tropicalpenpals.com A UK - Philippines family

Travelling too and from the Philippines can be an expensive affair. What I recommend doing is finding ways to make money going each way. If going to the Philippines electronics are expensive and certain items other expats are missing you could either take as a favour in friendship or negotiate a small fee. Generally a flight price will be around £400 - £500 so if you are like me you are already married and have accomodation in both countries so carrying clothes isnt needed. Topping up with quality chocolate is also worthwhile but generally i give mine away..

On route back I advise buying Bench clothing and Levis. Try and organise peoples pre-orders so you know who wants what so you dont get stuck with stock. There is other items that are worth selling but you need to shop around. Cigarettes will also sell easily due to the huge taxes in the UK for smokers. Its possible to recover the cost of your flight without too much expenditure. But does take a little planning and an eye for what you know will sell. If flying via Muslim countries be aware of Alcohol restrictions on leaving the Philippines although in Qatar never seen so much alcohol for sale but cant fly to Qatar with it but can buy at the airport???

You probably read this and will either think good idea, to late or too soon. Simply there is no time like the present to setup your retirement. Im not one for banks or reliance on any financial institute because quite simply they are there to make THEM money from yours. If the markets shift down you lose.. if they go up you gain a little. Point being there are easier ways to make money. Dont get me wrong you will always need an income. But property rentals or small businesses that can generate incomes or can be run for a small amount of time would probably be a better option. So if your reading this you are probably thinking about how to retire and if your thinking about it this is the right time to start doing something about it.Dont rely on a pension fund that you have paid into for X amount of years because its not inflation proof and if youve got a good pension you have more than likely had a good income up until then so wont be too worried. Either way you should start looking to sprout roots. The advantages the Philippines has over many countries is the weather and cheap employment. Aswell as the ability to own cheap property if you have a Filipino party who you trust with the assets. Otherwise maybe better at looking at renting back in your homeland and renting in the Philippines. Each country has different variables for properties so I would strongly advise a lot of research before any commitments. Myself the UK is over inflated about to have a bubble burst and a deflation in houses but not on the same way as the U.S. quite simply we have to many migrants a house going bust can be easily filled with potential tennants. But buying a house I cant justify for the long-term in the UK. So im heading home to Cebu and developing houses there with my wife. This not only gives us the benefit of an income but a long-term stable income at that. I believe for any investments you need to look over everything to make sure the decisions are right and that its right for you. Property is something that can go good or bad if being constructed by yourselves in any country. But I know of many horror stories from materials being stolen by the builders, overcharging and money theft to name but a few. You need to be either on the ground or have someone with authority and can be trusted to represent you. You will be seen often as the “rich kano” so stealing from you isnt seen to much as a crime because you can afford to lose it…right?? Well simple answer to this is be ruthless dont cut slack and if you give an inch make sure the people are aware why. Dont act without reason and if working with a bonus system for working harder etc. Pay the workers in food not extra money, the food is benefit to all money is likely to end up being drunk and a sick worker for the following day. Before anyone shouts this as a racist comment its not its worldwide. You have any construction workers give them a heavy bonus and they drink it. Ive been there, done it and got the T Shirt. I was a contract carpenter for many years and when on the bigger contracts alcohol was normal after a working day and spending $500 a week just in bars was accepted with all the guys I worked with. Then $5000 a week was being earned. Point being pay in food if you can otherwise you could damage your own productivity. Monitor what equipment you have and book it all back in at night. Deal with the materials yourself or with someone who can be trusted as there is likely to be things disappearing quicker than you can count it. Best advice is be there yourself if possible so you can see how things work. This will also give you the opportunity to understand the working methods as they differ from the west considerably. Something that gave me frustration when trying to complete a job that with the right mix takes 2hrs in the UK but in RP with cement several days.
Business investments for retirement can be very high risk in the Philippines so strongly advise looking around for other ideas if possible. The problems with corruption, competition and jelous locals could scare the best of us. Aswell as possibility of imprisonment or death.
So just take your time over looking at new avenues of business.

I have no money to invest!
Ok well there are more ways to make money than your currently looking at. If you browse the forum for small business ideas it will give you an idea of things to look at.
http://www.forums.tropicalpenpals.com/

Not every idea is going to suit you but the list is just to give you some ideas to get started. There are lots of jobs people quite simply cant be bothered to do or dont have the time to do. Setting these up on a few hours a night or every other weekend etc. Will soon build a fund. I advise banking it seperate to your general funding this way you can see a “retirement fund” growing. Which if you play things right and invest a little of it here and there in ideas and expansion you will start to develop a small business geared towards your retirement. Hopefully not before you get too old.. Aswell as managing your existing employment which keeps the bills paid.

What are you going to do in the Philippines? Well you will be surprised at how many people spend a lot of time doing a little but seem to be tired by the end of the day. Day to day things run a lot slower in RP and one thing you will learn is there is no rush!! this is what your gaining in life.. a world that has time for everything and your well being.. chatting with neighbours, visiting houses for dinner, having people over. Many of the routine things that are now missing in the West. There is also sailing,boating,diving,treking,motorbiking,exploring islands to name but a few things to fill your time.
I love the Philippines and I hope you will do too.

