Think Twice! The Surprising Changes Affecting Retirees in the Philippines Today...

[@anthonymason385]

I think the number one mistake Financially the average guy makes is selling his home in the west and using the cash to buy a home abroad in some girls name or even his name if an apartment. This is super common in Thailand and the Philippines. This is a huge mistake. Hold on to your property in the west and rent it. Use 25% of that rent to rent a place abroad. Advantages. 1. You can walk away if a situation goes sour. 2. You have leverage over whatever random girl or guy you're dating. 3. You can go home to the west if you want to even 20 years later. 4 You can move about very easily even between countries. 5 Your income is boosted long term. 6. You are independent and have long-term income. Not just a huge chunk of cash that is eliminated by inflation and day to day expenses. 7 Whomever you're in a relationship with will try to control you for their advantage, not your advantage. Don't take financial advice from people who are always broke.

[@AsianRomance]

I totally agree on every point. It is very rational! -Nils

[@dksharron]

I tell people in Thailand the very same thing. Do not sell your property back home, unless all of the money will be invested in the markets or otherwise in their home country, and never, ever buy a home on this side of the Pacirfic.

[@AsianRomance]

@@dksharron Very smart advice! Rent only!!!! Same with a romantic partner. Rent only i.e. no marriage.

[@anthonymason385]

Unfortunately, love/lust is blind and a guys girlfriend turns on the waterworks and withdraws attention. A guy who isn't acclimatised to girls' shenanigans gives in and buys a property with a bunch of lives in the moment, broke people.

[@dksharron]

When you can learn to read and write the language, be it in The Philippines, Thiland, Cambodia, Vietnam or other, and get residency, then you can consider buying a condo.

[@paulsasianadventure8050]

Good to see you vlogging again.

[@AsianRomance]

Yeah thanks

[@Neal_only1]

Instead of looking for what you can get out of coming to the Philippines, try looking at what you can offer the Philippines and your stress may be less.❤

[@sergeant64]

The biggest problem for retirees in Asia *is alcohol.* Many quickly become boozers. You loose the discipline you needs to survive. And as pointed out, any business should focus on your home country. It can be selling product made in PH on Amazon FBA etc etc

[@gregwil694]

Great attitude! Ask not what the Philippines can do for you, ask what you can do for the Philippines.

[@AsianRomance]

Are there any products made in PI that could be sold on Amazon?

[@dksharron]

@@gregwil694 I bow my head to you.

[@RCFSULAW]

​@@AsianRomanceThis is a huge problem as the government makes money or of Lazada and Shopee with a Value Added Tax. However they are allowing purchasing off of Amazon online and do tax the item with the VAT. But I have not seen the sale outgoing reciprocated which I believe is a government revenue issue.

[@dksharron]

WOW !! You have been staying busy on youtube lately. New content back to back to back.

[@AsianRomance]

Yes, do you like the content?

[@dksharron]

@@AsianRomance Yes, very beneficial to those looking to come out here to stay.

[@HemiChrysler]

Yes, he's truly amazing, an unique blend of intelligence, experience, guile, and passion.

[@AsianRomance]

haha, I wish my girlfriend would say the same! (joke)

[@AsianRomance]

I appreciate your positive feedback, it means a lot!

[@Neal_only1]

It is not near as bad as it use to be at Manila Airport NAIA, back in 1993 when i first came to the Philippines it was at that time really kind of scary the first time being eyeballed by hundreds of people just across the road behind metal barriers from the main entrance. And the economy has had a lot to do with that past situation as well with improvements.😊

[@Neal_only1]

There is also talk of putting up a hospital in Aseana City near The Okada and Moa that is associated with St Lukes in BGC

[@Neal_only1]

Landmark, S&R, Hyper Market, Pure Gold, Robinsons, and AllDay Vista Markets, are all upper class full markets around.

[@Neal_only1]

Oh and Landers is another one❤

[@Neal_only1]

I agree with Nils that if what you can't find where PEA is, in Makati, BGC, and Alabang you can find it all if that is what you want.

[@AsianRomance]

Exactly!

[@BarnabyBarry]

For me, I listen to all you guys and always learn something -however the most realistic ones are Big Steven and Calvin (Big Mike but he never talks about her?)since they were married to a Filipina in the 🇺🇸and (myself) too and we divorced them?

[@AsianRomance]

FYI, I was also married to a Filipina in the USA and divorced.

[@AsianRomance]

Do you have their channel names? Big Steven and Calvin (Big Mike )

[@Lex-rt7vd]

Hi Nils, @40:35 i think you are referring to that guy that built a custom home worth several hundred million pesos near Duma. In that same video towards the end he says he wants to move back to the USA for the sake of his young twin daughters and the house is for sale. He would have been better off buying one complete floor in a nice condo building in Makati, BGC, or Rockwell and then sending his daughters to an international school.

