places to retire cheaply

[dex]

you generalised on the sexual promiscuity of women based on their country of origin

I said Filipino women are more faithful than Thai women. I wouldn't call that racist.

A reader at Stickman submitted this article about Filipinas vs Thai women. You can see at the bottom Stickman also mentions that guys are moving from Thailand to the Philippines. He calls it a trickle but it's more than that.

http://www.stickmanbangkok.com/Reader2007/reader3960.htm

 

[dex]

why would you want to put yourself at risk by living in some of these places? I don't get it.

It's not that dangerous if you're sensible and keep your wits about you. The main benefit to living in these places is you can retire at a much younger age and you're not living in a nanny state.

 

[investor2009]

Thanks everyone! Some good info here.

Also, we'd like to have a house sitter come in at some stage, our house wpuld normally rent for $550, would it be reasonable to sign a short lease for half that to someone we trust to look after our pets? I think most sitters want everything for free

 

[skater]

It's not that dangerous if you're sensible and keep your wits about you. The main benefit to living in these places is you can retire at a much younger age and you're not living in a nanny state.

After just coming back from Thailand, I thank God that we DO live in a nanny state.

Although we did enjoy our holiday, there were several things that stood out. Things that I was glad to leave behind.

Like:

Crazy, insane drivers doing ridiculous things and going way too fast.

Going on a tour & the tour guide, on seeing a police block ahead, turning up a side street & flooring it with cops on our tail. When he got pulled over & then escorted back, no explanations were given. We (all of us on the bus) thought we were going to be stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Having Hubby's wallet stolen & reporting it to the police, only to have them make us wait for hours, then taking us to some dodgy out of the way place to file yet more reports. Told this was the tourist police, but the second floor filthy office filled with 50 year old furniture and the one scruffy 'officer' did not seem right. Then they dropped us off in the middle of the city & we had to find our way back to our accommodation, with no idea where we were.

Buying a new phone in a store, in the city, but finding out later that it was a fake & that it doesn't work, but by then we'd moved on & was too late to go back, but doubt going back would have done us any good anyway.

Booking a bus for a long journey, and it turns out to be a mini-bus. We get on & then it's filled up with locals. All's fine until they stop & load even more people on board. End up with 17 people and their luggage, the luggage crammed between everyone & in the aisle as well as taking up two seats. This in a 16 seat minibus.

It was good to get back home.

 

[ok180]

why would you want to put yourself at risk by living in some of these places? I don't get it.

Can't cut it here.

 

[redwing]

you generalised on the sexual promiscuity of women based on their country of origin

Durex did that in the survey results Dex linked to

The survey of 29,000 women in 36 countries is low at less than 1,000 people per country though

One may question the results

 

[westminster]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/309732/thai-women-ranks-no-2-in-infidelity

Thai women are ranked as the most promiscuous and unfaithful in the world.

I'm not certain that the local's ability to be faithful has anything to do with retirement.
The ability to hook up with a local who'll be faithful isn't on my list of things to check into.

 

[Truly Exotic]

and the women also make more faithful partners.

I guess, you're a "very hansum man"

never underestimate the power of a walking ATM

 

[willair]

I said Filipino women are more faithful than Thai women. I wouldn't call that racist.

A reader at Stickman submitted this article about Filipinas vs Thai women. You can see at the bottom Stickman also mentions that guys are moving from Thailand to the Philippines. He calls it a trickle but it's more than that.

http://www.stickmanbangkok.com/Reader2007/reader3960.htm

Philippines is cheap,, but the problem you may find is you not only marry the Lady but you marry the entire family,i have mates that have lived over there and it also can be a very dangerous place to run a business but maybe not so much out in the country areas but Manila ..

 

[b simpson]

why would you want to put yourself at risk by living in some of these places? I don't get it.

That's pretty funny. I've been to S.E.A numerous times and it's safe. It's pretty much take responsibility of your own actions, don't be a fool and you will be ok. Much safer than many parts of OZ.

I'm over the nanny state of Australia. And bonus points for retiring 10 years earlier in a place that doesn't have a winter, a hair cut costs $2, beer $1, and the food/service beats Australia by a country mile.

I'll be retiring on a yacht somewhere that has a great sunset but without the nanny state.

 

[westminster]

In terms of healthcare also look into countries which have a reciprocal agreement with our Medicare

http://www.humanservices.gov.au/cus...-care-agreements/participating-rhca-countries

Belgium
Finland
Italy
Malta
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Republic of Ireland
Slovenia
Sweden
United Kingdom

Also look into any dual nationality that you might be able to use to your benefit. I think I qualify for Aussie, UK and Croation right of abode/residency.

 

[ok180]

That's pretty funny. I've been to S.E.A numerous times and it's safe. It's pretty much take responsibility of your own actions, don't be a fool and you will be ok. Much safer than many parts of OZ.

I'm over the nanny state of Australia. And bonus points for retiring 10 years earlier in a place that doesn't have a winter, a hair cut costs $2, beer $1, and the food/service beats Australia by a country mile.

I'll be retiring on a yacht somewhere that has a great sunset but without the nanny state.

Yeah, just watch out for the odd bout of Typhoid.

