ European man. However, If you can adapt to the differences and have a stable financial and relationship situation, whilst tolerating the 'barking dogs ' etc... and find some kind of purpose for yourself whilst living here ( other than just looking for easy women or drinking yourself into oblivion, like many other expatriates do in a tropical climate ) then I am sure you can find happiness living in the Philippines.

100% agree 👍....Philippines is not a paradise...its just a good vacation place. No social assistance here . Anything you do, you're on your own. People are just naturally kind...but not for a long time, unless you have something to offer them.

They're All Listening Mike and thinking more than 2x. Salamat Po 🇵🇭👍

This is more realistic than most. I am constantly amazed by all the rubes coming to the P.I. with $800/mo SSA and no savings to speak of. I was in Manila for three years in the 80s as an Econ Officer with the US Embassy. Life was pretty easy with the Embassy and DOD infrastructure behind you. But it was still frustrating for the reasons you mentioned. I was happy to leave for Chiang Mai. We enjoyed that 100% more than the P.I. despite facing some of the same issues. Anyway good job.