I dont have all the answers but one thing i will say “START PLANNING AND DOING NOW” put it off and before you know it a couple of years have past and you still havent started. I would love to know peoples ideas and things they get upto regarding aiming for retirement. Please add your replies.

Many things move and many things have stopped lately due to changes in life.. and the beginning of a new member of family our daughter. But it also gave time for reflection and the slow work suddenly took a turn for the better.. First major contract came in my wife went into the beginning of labour just before I started my first hour at work and I got a text to say our baby has been born on route back an hour on route.. Not just a beautiful child but the bringer of luck. Things are about to get back on track after losing several weeks waiting for work to come in and the new contract just about covers the time lost. So no real time is lost.. so just about back on budget.
The formation of the family also has brought everyone closer together and its good watching my wife with Kik (our daughters nickname). But also puts everything into context and how everything needs to be a success and the thought of just trying isnt good enough.. A lot more thought goes into ideas but will all take time to get in motion. But will happen.. as and when possible. If you are looking at doing the same you need to sit and make realistic targets and look at what you can do if country hopping for work. The influx of polish workers made it difficult to drop into manual labour this time. So one of the things I will be doing before returning home to Cebu is qualifying as a HGV Driver (truck driver) so at worst on my next visit I should be able to pick up almost instant work.. Its funny how im virtually an immigrant in the UK except without the passport hassles of overseas workers. But watch this space things are starting to move!

Some people may assume I have all the answers to problems and businesses but I like you know what I know. But the collective of people that will eventually take this site from a site to a community will have at least a lot of the questions answered.
A lot of the world forgets people as they get older but regardless of old or young you are all welcome here. This isnt just a site but a home.. bit more like a front room than a monitor and keyboard. I want people to get to share knowledge and help each other. Ive noticed on a lot of sites they are operating as individuals. But this seems crazy especially when it comes to living in a new country. Yes you may have a wonderful recipe for a dish but are you really going to be effected if you swap a receipe with a expat on another island or are you both going to benefit? Thats the sort of questions I want people to start asking. Its very easy to function as an individual and many expats including me like to distance themselves from the West. BUT you still need help in some form and the stronger the community the better it is for everyone. I dont have all the answers but you reading this have some already that I dont.. so get on the forum and start sharing

This section is an idea im starting with quite simply because I want to prove that people can make a business in the Philippines and I also want to show its not easy but its not impossible!

First things is to decide what markets need you most and what the competition is doing right and wrong. Currently farming is an oddball for me but im trying to understand it more. Primarily im looking at cattle namely goats. But will look at other options too once I have this off the ground. Why I choose goats over other stock..simple answer I dont know. I think I just like them but not only for the fact they have character but also they are good for meat, cheese, milk, yoghurt, butter, ice cream. Aswell as being pretty hardy. The setup costs are pretty steep but the rewards seem to be to by what ieve seen with other breeders. So watch this space. Will be bringing photographs of the goat house being built including sketched plans and things to look for.

Clothing,
the Philippines is full of clothing factories and designer brands can be picked up Levis in Manila or even picking up Bench clothing in the malls. Either way you can make a killing on the prices. If your heading back to your country of origin would advise asking a few relatives what they want and making a few ££s on the stock.

Soaps, jewellery and other crafts. This market is awash worldwide but the problem with Western shops is they are overpriced many may say greedy but if you see the business rates,taxes rentals you can understand why. A necklace can be purchased for less than £1.00 but similar can be seen in the UK for £7.00 a little bit of networking and a mail order site could work out to be a small gold mine in your favour and hopefully mine. Something thats under development at the moment.

These ideas are all in some stages of being formed or built..

The final main one which is primarily based for the Philippines only is Property, buy,sell,rent me I believe in buy,buy,buy never sell. Rental markets are cheap in the Philippines but the prices are starting to rise. Many people are asking why things are going up. Ive give a bit of thought to this and there are several reasons rent and land is going up. Many overseas workers are starting to get older and wanting to come home and the Philippines wants them back. So there is one group of people with the money and rights of ownership. Next group of people are like my wife and me. Mixed couples we can afford to buy land and build. But looking to speculate so we can live in Cebu full-time without the worry of trying to find work. Rents are always in demand if the price is right. The final group are Retires looking for a good standard of living for the right price and who can blame them. Many have suffered with the drop of the dollar but it also made me wonder if people are feeling the pinch more in the U.S. maybe the numbers of Retires are increasing too and not only from the U.S. more people are travelling to the Philippines worldwide. A popular destination in the UK is for the older generations to head to Spain for the winter due to saving on the heating bills. But in recent years the land prices have rocketted so where might some of these people now be looking??
Property will always be a winner 110% just keep a legal eye on what you can own. This will be something me and my wife will be sharing with you over the next several months as we start building our home.