 By Al Ambrose Photo by Asad Photo Maldive
Moving to another country to become an expat is very feasible but what do you do if you don't have the funds to travel. In this article I'm going to share with you 10 low cost solutions that could possibly be free for you to travel to your new host country. Here are ten tips to get low cost and no cost travel. 1. Look for job opportunities online that offer relocation packages or cover travel expenses. 2. Apply for scholarships or grants that cover tuition fees and living expenses. 3. Volunteer with organizations that provide free accommodation and meals. 4. Consider house-sitting or pet-sitting for locals who are traveling. 5. Look for travel rewards programs that offer free flights or hotel stays. 6. Consider couchsurfing or homestays for free accommodation. 7. Explore teaching English as a foreign language, as some programs offer free housing. 8. Seek out cultural exchange programs that provide free room and board. 9. Investigate opportunities for remote work or freelancing to sustain yourself while living in the country. 10. Consider starting a location-independent business to generate income while living in your new host country. Bonus tip: As an additional bonus tip, if you agree to be a companion to someone who is nervous about traveling overseas they maybe willing to pay for your trip. All you need to do is advertise that you offer this service and tell them the destinations that you're willing to travel to. If they pay for your fare, you can help them navigate the journey and provide support. This way, you can both enjoy the experience of traveling and living in many beautiful countries. It's important to note that while these strategies can help reduce costs, there will still be expenses associated with relocating and living in any country. For more detailed information on becoming an expat DM me and I will be more than delighted to help you with your expat journey.
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 By Al Ambrose
Before I came to the Philippines to live as an expat, I had researched the Philippines extensively. I focused on a couple of main areas of concern for me because I wanted to make sure that my lifestyle was the same or better, and it got much better. One of the main areas of concern for me was making sure that I got quality health care because as you get older, things start falling apart. I have long had vision problems since I was a child. I don't want to blame my parents or heredity, but I was raised partially by television as a kid and it ruined my vision. Every babysitter will eventually require payment, and television required the payment of my eyesight. I got my yearly eye exams in the United States as normal, but now that I live in the Philippines permanently, I wondered whether I'd be able to get the same quality of care. As most expats in the Philippines know, the Philippines health care system is divided into two sectors, public care, and private care. If you are thinking about becoming an expat in the Philippines, believe me when I tell you that you really want private care. So, as usual, I did a Google search to find an optometrist. I found several in the area and as usual, I started comparing prices and services. To my shock and joy, I found that there are several great optometrists located where I live. Their facilities were clean and rivaled those found in the United States. When I walked in and inquired about the prices of the service, I was delighted to find out that the eye exam would only cost me 500 pesos. That is about 10 bucks US. For expats who live in the Philippines and have done so for a long time that is no surprise, you can get some of the top-level medical care for a fraction of what you would pay in the United States, and get several great optometrists services. I had my eye exam with a wonderful doctor that was very thorough, even more so than my doctor back in the States, she was absolutely amazing, and I told her so. As I left I thanked her so much for all her care and she provided me a copy of my prescription for my glasses. Of course, the salesperson who worked in her office wanted to interest me in some frames and I did check out the prices for glasses, but with all things that I do I research them before I make purchases. I have a history of finding great deals in eyewear by using a secret strategy that not a lot of people think to do, I'm going to share this with you guys and this posting. Of course, I went around to several other optometrist locations to check on the prices of what it would cost to fill my prescription. Sadly, I found out that it was only slightly 50% lower than what I would pay in the United States. You see, I have gotten used to using an online service called Zeelool.com, and it absolutely blows all optometrists and I wear shops out of the water when it comes to price and fast service. The only thing that they don't do is an eye exam now you understand why I had to see the good doctor. I went on to