My wife and I pay absolutely ZERO taxes to the US. Her Calpers pension and my investment income are allowing us to live on ~$30K per year in the Philippines. And that's not including SS yet. Our house and car are paid for in the Philippines, living a carefree life that allows us to do as we like and not have to worry about "saving" to pay income taxes to the IRS. Our standard deductions wipe out our income. Love not paying taxes anymore 🙏
America is the place I left. I came to the Philippines to settle down with a beautiful woman. And I discovered a Filipina spouse can bring you all the family and friends you want. Just a thought. Men in America often live their lifetime in their wife's prison. If they divorce, the court justices make him her slave. The beautiful thing about retirement, if you planned it correctly, is that you don't have to put up with the abuses. You can go wherever you find a good fit to your values. I have no remorse voting with my feet.
I'm of the opinion that American expats don't matter to either the US or the destination countries. There are about 4-5 million non-military American citizens living abroad and we are spread out all over the world. In general expats don't vote. Most of us do file federal tax returns. There are just not enough of us in any particular country for us to matter much. The US is not worried about us leaving. The barriers to any US citizen moving overseas are pretty big and the US has all its attention focused on people wanting to get into the US. As an expat in Thailand it is tempting to think we are important. It seems pretty amazing that there are other American here. We are relatively wealthy so we think we are important to the economy. We are not invisible but we are a tiny fraction of the immigrants to Thailand and we we don't capture anyone's attention. Tourists are another story. There are millions of short term tourists and they far outweigh us permanent expats.
WRT “we’re not sending our best over here” - It’s not just Dumaguete, unfortunately. I’ve run across the types you mentioned here and I’ve never been to Dumaguete. Fortunately, I think the cringeworthy American here is a small but noisy minority. And it’s not just the Americans. In speaking with Filipinos, my sense is they generally view Americans positively. Some other foreigners, not so much.
Loss of state taxes is not a good example. CA loses those taxes whether I move abroad or to another state. I still pay federal taxes. My pension and Social Security does leave the US and gets spent outside the US.
The US will actually give you a Foreign Tax Exclusion up to like $125K per year. Pretty sweet option. You can get paid in US as long as you actually reside out of country and work outside US it still applies.
Finally an expat with thought provoking and intellectual content. I've had my fill of where and how to find a Filipina wife or girlfriend. Keep doing what you do. And I appreciate that you are not afraid to speak the truth.
WRT “we’re not sending our best over here” - It’s not just Dumaguete, unfortunately. I’ve run across the types you mentioned here and I’ve never been to Dumaguete. Fortunately, I think the cringeworthy American here is a small but noisy minority. And it’s not just the Americans. In speaking with Filipinos, my sense is they generally view Americans positively. Some other foreigners, not so much.
Alex, always a thoughtful discussion in your posts and it is appreciated for sure. We are constantly lied to as Americans and many people believe the bs as it is fed to them without questioning them. I know i did for about 50 years, which was my own mistake. I have tried to impart this wisdom to my children and are listening thank god. I just sold my second and third vehicles and will leave my son my last van here in the US so I can borrow it if/when I return. Getting close to bailing out and starting my slow traveling beginning with the Philippines ...soon and I just cannot wait to start. Maybe we will cross paths and can have a in person discussion. Good luck!
I'm an american. I've lived abroad. I came back. If I want to, I can leave again tomorrow. I don't think 'they' care at all, to the extent that you pay taxes. Universal taxation is bs, but Trump said that he wants to kill it so let's see what happens.
I honestly think Johnny Somali is the least of your problems if you're worried about American diplomacy abroad. You have a president elect giving a press conference yesterday threatening to "unleash all hell in the middle East" and refusing to rule out military force in taking Greenland from Denmark and seizing the Panama canal. Oh and he also wants to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. So all to say, Johnny Somali needs to get in line in terms of embarrassing America on the world stage.
You bring up that the USA is not sending its best. Unf I've seen horrible behavior by Usonians abroad. One guy, in fact a UA-camr, put on his channel that he throws money, quarters, pocket change, at a a non-USA location restaurant for waitresses to pick up. This demeaning insult is something he says they like. Nonsense. They are being polite to someone who is not. This is horribly embarrassing for people of the country being represented so shabbily. There are other examples unf. Representing your country, regardless of where you're from or where you are, is an important thing. In a way you are a diplomat for your country and should act the part.
