BIG MISTAKES FOREIGNERS MAKE WHEN COMING TO THE PHILIPPINES 

Mike kind of conflicting advice on finding a home…get a hotel and take your time but carry a wad of cash to put your money down immediately so you don’t lose a place.

The real charm and appeal of the Philippines for me is the fact that everything IS slower and less developped. 💖👍

Been watching videos 5 years coming next month heard it 100 times SLOW DOWN good job Mike

I would add one thing more. Come for a reconnaissance trip just to get a feel for the place. It is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make, so why not do the background work so you know you will have a good chance of success? There are things that are unique to you that no one tells you or things that may be an issue for you that are not for the presenter. No one is the same and hence, we have different needs and desires.

Weird comment, but I listened to five videos on youtube today and I could barely hear them. Your audio is really perfect. You guys have it figured out and your videos are always great.

Useful, practical content even for a Philippine born person like me .

Very good video Everything very well put together very good information thank you for very good advice

Hello Mike from Cebu City. Finally made here. I arrived three days ago and I am really enjoying my time here seeing the sights and enjoying the awesome food and taking your advice, "Slowdown" Thank you and Janet. Rudy G.

Note on hot water and dipper showers. 1 tea kettle of hot water makes a washtub of water warm lol

Always listen to Mike he has best advice for Us going to Philippines. I'm in the process of moving to Philippines for last months I been doing what Mike teaches us Glad I watched and listened if I have questions I ask. Guys do what he's telling you trust him . Thanks Mike and Janet for all your information you give us

Thanks!

good points Mike, thanks

Good information.

Great advise. Enjoyed all you shared.

Hoody from west Texas Yes we need to review you earlier videos Mike you explain all that . Thank you for the reminder. Good context.

Good info Mike 👍

Great info Mike, thanks!

very informative video, thank you.

Sound advice, thanx Mike !

Great tips Mike!

Very good informative and well advise/tips. Thanks

Great video!

Good advice video.

Great advice Mike lovely video, must say the adds there inserting in are top class adds , hope your getting the finiacal reward from it.5 adds this video cheers jenny

Mike, you just keep giving us great advice. 👍 😊😊

Great video Mike.

You are really great at explaining things Mike... Thanks for all of your advice over the past year.. Nheng and I hope visit Duma again in late April... I want to check out the Dauin area as a possible hide out...

Hi MIKE , RESPECT BRINGS RESPECT, TY GOD BLESS CIAO

I commend you on this video. I bear witness that what youve said is true.

Yes traffic in Manila is horrendous at some times 4 hours to get home only 30 KLM .

You are so right when you say that we have to "think in Peso". When I first came to the Philippines I found everything cheap, but my then wife pointed out to me: "You're not in Belgium! Here this is expensive!" It must have been around that time that I started thinking in Peso. If I ever live there, I'm going to have my budget in Peso and forget about Euro.

Mike is right with that stuff about far out in the province i'm about an hour from san carlos. When i first got here no hot water or anything. Please ladies and gentlemen when you decide to come just take your time that's the one of the main things mike says take your time. I am ok because i was planning to remodel. We don't have rent so i figured to remodel. You can remodel here with labor costs around $10/day. Thanks for the post Mike...

Very well said Mike. Thanks for another clear and informative video. Common sense rules again.

Mike, great advice! I have to say the one that I am particularly taking heed to is get out of that “dollar mentality.” I just flew in to Cebu at midnight. A little disappointing that I didn’t get to see the beauty flying in because of the dark. But the benefit of coming in at that time of night is there is absolutely no traffic Made it to the hotel in five minutes. The grab ride was only 136 pesos. I gave the guy 200 pesos. I almost thought about adding 50 to it. So yes, thanks for the advice. I will be tightening that up for my remaining 10 days.

I hope that some will really head your advise and suggestions.

Sage advice Mike. You are indeed a wealth of knowledge. I sent to a text hoping to set up a time we can talk one on one via telephone.Could you let me know please?

