About charkee

Currently Lives:

Citizen of:

Some Forum Posts:

Philippines: Practical expat income options for a simple life?:

I have an internet business working in mental health. I don't make a lot, perhaps $300 a month, but it is picking up and I'm getting more and more clients, but the internet side of this practice has taken 5 years to build to this point. Internet businesses take time to build, very few ever make a good living at it. My web host says that about 2/3 of all websites started fail within the first year and the other 1/3 squeezes by. I know a Brit that works full time on the internet teaching English to Japanese and Chinese clients. He makes about $3 for 20 minutes, which translates to about $9 per hour, which by Filipino standards is very good pay, since many don't earn that per day.

Philippines: Water Heater & washing machine:

We don't need a water heater. We bought a simple Sharp washing machine for about 4000Php. I was told by a friend and trusted appliance repairman that this is the best brand in the Phils, parts are easy to find and easy to repair. 2 years and not a problem. It took a while to convince my wife to use it as she has been washing by hand her entire life. Now she uses it for colored clothes but still insists on washing the whites by hand. When we first married she was appalled by my "brown" underwear from the US. She did get it white, really white but it was extra work for her.

Philippines: Real estate agent:

I haven't met one yet.

Philippines: Retiring soon:

My wife and I live comfortably on $350 a month. Rent: $150 Utilities $50 Food, incidentals, transport and everything else $150 and this would be an exceptionally expensive month. We have a vegetable garden and that saves us quite a bit of money. On $1700 a month you can have a full time maid and live like a king.

Philippines: Did she scam her fiance?:

There is a difference between violence and neglect. Though both are not ideal in anyway, Neglect has created problems in the US to the point that courts are sending deadbeat dads to prison. (like that helps them to pay). I don't know how neglect is handled in the Philippines. But I feel if you make a child, you better care for the child. I view those that can pay but don't are on the level of child molesters.

Philippines: Interview needed for girlfriend?:

My wife and I had to take a 2 hour class before getting married. It was all about marriages working out and trying to get us to really think if we really want to go through with the wedding. Perhaps the girls traveling on a fiance visas would be required to take this class.

Philippines: Filipino courtesy:

I must be getting used to Filipino culture. A colleague back in the US is really pissed at a client of mine because she didn't keep an appointment with him and lied to him that she was okay. She, without telling me then contacted me and is using my services. Here in the Philippines I get lied to all the time. People don't have the courtesy to cancel appointments, they just don't come and never any explanation. Never once did a music student of mine tell me he or she is quitting, they ALWAYS NEVER inform me and I sit around waiting for nothing. I still don't like it, but I don't go ballistic anymore. But forget ever making an appointment with me again and I'll tell them that it is a huge insult in western culture to do this. But it never really registers anyway.

Philippines: Booking a flight:

I'm from northern California and was delighted that I found a direct flight from San Francisco to Manila. 14 hours. No layovers or airplane switching. Simple and elegant, but I wish I could get comfortable enough to sleep.

Philippines: Trump executive order allowing travel from Phils to US:

I haven't heard anything yet, except the call centers are nervous. But it doesn't matter what Trump does. Without the restoration of the Glass/Steagall Act, nothing matters. The entire election will have been in vain. This is the very root causing the end of a great America. Anything else is like firefighters frantically putting out smoldering stumps behind the raging forest fire.

Philippines: Auto Scams:

Once a Nigerian lady was trying to hustle me, claiming she was hungry and couldn't feed her kids. On Skype it was clear to see should could do with some hunger and lose about 80 lbs. I told her that I'm coming in a month with a million dollars and asked her to book a hotel suit for me and I promised to reimburse her. She eventually figured it out and I could hear the swearing all the way from Lagos. I've given out fake Western Union numbers and in a few hours I get really nasty messages in return.

Date Joined:

5/9/2015

Total Posts:

416

Posts/Day:

0.59