- Rent rather than own.
- Do not invest in the stock market.
- Put only he necessary, minimal amount of cash in local banks. Transferring your finds from abroad can be troublesome at time, but you'll know where your money is.
- The government offers retirement packages. Residency requirements change frequently; however, and the financial requirements may not be advantageous. explore alternatives.
- As with everything in the Philippines, examine agreements closely and after you've done that, do it again. Be cautious in your dealings, even the simplest arrangements.
- Never assume anything.
- You'll soon learn who is trustworthy and who isn't. The common Filipino basically isn't scheming or conniving. Probably because he won't think that far ahead.
- Should you marry a Filipina (who generally make good wives, incidentally) remember that the size of her family may well grow in direct proportion to the size of your wallet.
- Avoid entering into fast liaisons with those young, gorgeous Filipinas. And if she's half your age, you'll deserve everything you'll get out of such a union; a busted bank account, endless grief from child-like behavior, and most of the young men in your area sniffing after her.
- And if you're thinking of perhaps operating a small business to pass the time, or maybe round off a small pension. Invest instead in a case of one of the local, and excellent, rums. You'll come out far ahead in the morning.
Byron Bales is a semi-retired Private Investigator who has done business in more than 100 countries. Byron lives in Thailand and is also a writer. His last published work is:
Family Business - Asia Books - Bangkok Thailand - ISBN 974-8303-75-6