I took your advice and some other vloggers in the Philippines about filing for Social Security before you retire abroad if you are able to get it. Just started receiving my SS and within two months, I will be living somewhere in Southeast Asia. I have spent time in Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand. Can't thank you enough for the PRICELESS advice that you and a few other vloggers in the Philippines gave out about the importance of filing and receiving your pension money before you move abroad. THANKS!!!! 💯💯💯💯

Great attitude bro. From cold NZ

Some excellent advice Mike. In the many trips I've made to the Philippines, I learn something every time. My last trip in 2020 was to have a good email. I use Proton email for tha now. This trip, maybe not a mistake but didn't put my website passwords on my laptop because some sites recognize being in another country and log out and ask you to sign back in. The other is exchanging money. Some of the popular places frequented by foreigners give terrible rates. We talked to BPI bank as our friend here uses that bank and if we had an account there we could of exchanged our cash. The employee did recommend an exchange place with a very good rate. Best we've seen for the Canadian dollar. Thanks for another informative video.

I Like your channel mike🌷❤️👍👍🙏🙏🙏

You Sir are 100% correct ! Think in Peso and Not in US Dollar is Excellent advice ! I discovered this on my own many years ago. I wish I would have had you to teach me this a long time ago. Another topic that you covered was having your girlfriend pay the bill and do all the tipping. That is excellent advice also. Just make sure your girlfriend is Not Padding the bill and refund her later. I always wait till the bill comes to the table and I see the amount. At that point I get up quickly and walk away and let her finish the transaction ❤ Immediately when we walk away from that place of business I refund her money ! 😂

Howdy from West Texas

All good advice I have made my final move yet, but I have covered most of these things. The longest I’ve stayed leading up till now is 1 month and I realize what you mean about dollar mentality I still find myself always converting peso into dollars and thinking what a bargain. My good friend in Subic tells me the same thing. Hard to get out of that when a margarita is 150 php $2.80 instead of $9.99😂

When I retired in January 2022, my retirement pension was "processed." I retired from a government position. I was supposed to initially get 80% of my pension until numbers finalized. My first check was 25% instead of 80%. It took them 11.5 months to make things right. Thank goodness I had a good savings to get me through. But now I'm paying myself back still. Yes, our illustrious government and their efficiency. 😂 But my SS was just approved on February 14th with the first check in May. St. George Utah housing and rental pricing have sky rocketed.

Great content Mike! The only thing I would add is... Take advantage of the Balikbayan process (if you can). If you have someone here or a place then I would ship all the items that are expensive or hard to get here. Yes you can get Amazon here but it costs more with all the import fees.

🏴‍☠️ALWAYS GREAT INFORMATION 🏴‍☠️

I'm coming to the Philippines in 2 weeks. Took a lot of your advice. Had only USAA so also opened an Navy Fed bank account just incase I need to wait for a new card also got a wise account to move money around. Also my Long-term Girlfriend went around in the end Jan and found us a nice 1 bedroom and 1 bath house with walls and gate and the home owner put bars on windows for us no cost to us. I sent her the deposit and first month so she could get the place we wanted right away. She also video chatted each house so we both could decide the best place for use also 6 month lease so we can decide if we like it there.

My recent video, I briefly referred to your advice… #1 make sure your phone works #2 make sure you can get your money from your home bank, to here!

So, so true Mike even for Australia. At present there is 72 day delay in EXPECTED approval of pension. They say over last 6 months they have employed +3000 more workers to try and reduce backlog. STAY HOME until pension in hand for a few payments.

Good Video and i am from Switzerland 😅😊

Mike you are spot on about everything you say. it blows my mind how some dudes go the Phils thinkin they are livin the dream baby😂🕺

Mike, well said. Good advice. Reminds me in 1954 shipped to Korea-Japan. We were all 17 years old plus. B surprised how many put papers in to get married. Lust lust lol. If ever have chance to see movie Sayonara. Marlon Brando says it all. Take care, enjoy life.

Nice video. To the point of money when you arrive. I would say you should have at least $15,000 in your American bank. You should have both an ATM card and a credit card. You can get cash advances from ATM's with your credit card. I can get P30,000 a day. You can also open a dollar account at a local bank. I recommend BPI. I lived in the Philippines when I turned 62 and had no problem getting social security at the US embassy in Manila. They deposit in my American bank account. My three kids also get social security and in total they get more than me. The have it deposited it into BPI dollar accounts. I never had any problem finding apartments or houses for rent. There are signs all over the place. You don't need a real estate agent. I recommend not eating out at restaurants. Their mainly expat run and they can't cook any better than me. I recommend staying in Angeles City because that's where the most bars and expats are. Definitely don't get a girlfriend or a wife. Boring?

Good video lots of sound advice. I know I made a few of those mistakes. One thing I wish I did not do is purchase a motor scooter. Should have rented for 6 months or more. Not sure Dumaguete is where I want to live. Now I have the inconvenience of the bike if I move to another island. Yeah I could sell the bike just an inconvenience.

