Salary / Income

[m&m]

If you are thrifty, and learn to live within your means, then it is possible to live in whatever circumstance that we have right now.

Income in the Philippines is not really good, in general. A lot of people suffers a lot and have below minimum wage. It is important to plant vegetables in the backyard so that in times of needs, there is something to get or cook from the garden. And, it is healthy to have our own vegetables because it is safe from chemicals.

Here in the City, the minimum wage for college level in the City Hall right now is 274.50 a day. And those who are graduate is 297.50. Those who have second level eligibility is up to 350 a day.

But if you have a family to support with this income, it is very hard. In fact, only the father is working in 6 - 10 members in the family as majority filipinos life style. That is why, there are a lot of people living in penury. But, if you are really industrious, and can plant vegetables or cook, it can be an extra income for the family. It is really up to us how we can have more source of income. Selling is great, it will add a lot more income if only we know and have talent for it. So, we filipinos must not only depend on our salary but try to sell something.

[Edwin]

Years ago when I was just a young guy, maybe 18 years old or so, I gave a piano tuner who was also a pastor a ride up the hill to where my brother and sister-in-law lived, so that he coudl tun their piano. He was complaining about fixed income and inflation, and now I understand more than ever what he was talking about. I have seen so much inflation in my life time, with the cost of living rising and wages as well, although I don't know that the wages have kept pace with the inflation.

We get periodic raises in social security because of inflation, but I think those raises are kind of a sick joke! I also think that politicians are largely responsible for our economic woes. They approve the spending of our tax dollars like there is no tomorrow, and our national debt keeps rising at an alarming rate. The decisions that our president makes discourages businesses from making a profit, and economically we are all on a slippery down hill slope! God is going to change all of that when He takes control, and I am looking forward to that day when righteousness rules!

There isn't much value to our money, but we do need a little bit of it to get by. As m&m is saying there are things we can do to help ourselves. If we can grow some things, eating them is much healthier that buying food that is not safe to eat. We can look to God to help us and supply our needs. Often we get things we need from unexpected sources. Someone gave our youngest daughter some curtains that she did not need and was unable to use. Carol brought them home, washed them, and our daughter her, is not that mad at Carol, so she helped her sew them, sent them back to our house, and we have nice curtains. We can look to the Lord to supply our needs, and He knows what we have need of. We can spend more time at the feet of Jesus, and He will supply our needs. Carol gets after me ever once in a while for worrying about how things are going to work out for us, rather than trusting the Lord to meet our needs. He will do it for us.

We need to cut the corners and make things work, and then trust in the Lord to meet our needs!

[Smiley]

I don`t have a garden right now as I do not have a good space for one.That is too bad because I really love gardening.I used to have a HUGE garden and shared the bounty with a lot of people. I much prefer producing my food whenever I can rather than shopping for it.It is partly the money but I think the act of self-sufficiency can be very satisfying.

[Edwin]

Our kids do give us some produce out of their garden, and we enjoy that very much. I have fallen out of graces with them, so I don't go near their place, but Carol is still okay with them although she was affected by the fall out as well, but she can go get things out of the garden without getting into trouble. My Dad and our family raised huge gardens; what many refer to as truck gardens, corn, mellons, you name it, we grew it! There is something great about getting your hands in the soil! It is fun to watch things grow, and then you get some vitamins from the sun while you are out there. My Dad would get things started with a sprinkler, and then he would entirely ditch irrigate which worked really well. In the fall we gave car trunk loads of mellons to people at church, and then we would give the rest to the chickens and the pigs! It was fun!

[wayne208]

I think the Question was Not a Good One .. I thought people were Here to Make friends and to Maybe find someone special ??

[Edwin]

You are right Wayne; the question was not a good one, that is true, Smiley, Crisi, m&m, and I are trying to steer the information into a better direction that is positive and upbeat! So what started out as an impolite question from jackass, has turned into a discussion on how to make ends meet, how to live better, cut some corners, and live the good life. The Bible says that "A person's life does not consist in the abundance of things he possesses." There is also a song,"Little is Much When God is In It, so we can be healthy, happy, and live the good life with the Lord's help!

[DannyJones]

What is the income for various careers / jobs in the Philippines? What is your job and what is your pay in pesos? Answers from filipinas or people living in the Philippines only please.

Great question. I lived in several countries and I always researched the economic situation before moving. Always understand what the incomes of the local people are, what the cost of living is. Always try and understand the local economics BEFORE visiting so you do not look foolish or without realizing insult someone. You want to know: what are local religions, what are local incomes, what are local customs etc. Better to ask on a forum than go and be ignorant of local situation.

Finances are biggest problem in relationships and marriage--best to know what expectations are before getting involved. If you are an American thinking of moving to the Philippines and marry a Filipina it's wise to know what her career or profession or work is and how much it pays so you can understand what kind of income you need to bring.

[Edwin]

It is wise to become aware of cultural details to have people think well of you. It is important to have good manners, and a lot of that has to do with thinking of others rather than yourself. Being polite is always important and appreciated. So first of all learn the culture, and try not to make mistakes that will put you in a bad light.