 

[starter]

I've been working in Saigon for the best part of the last 3 years, and it's a great place for an expat and you get a very decent lifestyle.

If not for missing family, friends and Melbourne, it wouldn't be a bad place to retire.

 

[dex]

Thanks everyone! Some good info here.

Also, we'd like to have a house sitter come in at some stage, our house wpuld normally rent for $550, would it be reasonable to sign a short lease for half that to someone we trust to look after our pets? I think most sitters want everything for free

Rent out your place at market rates through a property manager. If you've got close friends or relatives it would be ideal if they could could look after your pets in their own home for some remuneration. It really depends on how long you intend to stay away for. Bali is the only place I've heard about dog restrictions but check the expat forum for more info. There's a couple of threads on there about it.
http://balipod.com/content/

After just coming back from Thailand, I thank God that we DO live in a nanny state.

Although we did enjoy our holiday, there were several things that stood out.* Things that I was glad to leave behind.

Like:

Crazy, insane drivers doing ridiculous things and going way too fast.

Going on a tour & the tour guide, on seeing a police block ahead, turning up a side street & flooring it with cops on our tail.* When he got pulled over & then escorted back, no explanations were given.* We (all of us on the bus) thought we were going to be stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Having Hubby's wallet stolen & reporting it to the police, only to have them make us wait for hours, then taking us to some dodgy out of the way place to file yet more reports.* Told this was the tourist police, but the second floor filthy office filled with 50 year old furniture and the one scruffy 'officer' did not seem right.* Then they dropped us off in the middle of the city & we had to find our way back to our accommodation, with no idea where we were.

Buying a new phone in a store, in the city, but finding out later that it was a fake & that it doesn't work, but by then we'd moved on & was too late to go back, but doubt going back would have done us any good anyway.

Booking a bus for a long journey, and it turns out to be a mini-bus.* We get on & then it's filled up with locals.* All's fine until they stop & load even more people on board.* End up with 17 people and their luggage, the luggage crammed between everyone & in the aisle as well as taking up two seats.* This in a 16 seat minibus.

It was good to get back home.

Most of these sound like typical scams in the land of fake smiles. Their aim is to extract as much baht from you as possible while you're there. Tour guide probably didn't want to pay so he tried to do a runner. Police weren't interested in the stolen wallet because you probably didn't pay them. Guy selling fake phone that didn't work doesn't care, he just wants your baht. Overcrowded bus is common because every extra person means more money.

Can't cut it here.

It's much easier to cut it in Oz with all the cotton wool and hand holding. I'll admit it's not for everyone. A free spirit and sense of adventure helps but some people are happy to live out their days in Australian suburbs.

I'm not certain that the local's ability to be faithful has anything to do with retirement.
The ability to hook up with a local who'll be faithful isn't on my list of things to check into.

That's probably because you're married but you might be surprised how many single men and women have relationships with people from another country after they retire. A lot of them make the move after divorce and want a faithful partner.

I guess, you're a "very hansum man"

never underestimate the power of a walking ATM

My wife thinks so but she's from Denmark.

Philippines is cheap,, but the problem you may find is you not only marry the Lady but you marry the entire family,i have mates that have lived over there and it also can be a very dangerous place to run a business but maybe not so much out in the country areas but Manila ..

Yes you always marry the family and are expected to provide them with some financial support. Most seem to be happy with $100-200 a month but you need to be firm and deny further requests for hospital bills, motorbike payments and sick buffalo medicine.

Yeah, just watch out for the odd bout of Typhoid.

They have vaccines now.

 

[datto]

Retire in Oz, its the best country in the world. Dont worry that its expensive , nanny state etc. You are far safer here than over there.

I've done the SE Asia thing. Every woman wants to marry ya, and everyone else only wants to rip you off. Oh, and when you live in one place for a while, everyone knows who you are, so you gotta watch your back coz someone will be scheming a nasty surprise eg kidnap for ransom.

Then there's the bugs over there that will keep you near a toilet for over a week, earthquakes. Storms like you will never believe.

Nay, no thanks, retire in Oz.

 

[china]

I think there are some parts of the United States such as Florida which may be a comparatively cheap and reasonable place to retire to compared to Sydney or Melbourne. Good weather, cheaper housing, food, comparable legal systems and health care.

 

[sash]

I agree with Datto aobut OZ being the best place to retire.

As for Florida everything is okay except Healthcare...you will pay throgh the nose for it.

I think there are some parts of the United States such as Florida which may be a comparatively cheap and reasonable place to retire to compared to Sydney or Melbourne. Good weather, cheaper housing, food, comparable legal systems and health care.

 

[Scott No Mates]

I'm with Datto - sell up your eastern suburbs PPOR, rent in Willmot, Shalvey or Dhurruk. Real salt of the earth folks, Vinnies is the best there in the Druitt and plenty of mates to be found in Blood Alley behind Westfields.

Did I forget to mention the cheap lunches at the local?

 

[Angel]

I think there are some parts of the United States such as Florida which may be a comparatively cheap and reasonable place to retire to compared to Sydney or Melbourne. Good weather, cheaper housing, food, comparable legal systems and health care.

You can have all that in Brisbane, China. And probably Spain.

 

[D.T.]

Any of you looked into South America for this purpose?