Thanks for the advice about 'Thinking in Pesos' never thought about that and that is great advice. The advice of having your Social Security being properly deposited in your account in the Philippines, before you move there, is great advice too. Which means visiting ahead of time and getting a local bank account set up for your monthly deposit. About tipping, yes its true that tipping is not required in the Philippines, and yes my filipina wife has gotten mad at me a few times for tipping so generously. Have almost always gotten good service in the Philippines and generally tip between 50 and 100+ pesos for trike rides or taxis, if you can afford to give that much it generally makes the driver very happy, and that amount of money can really make a difference in their lives. Nice video Mike, keep up the good work....Jim

As long as the rent is less than my current SoCal rent of $3,100 and electric is less than $350, I’ll be fine.

I think two months is not enough, more months is better and don't hurry! make slowly but surely :) ... if you ever make a mistakes ...you can learn from it.Move on .

I think the toughest adjustment for me will be the slow pace. One of my biggest pet peeves is people being inefficient and not being where they agreed to be at the time they agreed to be there. I understand the Phils is different and that’s just what it is but being retired military, it’s ingrained in my soul that if you aren’t ten minutes early, you’re late.

I have lived here 14 years now and only think in pesos. The only time I refer to my old currency is when I am transferring money.

Michael, xlnt content. You are becoming quite the elder statesman. Respect. Send $$$ or Lechon, I'm not picky😁 (tips are appreciated)

Mike, i know you wished it were a seamless move from working to retirement in the Philippines but the bug messed things up, but I'd like to hear about your last months of work getting ready to transition. I'm sitting here in a budget motel next to the airport in Seattle which is typical cold damp overcast etc waiting to go to the Philippines via Guam or Okinawa on contract air. Walking a short distance down the street is a Dennys where senior menu items are about 10 bucks and full fare items are 15 to 18 bucks and drinks are extra.

Mike just to inform you I went to South Point yesterday and lost $100 and then went to IN- OUT and got a double cheeseburger fries and soda. It wasn't good it was GGREAT,

Great video Mike ! I wonder if it's affordable for a single guy to just rent a Air bnb monthly. Much easier to pack up and leave if you want to.

im minimalist i dont mind showring with a bucket or number 2 behind a tree.

Nothing beats LA traffic. It often takes 5 hours to drive 100 miles up the 5 to get to the Hollywood Bowl for a concert.

Don't rely on a pension or on social security. It's quite simple. I came here having bought property, with a load of cash in the bank as well as with a business. If you are not prepared, you shouldn't be out unassisted.

About food, I was in Davao recently, went to see my pinays cousin who owns a food stall, one of many in the night market...I fed 4 people with really good filipino food including char grilled fresh tuna steaks with all the rice you needed...700 pesos...gave her 1000 ...Such wonderful people ps...could barely move after eating and I had minimal rice hahaha

I understand that they limit you to $10,000. to bring into the country. How much should you be carrying around to have enough for all of the up front costs? And where can you deposit your excess while you wait for clearance to open a bank account?

❤😇

Always great advice brother. Good morning from Florida. Do any of these landlords take American dollars or should everything be converted into peso? I have to go back and look at some of your previous videos, but am I correct on saying that you’re monthly expenses were $1700 a month all inclusive

I'm setting up with the bank in queens ny 1 for social security pension thats a Philippines bank

I feel in love with the 1st girl I meet and the last one,

Hi Mike again yes she has whats called a Gmelia tree very good for building a house.so many trees she has on 2 hectres of land. You know im 79 very fit for my age. High risk you said well a risk i will take. I know her inside out her family too.she told me wr could build a house for 100000 pesos about 1700 euros.well i have savings as eell as my pension.just one thing we all die eventually right

Mike new subscriber from California been there a couple of times question please how to carry my cash through customs im always in fear with my cash through customs

as i look at my finances they keep improving, but instead of thinking i'll have more money in the phils, im thinking things like, well, i should buy really good health insurance, and I should have a nice chunk put away for my filipina since i'll probably die 15-20 years before her. I might put a new roof on her parent's house... I think i'm going to live pretty cheap but I should be able to keep everything stable and be confident, that's my goal. thanks for the vid. very nice.

