Away with Joe

Philippines Cost of Living · Real Budget $2,000 a Month Enough? Can you retire in the Philippines on $2,000 a month? Here's what that budget really buys in a small city, on an island and out in the provinces, plus the part nobody talks about. Spend five minutes on YouTube and you'll see it everywhere: "Live in the Philippines on $1,000 a month!" Usually with a beachfront condo and endless sunsets. It sounds amazing, right up until you try to live it. Most people don't fail at moving abroad because they picked the wrong country. They fail because they picked the wrong expectations. So let's talk about a more realistic number. This guide breaks down the cost of living in the Philippines on a $2,000 monthly budget for a retiree, with real ranges for housing, food, utilities, transportation and healthcare, and how far that money goes in a small city, on an island or in a rural province. Stick around for the lifestyle ...

Retiring Abroad · The Real Tradeoffs What I Gave Up The 8 things I left behind to retire abroad, what replaced them, and why I'd jump all over again. Life is full of chapters, and the one you're in right now is only the beginning. For me, retiring abroad opened the door to new countries, new cultures and experiences I never imagined I'd have. People see the beaches and the lower cost of living. They rarely see what you have to let go of to make it happen. So here are the 8 things I gave up to retire abroad , what took their place, and my answer to the big question: is retiring abroad worth it? Spoiler: I still miss a few of these. They just feel small next to the life I live now. The 8 things I gave up Target shooting and rifle building Friends and family nearby My tennis club Familiar routines Easy, familiar systems Most of my stuff A predictable future Comfort 01 Target sh...

Retiring Abroad · Get Ready First Fix This First The one thing to sort out before you retire abroad, so your dream move doesn't turn into an expensive round trip. There's a version of your retirement out there that most people never get to live. Not because it's impossible. Not because it's too expensive. Because they pack the wrong version of themselves into the suitcase. I've watched it happen. People finally make the leap, move abroad, check every box on the spreadsheet, and a few months later something feels off. Plenty of Americans who retire overseas end up moving back within a few years, and it is rarely because the country let them down. Retiring abroad is one of the best decisions you can make. I retired at 50 to test cities and islands across Southeast Asia, and I'd do it again tomorrow. But it works best if you fix one thing before you go. This guide walks through what that is, the traps that catch new re...

Philippines Real Estate · Rent vs. Buy Rent or Buy? Should you rent or buy a condo in the Philippines when you retire? The pros, the cons, the foreign ownership rules, the scams to dodge, and what I decided to do. Picture this. I'm standing on a balcony, coffee in hand, looking at a pool that feels like a resort, with the ocean somewhere in the distance. And the same thought hits me every time: do I lock this in, or keep renting and stay flexible? You've probably seen the flood of condo videos: tours, price breakdowns, "best investment" dream units with infinity pools. Almost none of them show the full picture. This guide does. If you're a retiree or expat deciding whether to rent or buy a condo in the Philippines , you'll find how the market differs from Manila to Cebu to smaller cities, what foreigners can legally own, the due diligence checklist, the common scams, and who should buy versus rent. Plus a quick qui...