If you don't protect the tax base from threats it leaves, something is still harassing me about all the things it wants me to buy in the U.S. like I am still there. It then complains that I am not in Texas and working. There really isn't a way to keep whatever is going on with people quiet although maybe you can promote a controlled opposition in order to try to trick people. If whoever has been abused in some way that is probably going to show up,, maybe in undesirable ways.
@@EasternDreamer615 mostly it's the cheap rum, pickled livers, followed by cheap smokes, pollution, stroke inducing foods for the undiscerning. Then there's the motorbike crashes & business deal goes wrong salvage operations.
I’m wondering what percentage of long-term American expats in the Philippines are veterans. My guess is that it’s much higher than other nationalities. My theory based on my guess is that most of the cringeworthy American expats are veterans. It’s fits my personal experience so far. I should mention that I’m a US veteran too.
"Hes an American" We need class casts in the united states. 1 America is a continent 2 Everyone says theyre American if they they have white skin or just because they were born in the u.s. You dont need to call yourself a king unless youre insecure about it but here we are with people pretending they are native inconsiderate of people with having hundreds or thousands of years of history and liniage in a continent.
My wife and I pay absolutely ZERO taxes to the US. Her Calpers pension and my investment income are allowing us to live on ~$30K per year in the Philippines. And that's not including SS yet. Our house and car are paid for in the Philippines, living a carefree life that allows us to do as we like and not have to worry about "saving" to pay income taxes to the IRS. Our standard deductions wipe out our income. Love not paying taxes anymore 🙏
America is the place I left. I came to the Philippines to settle down with a beautiful woman. And I discovered a Filipina spouse can bring you all the family and friends you want. Just a thought.
Men in America often live their lifetime in their wife's prison. If they divorce, the court justices make him her slave. The beautiful thing about retirement, if you planned it correctly, is that you don't have to put up with the abuses. You can go wherever you find a good fit to your values. I have no remorse voting with my feet.
I'm of the opinion that American expats don't matter to either the US or the destination countries. There are about 4-5 million non-military American citizens living abroad and we are spread out all over the world. In general expats don't vote. Most of us do file federal tax returns. There are just not enough of us in any particular country for us to matter much.
The US is not worried about us leaving. The barriers to any US citizen moving overseas are pretty big and the US has all its attention focused on people wanting to get into the US.
As an expat in Thailand it is tempting to think we are important. It seems pretty amazing that there are other American here. We are relatively wealthy so we think we are important to the economy. We are not invisible but we are a tiny fraction of the immigrants to Thailand and we we don't capture anyone's attention. Tourists are another story. There are millions of short term tourists and they far outweigh us permanent expats.
I think these are all great points Marty, thank you for sharing your thoughts :)
The reason is they dont set income and healthcare requirements like most countries. That allows anyone and everyone just to fall in..
These are great points, thank you Rodney :)
WRT “we’re not sending our best over here” - It’s not just Dumaguete, unfortunately. I’ve run across the types you mentioned here and I’ve never been to Dumaguete. Fortunately, I think the cringeworthy American here is a small but noisy minority. And it’s not just the Americans. In speaking with Filipinos, my sense is they generally view Americans positively. Some other foreigners, not so much.
I agree djc, small but noisy is accurate in my experience too
@@EasternDreamer615sorry I posted my comment in the wrong spot 🙏
Loss of state taxes is not a good example. CA loses those taxes whether I move abroad or to another state. I still pay federal taxes. My pension and Social Security does leave the US and gets spent outside the US.
That’s a good point Marty!
The US will actually give you a Foreign Tax Exclusion up to like $125K per year. Pretty sweet option. You can get paid in US as long as you actually reside out of country and work outside US it still applies.
Finally an expat with thought provoking and intellectual content. I've had my fill of where and how to find a Filipina wife or girlfriend. Keep doing what you do. And I appreciate that you are not afraid to speak the truth.
Thank you so much Russell :)
Beautiful water.
Thank you :)
The fact that you have to pay a fee of $2,350 to give up your citizenship AND an exit tax infuriates me.