If a man has $1000 a month to live, they need to move to central america and forget about the philippines,,, to far away from home. The safe haven is to be able to fly back to the US in case of any life issues. Central America has many countries to live that is cheaper than the philippines. If they really need to live in SE Asia, there are other countries that is cheaper than the philippines, like Vietnam or Thailand, or Cambodia which you get more for your money and are very nice places to live your last chapter in your life. Start up costs at bare minimum is 5k. You will need rental deposits, transportation ie; scooter or trike, taxi to get around. and you will find many unforeseen issues. Good luck!!!

Hi Mike. You are certainly right about many things. People often make rash decisions that they later regret. However, I would disagree with you about the cost of living. If you want to live in Dumaguete or Cebu or, for that matter, Manila, it's your own fault. To put it bluntly. You inevitably pay more in places that are visited by many foreigners. I live just outside Davao, very close to the airport. From there to the center it's a few kilometers. But I pay here just half of what I have to pay in the center. That's about a quarter of what I would have to pay in Germany. With more comfort (pool, aircon, etc.). Since there are hardly any foreigners in this part of the city, the prices for food are still very low. Of course, if you want French cheese or German bratwurst, you pay three times as much. I don't need any of this. Adobo, Sinigang etc. taste good and are inexpensive. And those who cook themselves have a clear advantage. I've never understood what's so bad about a slightly simpler life. I live a healthy life, am balanced and take a lot of time when choosing my friends or choosing a girlfriend. Good luck and health to both of you. George

You kind advice and wisdom is respected. Thank You. In any country instant gratification doesn't exist for one whom seeks real love and desires to marry. Question .... If one lives on a medium yacht.... is it tourist trap expensive to dock there ???😮

It is not just the Philippines, but it is worldwide., everything has gone up!...and it is going to get worst and possibly not going to get better. in our lifetime.

St George Utah the Gay roller rink that was started by the Cruise ship guy

Hello Mike, I'm a long time viewer, first time commenter. I'm surprised you didn't talk about health insurance and opting into the Philippines national health service. Not having adequate health insurance and access to health care when you really need it is -by far, the biggest mistake you could make. A mistake you could pay for with your life. I have wanted to move to the Philippines from Canada for years and escape the long, cold, northern winters and finally get to live someplace sunny and warm with beautiful palm lined beaches. I'll tell you, one health crisis can end your Philippine retirement real quick if you're living on a pension and don't have adequate health insurance and have to spend what little you have on an urgent flight back to your home country for medical treatment there. That's if you have time to fly back. In an emergency, a heart attack, a stroke, you have to get to the hospital immediately and pay whatever it costs. Don't be caught in the Philippines without adequate health insurance. You DO NOT want to have to have to figure out the Philippino health system and have to arrange for payment from your hospital bed. Have all that lined up before you leave or at least as soon as you arrive. If something major happens you'll be in a very comprimised state of health. If it's something major like a heart attack or stroke happens, where you might have had to have had surgery, DO NOT count on being able to think straight. If you need an operation, you'll have so many drugs pumped in you, you won't be able to think straight for days, maybe weeks. Your vision or hearing may be impaired. You may not be able to walk -at least not right away. You may have even have difficulty breathing. You have to be prepared for an emergency before it ever happens. If you wait until you are actually in an emergency to start preparing, your options may be very limited. You may have no options. The biggest mistake you can make in your Philippine retirement is not having adequate health insurance. Something that covers critical illness, a major operation, a prolonged hospital stay, cost of drugs, physiotherapy and most of all -nursing. (Thank God for all the Philippino nurses.) Might be a good topic for an upcomming video. Keep up the good work.

Wow, it is his locus of responsibility to have the contact info for his pension, insane how someone can show up in another country and not have the income factor sorted, wow. Also, a man should have minimum of 6 months of expenses in hand. I would say even 9 months in hand, all expenses rent, phone, drinking and play $$ figure out what that figure is and have at lest -6-9 months available. Just prudent.

The more that I learn about the Philippines, the more turned away I become. Yikes

I made that mistake of not waiting til my first SS check was deposited before I moved to Baguio City up north. Luckily it was deposited ok but i remember i was nervous until it was received. My soon to be wife had an apartment ready for us and I have absolutely no regrets save one. I wish i had brought more pocket money when i came. Luckily Mike it all worked out. Also luckily i adapted to the Philippine way of life easily. I never took it in consideration that i may not like it. Risky.