[@AsianRomance]

Yes, you are 100% correct. I agree with your suggestion!

[@mickie2412]

You do know that philippines is not just makati, Manilla🤔😳

[@AsianRomance]

For me I have found happiness in Makati. I would not live anywhere else. hehe

[@rocketmangenesis]

@@AsianRomance Why not Cebu? Cebu is nice.

[@Neal_only1]

Which would you rather have, the United States or the Philippines?? Myself i choose the Philippines so that the people and their culture outweighs anything offered for me in the United States. And politics is easy, because in the Philippines for non citizens is no issue, no stress unlike in the United States.😮😅😂❤❤❤🎉

[@NoMortgageNomad]

I loving these reaction videos and the fact that you are posting videos on a regular basis is great as well. Keep up the good work Nils!! I am learning a lot from the information you are putting out. Among other points made in the video, I like the suggestion to get an apartment where the windows aren't facing the sun. That has to help with the electricity costs. About how much is your electric bill each month? Thanks. --Gary

[@AsianRomance]

Thank you so much for your support, Gary! I'm glad you're enjoying the videos and finding the information helpful. My electric bill is about P1300 per month - i.e. $23/month.

[@HemiChrysler]

Brother Nils, I have spent most of my life in small towns. Conversely, and thanks to small town experience, I certainly want to live in a major city with amenities and attractions. I choose Phnom Penh.

[@AsianRomance]

Thanks for sharing

[@FlyRich72]

Me and my friends our first trip to Philippines in spring 2010 stayed in the province in Cebu. The water did go out for the whole area. Had to buy 10 gallon water to make it through about 2 days.. Its the first and last I ever did long stay in a provincial area. I am used to big cities so masses don't bother me. Some want a more rural area but I prefer big city.

[@AsianRomance]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Rob-bq6ek]

Who's the dancing girl in your videos?

[@AsianRomance]

Girlfriend, Miss C.

[@MrSuperohhlala]

Most people that have money would never choose to live there. The only real benefit is that many young women will go with any old man for a happy meal - yes, you're special and she loves you. 🤣 Going there and expecting to find work or make a business is ignorant and just plain foolish. If you plan to keep a girllie around that should be figured into the budget - that's a no-brainer...no money no honey. There's so many better places to live, going there for a short trip to get jiggy is okay if you're a cheap bastard, but tha's where it ends imo. Also, Niles, your answer to everything is live in Makati, not everyone wants to live in a massive polluted city and be stuck in a bubble.

[@AsianRomance]

Yeah, makes sense. I am not rich by Western standards so the Philippines is a good alternative for me. We have good weather, friendly people, and reasonable living costs. The living cost and having a dating life as a retired person in the US is unsustainable - on SS income.

[@samiam8114]

Split aircon is not nearly as common in the PI compared to Thailand/Vietnam, including Makati.

[@AsianRomance]

Sad, but true!

[@silverfox2957]

It's crazy to move to a country you have never been in, I think maybe a lot of foreigner's who move to the Philippines 🇵🇭 before they visit have been watching KZbin channel's that sugar coat telling everyone how perfect the place is and how great their life is now without mentioning the down side, Look how there's so many foreigner's in Dumaguete i think its because there's so many KZbin channels talking about Dumaguete. Everyone's experience will be different its not for everyone. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@stevetravels6160]

A divorce, or break up will solve your anxiety.. Anti anxiety meds help as well. A relationship should never be consistently stressful.!! Been there,done that.

[@AsianRomance]

Yes, true love should enable us guys to work harder and be more peaceful.

[@seo8938]

OK OK, you're in Makati - the most developed, international, and expensive place in the whole Philippines. And you like it. Pea is in Dumaguete and she's speaking to the average Western Joe who's looking for some ocean, relaxation, cheap living, escape from the Western world. That's what she knows best and this is a good video by her (vs. some of her others, as we've discussed). She's not talking about Makati and most guys don't have Makati in mind when they move the Phils. Enjoy your life there, Nils. I think like you do on many things, but the commentary here is off-base for all but a small percentage of her viewers.