the site while at home and I searched through several of their glasses online, I favorited several of them that I liked and made my final decision after extensive searching of their frames. They were offering a buy one, get one 50% off sale site-wide. I was happy but actually, this is a common occurrence on this site they tend to discount things and offer special promos all the time. I was able to order my two pairs of glasses and have them shipped by just entering my prescription information and payment and shipping information. It should be noted that if you feel uncomfortable putting in the information yourself, you can simply upload a digital copy of your subscription and have one of the professionals at Zeelool.com prepare your glasses. You may be wondering if I got all the same things that I would get at an optometrist shop such as scratch guard, transitioning lenses, or any other amazing feature. All I can say is that they have everything that you're used to, you just click and add it on to your order. I always order glasses that transition when the sunlight hits them because I have always been a fan of sunglasses, but this way I can have sunglasses that have my prescription. Anyway, the most important thing to many of my readers is what was the price and is the quality the same and the answer to that is the price was 40% lower than the Filipino optometrist prescription prices which were already lower than the US prices. You also have to remember that I got two pairs, so if you factor that, it was about 70% savings. The shipping was included and to give you some raw numbers I got both sets of glasses and shipping included for $149. Plus because of their anniversary sale they threw in a free gift. There are some important things to note here, though. I get my mail forwarded to me from a service called Traveling Mailbox. However, I could have gotten the item shipped directly to me but since I'm in the process of moving, and it takes about 14 to 21 days to get my order it made sense for me to have it just go to my Traveling Mailbox address and then have it shipped to my new address later which only would take 3 days. In conclusion, I highly recommend My Optometrist what which was in Nuvali at Ayala Mall and the Zeelool.com service for purchasing your glasses and having them ship directly to you at amazingly low prices. Maybe your prescription will not be as costly as mine because maybe your eyes are better, but my eyes are good enough to see a good deal and that's what we have with Zeelool. Please Note: All the links in this post are clickable and provide great resources, and we may get some benefit from them monetarily. We are affiliate/partners with a few of the service providers. 
If you're a Christian Expat looking for love in the Philippines, you may be wondering which dating site is best for you. Look no further than Christian Filipina.
With a focus on safety and security, Christian Filipina is a premium dating site dedicated to helping Christians find love with singles in the Philippines. Here are just a few reasons why Christian Filipina may be the perfect dating site for you: Strong focus on safety and security: One of the biggest concerns when it comes to online dating is safety. Fortunately, Christian Filipina takes safety and security seriously. The site has a robust screening process, and all profiles are held to a high standard of authenticity and verification. Plus, the site offers excellent customer service and support to help you feel safe and secure while using the platform. Christian values and beliefs: Another advantage of Christian Filipina is its focus on Christian values and beliefs. As a Christian dating site, it offers a unique environment for like-minded individuals to connect and pursue relationships that align with their faith. Extensive search options: Christian Filipina offers extensive search options, so you can find the perfect match for you. Search by age, location, religion, and more to find compatible partners who share your interests and preferences. Premium membership options: While Christian Filipina offers a free membership option, premium membership unlocks additional features and benefits. With premium membership, you can message any member, upload more photos, and get access to advanced search features. If you're serious about finding love in the Philippines and want to connect with Christian singles who share your values and beliefs, Christian Filipina may be the perfect dating site for you. With a strong focus on safety and security, Christian values, and extensive search options, it's the perfect place to make meaningful connections with like-minded individuals. So what are you waiting for? Sign up today and start your journey to finding love in the Philippines. Click Here to Get a FREE Account 
Please Note: All the links in this post are clickable to provide great resources, and we may get some benefit from them monetarily. We are affiliate/partners with a few of the service providers.