Good advice Mike. It seems a lot of guys plan to come there with no savings and just live off social security. Who knows what the future of social security will be.👍🏽🏝🇵🇭

Here's my expenses: 1. Rent.... $1,000/mo 2. Electricity.... $150 3. Internet/phone.... $50 Transportation and food... $1,000 Entertainment (Starbucks, bars, etc)... $500 = $2,700 There are some other items: Health insurance, gym membership at Anytime, etc... maybe $200 I bring in almost 10k per month and have a hard time spending more than 3k. It's still quite cheap here compared to the US, Canada, Australia or Europe

PLAN AHEAD. This is PART of my Planning for November Arrival in Cebu City: Banking/ Pensions: I'm retiring August 9th. My first Pension Deposit [prorated] will be August 30. That is going into Account #2. At the same time I'll get my last Paycheck, hitting Account #1. Because my last Check will be for Seven Work & 46 Vacation Days... I'm not starting Social Security until October. [September would potentially be an overpayment.] October 24, Social Security will go into Account #3. Account #1 will be left with Emergency Funds I can access from a Remittance Service. Both Accounts #2 & #3 have either no Foreign Exchange or Transaction Fees, or Refundable Fees. ATMs: Get a WISE Card in the US. Preload it with Pesos equal to what you will be carrying. US Banks can get Philippine Peso for you. Currency Exchanges are in most Major US Cities & can be dealt with online to order currency.

in Ohio i can have breakfast and dinner all week at home for $15. i almost gave up on restaurants , high prices low quality

If you bring a large sum of Money ( 10K ) where can you safely keep it until you can open a Bank account ? Great Video.

Mike, good job. I have few responses. Always remember that if your with a Filipina forget ( in public) about being the leader. Allow her to buy, find lodging, and guide you through how things work. In the neighbor hood where we first rented, it took like 2 days for the news of my arrival to get around. It was all good, but gossip about you and her will happen when you first arrive. Plus i let my Wife do the ATM with me standing guard. Be assured she will know how to use it. Also i opened 3 accounts at my USA local bank. Then you have 3 debit cards. Only take 1 with you. If it gets stolen or eaten by machine. Your banks app allows you to switch money back and forth. I was recently divorced when i came to Caloocan, i had forgotten to change my SS address from house my wife got with Divorce. SS will send mail to old address, my X wife was so kind to send the Mail back to SS my account got locked. But, luckily i was in Texas when it happened. Thanks maybe this can help someone.

Would be a good con: message a couple hundred people claiming your check hasn’t arrived yet. Could I borrow a couple hundred bucks til it comes in?

Who would not love Dramaghetti?

I would never leave the US, even for just a week, and not have $3000 in a money-belt, cash, as well as as much more scattered among at least 3 banks,, each of which I had an ATM card for, each of which I'd notified, in writing, via certified return receipt letter, that I was going to whatever country I was going to. If i was going to stay more than a week, I'd double that amount and if I was figuring on staying abroad, I'd triple it, along with assuring that my monthly income went to those banks.

Hey Mike what USA 🇺🇸 bank is in the Philippines 🇵🇭 Bank 🏦 of America 🇺🇸????????

#3 Moving sight unseen to your online "girlfriends" Barangay in the Province nearby her family. OMG!

when I was in Manila, spring of 2015, they would not let you open a bank account there until you'd been there for 6 months. Better line up some of your money in the hands of friends-relatives, 1-2k each, that you can trust to send it to you, via W. union, in case you need it and the banks are messed up, etc.. Try not to use your second month's back up money. Use the regular monthly income that you THINK you have set up. If that "set up" money does not arrive, you can use the second month's money that you have in your bank accounts./money belt. If that monthly income has not arrived by day 60, get on a plane back home and fix the money situation. Do NOT be broke in the third world, folks. It's way too easy to end up in prison, or clubbed-knifed and left for dead.

Hello sir, I’m coming to the Philippines in December 2024 and January 2025 for a vacation. I plan on staying for about a month. I’ve been living in Mexico for the past few years, so I understand how slow things can move. When I watch videos about the Philippines it sounds similar to Mexico in a lot of ways. So if I’m going to stay for about a month (I understand a visa is good for 30 days.) should I stay in a hotel, an Airbnb, or rent a condo short term? I will fly into Manila. Should I plan on traveling around to different cities and islands, or will I find enough to explore while staying in Manila.

What’s the best way to transfer money to the Philippines once moved there ?

Myself im planning on 1500 a month what do you think is it reasonable

This goes into my Expat Information Playlist. Also I don't think I'd bring a Chick at my Place for a Long time. One place to rest my Eyes, the other is to get social!