Things will actually get worse for retirees

If you are thinking about retirement or have recently retired then you are belong to what is called the baby boomers. This is the post WWII bulge in population when your fathers and grandfathers returned home and settled into an optimistic period of peace and prosperity. Retirement in your fathers and grandfathers day was much easier than it is today and the outlook for nearly all people retiring now is much less than optimistic. For a lot the outlook is very unhappy indeed. Over the next few years its going to get a lot worse as an increasing number of retirees put pressure on an already found wanting social welfare system. If the anticipation of spending out your retirement for the rest of your life in a country that does not value or respect its elderly, and struggling with a rizing cost of living on a limited income is something you would like to avoid, then you will want to explore other options.  

THERE ARE REAL ALTERNATIVES EVEN IF YOU ARE ON A VERY LIMITED BUDGET

;The Philippines is the a large number westernized country in Asia and one of the few countries where English is widely spoken. You don't have to even learn the local Filipino language. Do you prefer warm and tropical weather? No need to worry about another miserable freezing winter and the high cost of heating. Instead your only concern will be keeping yourself cool during the hotter months, which is much easier to do. Your personal security is one of the very serious consideration for many when the Philippines is mentioned. The place has a got a lot of bad press in the last decade, in particular with regard to the Muslim extremists in the South. It’s important to note that these are isolated problems and the dominantly Christian North and Central Philippines are comparatively safe. The people are warm-hearted and genuinely welcome the presence of foreigners. Crime exists here as it does everywhere but is no worse than some areas back home, and by being alert and using common sense you will be as safe here as you would back home. One of the you will be surprised by how many attractive considerations for living in the Philippines for someone on a minimal income is the low cost of living. Explore these many foreigners living here like a king on less than one thousand dollars a month. There standard of living would not suit all as living on such a budget requires lots of sacrifices but they are living a lot better here than they could on the same amount back home. Many even have a housemaid included in that budget. Sounds Fabulous! A full time live-in housemaid will cost you less than $50 per month!!! For just a few hundred dollars a month you can rent a three bedroom house and get the phone, cable TV connected and broadband internet connected for less than $60 per month. Food is relatively inexpensive and a surprising number things you would want are readably available. A few imported products are more expensive but you have the option of find a local substitute or using the savings in other areas to allow you a few luxuries. No need for heavy clothing to keep you warm. When at home all you will need is a pair of shorts, T-shirt and Flip Flops. When going out a lite pair of slacks and Hawaiian type shirt. You can drive yourself or use the very economical local transport to get around. A taxi has a flag call of 30 pesos, which is about 50 cents. The Jeepney and Trycle ride are even cheaper. If you in fact have a nice retirement nest egg then you can make it go such much further here. Why not build that Philippines dream house with a view overlooking the sea for an amount much cheaper than just about anything back home. Keep your nest egg safely invested and perhaps commute back and forth between the home and the Philippines. Another chief consideration for anyone close to retirement is ongoing healthcare. how about these many first class medical facilities in the Philippines where you can receive the same level of professional care as back home. The one things to know is that here its very much a user pays system and if you can not demonstrate that you will be able to pay then you will not receive the medical attention. The majority medical services and procedures cost much less here than back home and for certain ongoing medical conditions the Philippines may be a better place for ongoing care. This is specially the case if you require a live-in caregiver or nurse. Seek good medical advise bearing in mind that some medical professional back home might have an unfounded prejudice against the Philippines so try to get to the facts and not be confused by opinions. You might be wondering what you do with yourself in a foreign country away from friends and family. The answer is simple. You make new friends. There is a huge expat community here and many are retirees on a restricted income. They have many of the same organised activities as you would have back home. Clubs for every type of sport and recreation you dream about. If you are by yourself then the Philippines is the idea place to find a good soul mate so spend your retirement years with, and the chances are they will be much younger than yourself. The fact is that a lot more men than women decide to retire to the Philippines and subsequently there is much more here for men to do. One reason behind this was the long period there were US military bases here which was home to generations of young men with fond memories now returning later in life. In spite of being labled old in years the fact is that many people contemplating your retirement still have the same physical needs are they did when they were much younger. Our western societies with its youth based culture try to make you feel like a dirty old man for these natural urges. In recent times I had the pleasure of meeting an 80 year old that has been living in the Philippines for the past twenty years. He confided in me that he tells the girls he is only 60 because if he told them he was 80 they do not guess he can do anything. With the right outlook and looking after yourself I indeed believe that living in the Philippines can give you a longer life. There more relaxed layback back style of living and slower pace of life is conducive to less stress. There is also the possibility of the exact opposite particularly if one becomes an alcoholic and chooses not take care of them self.  

MORE INFORMATION ON RETIREMENT TO THE PHILIPPINES

Philippines Retirement Authority

The Philippines is serious about being a retirement destination foreign citizens and has set up a special authority to manage and promote itself as a retirement destination.  The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) has created a Special Permanent Resident Visa Program and provides the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRVisa).  The SRRVisa allows you to work, do business, study, live or even stay in the Philippines for as long as you want!

http://www.pra.gov.ph/

About the Philippines

The Philippines is a group of 7,107 islands that comprise a land area of 115,739 sq. m. (299,764 sq. km.). It is divided into three major island groupings - Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The Capital is Manila. Time Zone is GMT + 8 hours.

There are already thousands of Foreign retirees living in the Philippines. Some 1,500 Americans live in Angeles City, once home to Clark Air Base. Other cities include Manila, Cebu, Puerto Galera, Davao and many more. There are expatriates from many other lands too, living in cities and communities scattered around the thousands of islands that make up this tropical paradise.
 

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