Being aware of a person's religion is important. It is more important to team up with someone who is of your religious persuation rather than trying to pretend like you are part of their religion, or try to bring the other over to your ways of believing. So, if you are a believer it would not be adviseable to try to team up with a non-believer, or the other way around. Religious differences are terrible hard to overcome, because they are often the strongest part of the family relations.

One important thing about the economics is that it is important not to get too personal, especially when you barely or hardly know the person, and then you are asking them how how much they make, or what position they have with their company. If they volunteer than imformation that is fine, take the information, but its not a good idea to pry into this kind of information and make a very bad impression. When you do that you may come off as trying to find out what you can gain from that other person at their expense.

When you get to know a person really well, like when you are about to marry that person you can no doubt get some information without being offensive, but it is important to be sensitive, and put yourself in the other person's place, and ask yourself, "Would I like to have someone ask me that question, and try to gain that information." I think it partially depends on the motive, and why you want that information.

[DannyJones]

It is wise to become aware of cultural details to have people think well of you. It is important to have good manners, and a lot of that has to do with thinking of others rather than yourself. Being polite is always important and appreciated. So first of all learn the culture, and try not to make mistakes that will put you in a bad light.

Being aware of a person's religion is important. It is more important to team up with someone who is of your religious persuation rather than trying to pretend like you are part of their religion, or try to bring the other over to your ways of believing. So, if you are a believer it would not be adviseable to try to team up with a non-believer, or the other way around. Religious differences are terrible hard to overcome, because they are often the strongest part of the family relations.

One important thing about the economics is that it is important not to get too personal, especially when you barely or hardly know the person, and then you are asking them how how much they make, or what position they have with their company. If they volunteer than imformation that is fine, take the information, but its not a good idea to pry into this kind of information and make a very bad impression. When you do that you may come off as trying to find out what you can gain from that other person at their expense.

When you get to know a person really well, like when you are about to marry that person you can no doubt get some information without being offensive, but it is important to be sensitive, and put yourself in the other person's place, and ask yourself, "Would I like to have someone ask me that question, and try to gain that information." I think it partially depends on the motive, and why you want that information.

"When you get to know a person really well, like when you are about to marry that person you can no doubt get some information without being offensive"

No way! I would never be close to marriage before knowing all about her. Then I find something I do not like I must break off the relationship and break her heart? That is cruel.

Better to know basic details like religion, education, career, income, family members etc to ascertain compatibility BEFORE becoming emotionally involved. Save lots of time and heartbreak. A good forum should be a place to learn information like how much is the income of a teacher or nurse in the Philippines? So if her profile says she is a schoolteacher then I know more about her financial situation and do not need to ask her so many personal questions which might embarrass her.

Too many people get emotionally involved based on looks, words, perceptions. I want to know if we are compatible before emotional involvement.

[Edwin]

Okay, the point here, DannyJones, is how you want to come off to the person you are trying to impress. You can be extroverted; you can be introverted; or you can be offensive in your approach to other people. If you read this posting subject from the beginning you will realize that the person who started this posting was not a very nice person, and he came off as being quite offensive! That person was banned because of bad connections on the internet, and a possible trouble maker. So that is the history here on this posting. The subjected has been delved into before without offense authored by people who were nice people.

Getting to know your person is like dancing with them. You work with them, and not against them, so you are careful, or should be not to violate cultural norms, or be offensive to that person. Get to know that person as well as you can, but be careful not to cross that fine line between gaining knowledge of the person, and offending them. So take your time, and get to know as much about the person as you can, but you would be wise to pay attention to the person on here who gave warning of action that offend. There are people who are like “Bulls in china shops.” They don’t have good sense, they are awkward, and they don’t even know when they are breaking things. So, take some good advice, rather than being offensive.

Yes pay attention to the religion, because for many of us, we believe what the scriptures, “Do not become unequally yoked together,” because it will definitely cause problems. The education is a personal one. I am well educated, having a degree and endorsements beyond the bachelor’s, and taking many classes to support my teaching certificate. But, education is not a big deal for me. If I were looking, which I am not, because I am married, but if I were I would be just as happy to be with someone who only had an elementary education as well as I would with someone who was well educated. What I would not want is to find someone who because of education would think that they would be above everyone else, and in my opinion, some educated people are very stupid, but they just have a lot of stuff in their heads, but that does not add value to that person, as far as I am concerned. Career is something that some people place great value on, and I am retired, so I don’t care one way or the other about career ideas.

Income is something that can be a maker or a breaker. Some people are willing to live on very little and enjoy life, while others can’t be happy unless they can keep up with the Jones’s. “Godliness with contentment is great gain,” and we are to be content with food and raiment,” so as long as I can have enough income to be comfortable that is all that is important! I don’t need to be rich to be happy!

Family, that you mentioned, is important, to have similar ideas about the kind of family that you want. There is a saying, “When you marry the person, you marry the entire family.” That being said, you will be expected to help her family. You can do what you are able to make things better for yourself, your wife, and her family. It you don’t have an understanding you are sure to have problems. If you marry a Filipina, you do not want to have her entire family against you. This is something that needs to be worked out between you, your wife, and her family.

If you ask her questions that make her feel uncomfortable, you don’t need to worry about a relationship with her, because you won’t have that.

Just look at the beginning posts on this subject, and you will have a better idea of what is meant by asking questions that you shouldn’t be asking, which will be insulting and will get you no where.