The world's most affordable places to retire

[Calypso 464]

Philippines is so close to a civil war, or a military coup, that would keep me from retiring there, However, they are some nice places that have yet to be ruined by the tourist trade.

My husband knows that I am reluctant to completely move back to the PH. If it were up to him, we'd be moving there in a few years. I can't see myself staying in the PH for more than three months at a time. Besides, that's not the place where I want us to raise children (we want a few). Government officials are sucking the country dry while they have properties overseas where they can live free after their fraudulent activities are uncovered. Also, most Filipinos don't hesitate to burn plastic and discarded tires of vehicles everywhere. Safe drinking water is an issue and so are proper sewage systems. Ignorance is hard to cure.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

My husband knows that I am reluctant to completely move back to the PH. If it were up to him, we'd be moving there in a few years. I can't see myself staying in the PH for more than three months at a time. Besides, that's not the place where I want us to raise children (we want a few). Government officials are sucking the country dry while they have properties overseas where they can live free after their fraudulent activities are uncovered. Also, most Filipinos don't hesitate to burn plastic and discarded tires of vehicles everywhere. Safe drinking water is an issue and so are proper sewage systems. Ignorance is hard to cure.

That too. I didn't venture that far from Metro Manila. I would hate to think the whole country is that polluted. But I do know there are some nice spots, Puerto Gallera in Oriental Mindoro for one, My friend built a beautiful place there I hope to visit some day.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

That too. I didn't venture that far from Metro Manila. I would hate to think the whole country is that polluted. But I do know there are some nice spots, Puerto Gallera in Oriental Mindoro for one, My friend built a beautiful place there I hope to visit some day.

I wonder. We are in Off Topic discussing the Philippines which has a topic forum. So are we technically off topic in off topic ?

Now that's Deeep MAN!

[Karee 4,191]

Looks like the Dollar is finally getting stronger again since interest rates here are going to rise soon.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Looks like the Dollar is finally getting stronger again since interest rates here are going to rise soon.

cool I have an Ex-Wife who has a variable rate HE loan. As part of divorce degree I had to pay 30% of it. I paid cash and she blew the money. Rate has been around 3% and payment around 400.

I hope rates go back up around 7. Just interest would approach 900 +/-

Poetic justice.. I know its wrong, but I am ashamed to say I would so enjoy it.. No only that some 6 or 7 % CD rates would be cool if interest really got up there.

[Karee 4,191]

cool I have an Ex-Wife who has a variable rate HE loan. As part of divorce degree I had to pay 30% of it. I paid cash and she blew the money. Rate has been around 3% and payment around 400.

I hope rates go back up around 7. Just interest would approach 900 +/-

Poetic justice.. I know its wrong, but I am ashamed to say I would so enjoy it.. No only that some 6 or 7 % CD rates would be cool if interest really got up there.

For me it's kind of double edged sword. I have my retirement money tied up in U.S. equities. So if interest rates go up, the equities will go down which is bad. On the flip side the U.S. dollar will get stronger against the Thai currency which is good.

We're definitely going back to Thailand. It's just a matter of when. The when is dependent on how well the market does here in the U.S. and also the exchange rate. My wife has land near the border with Cambodia out in the sticks. We could probably build a nice house there for about 25k USD. The equivalent in the Dallas area would be about 150k. I figure I can live on about 30k THB a month there which is about 1000 USD at the current exchange rate. I can always pickup some contract work in the region if I have to. I still have alot of contacts in the telecom industry there. Also, Burma is finally opening up, so there will be some opportunities there. I'd rather just sit on my ### and not work, but if I had to work, it's good to know that I could. Hell I could teach English if I had to. They make about 30k THB a month.

I never understood why someone would get a variable rate loan. I guess there's reasons, but I can't think of one. If you get a fixed rate loan and interest rates go down, you could just refinance and get the lower rate.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I never understood why someone would get a variable rate loan. I guess there's reasons, but I can't think of one. If you get a fixed rate loan and interest rates go down, you could just refinance and get the lower rate.

Easier to qualify with the teaser rates. It doesn't make any sense these days, but when fixed rates were on the low teens, you could qualify for twice the house by finding a low qual loan in the mid to high single digits.