 By Al Ambrose Let's say that you decided to move to a tropical destination or a foreign destination that has everything that you've always wanted. Your friends and family back in your home country may be excited for you, or they may be jealous. You may have put your mail on hold at your local post office or had a friendly neighbor pick it up for you. Whatever you did to handle, your mail in the short term is definitely not a long-term solution. You have to decide what will happen to your mail now that you've decided to live your life as an Expat or Digital Nomad. In many foreign countries, your address is more of a question mark than you would like. You need to know what region, state, province, municipality, city, or barangay that you are part of. Some places do not even have house numbers or unit numbers for you to reference. So it's important that you establish a destination for your mail with a clear deliverable address first. The next thing you need to do is you need to find a service that is based in your home country, let's say the United States of America, that will deliver your mail to your new foreign address. There are several ways that you can have your mail forwarded to you. One of the most popular is to use a mail forwarding service that scans your mail and delivers it to you electronically through an email, a proprietary online service, or an app. The items that you would like to be forwarded to you, you can select, and the ones that are considered junk mail or not needed are discarded. The service that I recommend is Traveling Mailbox. It has several flexible options if you receive a lot of mail or a little mail. They can also open your mail and scan your mail, or they can send you groups of mail via the shipping service of your choice. You can also select an address from a variety of addresses that they offer to be your new mailing address for your business or personal address. You can use the new address for your credit cards, debit cards, documents, and personal correspondence. Remember to let your banks, credit unions or service providers know about the new address that you selected. Your mail will arrive at the address you select and then be forwarded to your new foreign address. Traveling Mailbox, offers the ease of use that every Expat and Digital Nomad desires. They also provide a great level of professionalism and their online mail tracking portal is unmatched. Whether it's mail, letters, bills, or even large packages, they can be received and sent to you outside the country. Traveling Mailbox has excellent customer service via phone and email support. They notify you immediately upon receiving your request, and they handle any difficulties you face directly and promptly. The process for signing up with Traveling Mailbox is pretty simple. You can visit their site online using a link in this post. Once you are on the site, you simply register for an account and pick your plan. They provide several addresses which you can pick so that they could receive your mail and then forward it to you. It is one of the most reasonably priced mail forwarding services online. At the time of this post, their basic plan starts at only $15 a month. They also have plans that are $25 a month and $55 a month if you require additional services or receive large volumes of mail. I believe that the basic plan will supply your needs in most cases. It allows you to have your mail scanned and forwarded to the address of your choosing. Yes, of course, junk mail is discarded. Also, junk mail does not count towards your mail limits as it is shredded for free. You can have access to your account with their proprietary app and also log in on their online portal. They send you email notifications once you have completed the most important part of the sign-up process, which is filling out your USPS Form 1583 and doing your online Zoom verification with a notary that they provide. You will need a legal form of identification such as a passport that you will have to upload a picture of to their portal to complete the form. This form gives them the right to open your mail upon your request, scan your mail and forward your mail to you. You can have up to three recipients added to your account with the basic plan. So if you have a business, you can also have your mail forwarded with ease. The Zoom verification does require you to schedule it in their portal with the date and time that you are available. You must have access to a laptop or a phone with a camera to do the zoom verification of identity. You not only can have your mail forwarded to you and get the ease and convenience of this online service, but you can also earn money by sharing this service with others. Traveling Mailbox encourages every client to become an affiliate by making it really easy for you to sign up for their affiliate program. By sharing their services with other Expats and Digital Nomads, you can earn a residual affiliate commission. Click the link below to view more information about the company in a video, and also sign up if you need an excellent mail and package forwarding service. To get more information and to sign up, click the link below this post. Click here to visit Traveling Mailbox Please Note: All the links in this post are clickable to provide great resources, and we may get some benefit from them monetarily. We are affiliate/partners with a few of the service providers.
 Best Cell Phone Options for American Expats Living Abroad.