Same here Scrunchie
WRT “we’re not sending our best over here” - It’s not just Dumaguete, unfortunately. I’ve run across the types you mentioned here and I’ve never been to Dumaguete. Fortunately, I think the cringeworthy American here is a small but noisy minority. And it’s not just the Americans. In speaking with Filipinos, my sense is they generally view Americans positively. Some other foreigners, not so much.
“Velocity of money.”… Charles Payne talked about this in a Hillsdale College talk.
Thank you for sharing Joseph
You are always right on.
Thank you :)
Very good video thanks
Glad you enjoyed it!
Alex, always a thoughtful discussion in your posts and it is appreciated for sure. We are constantly lied to as Americans and many people believe the bs as it is fed to them without questioning them. I know i did for about 50 years, which was my own mistake. I have tried to impart this wisdom to my children and are listening thank god. I just sold my second and third vehicles and will leave my son my last van here in the US so I can borrow it if/when I return. Getting close to bailing out and starting my slow traveling beginning with the Philippines ...soon and I just cannot wait to start. Maybe we will cross paths and can have a in person discussion. Good luck!
Thank you so much for sharing your story! :)
Hey Alex, Awesome video great content and spot on with your topic. 👍
Glad you enjoyed it! :)
Another great video
Thank you Badger :)
I'm an american. I've lived abroad. I came back. If I want to, I can leave again tomorrow. I don't think 'they' care at all, to the extent that you pay taxes. Universal taxation is bs, but Trump said that he wants to kill it so let's see what happens.
Where did you live?
I honestly think Johnny Somali is the least of your problems if you're worried about American diplomacy abroad. You have a president elect giving a press conference yesterday threatening to "unleash all hell in the middle East" and refusing to rule out military force in taking Greenland from Denmark and seizing the Panama canal. Oh and he also wants to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America.
So all to say, Johnny Somali needs to get in line in terms of embarrassing America on the world stage.
You bring up that the USA is not sending its best. Unf I've seen horrible behavior by Usonians abroad. One guy, in fact a UA-camr, put on his channel that he throws money, quarters, pocket change, at a a non-USA location restaurant for waitresses to pick up. This demeaning insult is something he says they like. Nonsense. They are being polite to someone who is not. This is horribly embarrassing for people of the country being represented so shabbily. There are other examples unf. Representing your country, regardless of where you're from or where you are, is an important thing. In a way you are a diplomat for your country and should act the part.
I agree, that's disgusting behavior
Just for your info there is no tax on ss earnings unless you make $36k on top of it
Thank you 🙏
If you don't protect the tax base from threats it leaves, something is still harassing me about all the things it wants me to buy in the U.S. like I am still there. It then complains that I am not in Texas and working. There really isn't a way to keep whatever is going on with people quiet although maybe you can promote a controlled opposition in order to try to trick people. If whoever has been abused in some way that is probably going to show up,, maybe in undesirable ways.
That’s a good point and I’m glad you brought it up!
10-20 years ago the VA data on expat veterans in the Philippines showed an average life expectancy of 2 years. It won't have drastically changed.
That explains a lot unfortunately
@@EasternDreamer615 mostly it's the cheap rum, pickled livers, followed by cheap smokes, pollution, stroke inducing foods for the undiscerning. Then there's the motorbike crashes & business deal goes wrong salvage operations.
I’m wondering what percentage of long-term American expats in the Philippines are veterans. My guess is that it’s much higher than other nationalities. My theory based on my guess is that most of the cringeworthy American expats are veterans. It’s fits my personal experience so far. I should mention that I’m a US veteran too.
I've had similar conversations with a veteran buddy of mine, and my grandfather was a veteran too. Thank you for your service djc.
@@djc6436-e4h it's well over half, in some regions it's 90%+.
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
Thank you kind Magnapearl :)
Does a video need to exist about why governments don't want their people to leave? They make money from their people.
Some people enjoyed this one
"Hes an American" We need class casts in the united states. 1 America is a continent 2 Everyone says theyre American if they they have white skin or just because they were born in the u.s. You dont need to call yourself a king unless youre insecure about it but here we are with people pretending they are native inconsiderate of people with having hundreds or thousands of years of history and liniage in a continent.
Exasperating.
Johnny Somali represents Somali Americans and Americans who vlog.
He doesn't represent normal Americans.
That’s fair
Sounds like you ran into some fine expats recently 😂
Hehehe 😆
Im peacing out to cambodia in the fall.
Safe travels :)