[@AsianRomance]

Very good point. Thanks for mentioning this! -Nils

[@paulthurson]

the whole 'don't try to change the philippines' thing applies to any country in the world an expat may find themselves. .. ACCEPTANCE is the key to contentment .. you will ALWAYS lose trying to change another culture's ways to fit what you're comfortable with .. nor should you 'win'

[@AsianRomance]

Very true, but hard to do... hehe

[@paulthurson]

@AsianRomance yes it is .. ive had my moments too lol but patience can be cultivated and as a 20 year expat i simply realize that it's a battle you can never win

[@paulstubbs3780]

Pea knows best

[@gregwil694]

She raises a good point about noise in 99% of the Philippines. Made me laugh when you disagreed. Note she is talking about many places in the country. Not once did she mention Makati. Great to hear the difference in Makati but if you're going to go over these vloggers, you ought to dicern where they are talking about.

[@AsianRomance]

Yeah, she must be talking about rural province life. Rural life can be tough. I am glad I do not live there! hehe

[@caesarillion]

I see you are back, Sir. Living in Phill now? Be careful. My Social Security is low at 894 per month. So got a studio in a cheap development. I attract the poor single girls around here and they can be troublesome. My survival is fine but the outsiders can be looters and won't open enough so you can help them intelligently. Thais like to be proud and secretive but still no problem asking for handouts. Recently a good girlfriend of mine was beat up by her Yaba friend. She did not survive his punch to her liver. I am sorry I did not discourage her more from having anything to do with that stuff, but she seemed pretty stubborn anyway. Thais can be overly proud about just being Thai. Thanks, Thailand Paul

[@AsianRomance]

Yes, living in PI. I try to be careful and Philippines is a poor country.

[@dksharron]

You hit paydirt with this video. Forty-six comments in less than 24 hours.

[@AsianRomance]

Yeah, looks like people like this topic? haha

[@HemiChrysler]

Why does she speak with such a strange delivery ? Is she laughing at everything she is saying ?

[@AsianRomance]

She is probably reading off a script?

[@schrodingerscat3912]

your gf lost 4 phones? something seems off about that

[@AsianRomance]

Yes, I had the same thought. Here are descriptions of the 4 phones and robberies: Phone 1: robbed when going to shopping market and the phone was crushed when thief threw the phone in front of a car. P3500 loss Phone 2: Robbed by ex-BF when he became angry for still dating me. The phone screen cracked when thrown on the ground, but still repairable. P2000 loss. Phone 3: Robbed in the daytime from a motorbike when walking down the street waving the phone around and talking on the phone. I communicated with the robber and bought the phone back at 1/2 price in a secret meeting. The SIM card was intact, and friend lists and WhatsApp chats were important for the owner of the phone. P3000 loss Phone 4: Recent phone robbery by ex-BF in a public market (about 1 week ago). Note: ex-BF claims he was not there nor did not do anything bad. He could be lying, since robbery is a crime. I can't confirm or deny this claim, but as usual, I offered to buy a used inexpensive phone. Loss about P2000 - for used OPPO a57. Lesson learned: do not meet ex-BF for any reason, even if just trying to be nice and move on.

[@HemiChrysler]

​@@AsianRomanceI would be very unhappy if my girlfriend met an ex-boyfriend in anything other than a chance encounter. Even then, any conversation should be brief, with no further contact arranged.

[@paulthurson]

sheesh sounds like a major hassle when you need new light bulbs.. especially if you're not an engineer lol .. couldn't you just take the old light bulb to the hardware store and ask them if they have the same bulbs??? and just go back home and screw the new bulbs in yourself

[@AsianRomance]

Yes, that is what smart people do. I installed new light shades that were hanging from the ceiling. A little more work than just a simple change of light bulb.

[@paulthurson]

i see Nils ok .. it was confusing between what you were talking about and what Pea was talking about.

[@AsianRomance]

Sorry...

[@VENEMPASTOR]

These people think they're entitled to foreigner's money and how dare you not willing to give it to them.

[@AsianRomance]

haha

[@rocketmangenesis]

$1200 budget? Lol! What is the USD falls back to 1USD/30php or 1USD/20PHP again? Then you will be broke. Also, with inflation over a 20-year period, where are you going to live with that measly $1200 USD, in a shack? I think you need about $4000 per month budget as a foreigner with a family in the Philippines as a buffer. And it must increase over time as inflation erodes away money. If you cannot achieve that, say sayanora to your dream abroad in the Philippines. If you cannot achieve that, then there are even poorer countries you can go to for $1200 per month.

[@AsianRomance]

Yeah, there are many doomsday situations that could happen. We can prepare for some of them but not all.

[@ivananderson141]

Guys pea has built a house on your simp money and lives a easy life while we work ourselves to death unsubscribe from her channel let her get a real job like the rest of us.

[@AsianRomance]

How do you reach such a conclusion!?

[@GeecheeLionsJourney]

​@AsianRomance he's right about the house though