By Al Ambrose If you are contemplating moving overseas and becoming an Expat, one of the most crucial issues is how you will communicate with your friends and family or work in a new country. We have determined the best options for Expats who would like to keep their cell phone number the same as they travel around the world. We have also found the best option for Expats who would like to get a new business or personal cell phone number. Assuming that you are leaving America, the best phone plan that offers you the greatest worldwide coverage is the Unlimited Plus plan from Google FI. Google FI operates in more than 200 countries around the world. Google FI has shared relationships for cell coverage in many countries. If you are outside the US and Canada, you will be charged a $0.20 per minute fee to talk on the phone. However, there are no charges when using Wi-Fi data to talk if you are using the Wi-Fi where you are located. Typically, Google FI phone plans are cheaper than any international phone plans on the market. You will save hundreds of dollars a month if you are diligent about only using your phone to talk when around Wi-Fi and limiting your outside communications when not around Wi-Fi. TURN OFF YOUR DATA, USE Wi-Fi AND TURN ON AIRPLANE MODE ON YOUR CELL PHONE ALWAYS! The call clarity it's superb when you are away from Wi-Fi, but depending on the stability of the internet Wi-Fi where you are, you may notice some changes in the clarity. You can easily port your phone number from any carrier over to Google FI by simply purchasing a Google FI SIM card for about $7.99 to $12.99 and following the steps when registering online. Google FI customer service is excellent, they are prompt and try to answer any question you have and assist you to get started asap. Individual phone plans start at $65 a month for the Unlimited Plus calling and data in the USA. Family plans are quite reasonable and at the time of this posting, a family of 4 pays about $160 for an Unlimited Plus phone plan. The Unlimited Plus plan allows you to make your overseas calls. For additional savings, use our promo code 5W84EH to get $20 off of your first month's bill. This is a top-rated cell phone plan. The second option, if you would like an additional number or port your current phone number, is Magic Jack and the Magic Jack app you can download the Magic Jack app for free but there is a $49.99 to $59.99 per year charge to use the Magic Jack. The Magic Jack app is not a standalone option, it will require that you have a cellphone that can connect to Wi-Fi or have a data plan from another cell phone carrier when not near Wi-Fi. This will allow you to have an additional option for a business telephone number or another personal telephone number when traveling or relocating overseas. The most important thing to remember about setting up the Magic Jack is to make sure that you buy it in your home country and set it up before you leave. The Magic Jack will need to be registered in your home country first before you can travel abroad with it, and this also applies to the Magic jack app. Calls are free, but there are additional fees for international calling if you do not use Wi-Fi. Currently, I use it as my backup. The call clarity is quite good in most scenarios. Often times people say that I sound like I have not left the country. Other times based on the internet connection I sound like Max Headroom. Those of you who grew up in the 80s know exactly what I'm talking about. The bottom line is that the Magic Jack and the Magic Jack app are viable options for communications when traveling overseas and living abroad. Some additional things you may need are extension cords and power converters for your laptop and electronics because most countries use 220 to 240 volts outlets and if you have any electronic devices bought in the USA you need converters because they use 120 volts. This is relevant because you will need to plug your Magic Jack device into your computer and bring a cordless phone with a charging base to use your phone overseas. Your Magic Jack app, of course, we'll work simply on your cellphone. The two best recommendations for connectivity when traveling overseas and living in your new Expat country are Google FI and Magic Jack. TURN OFF YOUR DATA, USE Wi-Fi AND TURN ON AIRPLANE MODE ON YOUR CELL PHONE ALWAYS! This is done to avoid large phone bill charges. Warning: If you are out of the country for more than two months consecutively, your data can be cut off my Google Fi. Please Note: All the links in this post are clickable to provide great resources, and we may get some benefit from them monetarily. We are affiliate/partners with a few of the service providers.  HOW TO RETIRE IN THE PHILIPPINES
By Al Ambrose There are three ways to retire in the Philippines. The first is to make a deposit of $10,000 into a Philippine Bank. You will also have to provide proof of social security income or a pension income that gives you at least $800 in monthly income to secure your retirement visa. The Visa fee at the time of this post is $1,400. The second way is by depositing $20,000 into a Philippine Bank, but you do not need the pension or social security income proof. You need to make sure that you meet the age requirement of being at least 50, and you are still required to pay the visa fee of $1,400. The third way to retire to the Philippines is to get married to a Filipina, this is using a marriage visa, and it requires no deposit for this visa. You will need a marriage certificate and pay the spouse visa filing fee of $1,200. You also have the option of getting married online if you are a US Citizen, certain states will allow you to get married online and receive your marriage certificate in the mail and via email. No matter where you are in the world with a good internet connection, you can get married without going to the hassle of the Philippine marriage process. You and your significant other can marry virtually online with a virtual ceremony for about $500 to $600 USD. This is the cheapest way to retire with no deposits. Contact MajaWorldwide.com for more help with your retirement planning and relocation to the Philippines. Please Note: All the links in this post are clickable to provide great resources, and we may get some benefit from them monetarily. We are affiliate/partners with a few of the service providers. |
AuthorAl Ambrose is a world traveler and VP at MAJA Worldwide Archives
January 2024
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