04/2011 - Ex Pats That Fall

I don't know about everyone else but for me, I wouldn't move
somewhere out of the country without a fixed monthly income.
Either a 401k or pention. And I really have no need to start a
business or working some job when I am retired. But I guess
that says something about me, because I wouldn't move out
of my country to a "playground" until I was retired and well
enough off to do so.

And I guess for the record, I would like to be an Ex-pat
one day, somewhere in Asia!

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Originally Posted by insular

And I guess for the record, I would like to be an Ex-pat
one day, somewhere in Asia!

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:bigthumbup::bigthumbup::bigthumbup:

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Originally Posted by insular

And I guess for the record, I would like to be an Ex-pat
one day, somewhere in Asia!

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Me too! Complying with visa rules by splitting time between Pattaya and A/C!

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Originally Posted by TC

Me too! Complying with visa rules by splitting time between Pattaya and A/C!

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So you plan on living there one day. Will you bother to speak the language?:surprised:

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Originally Posted by Jimmydr

So you plan on living there one day. Will you bother to speak the language?:surprised:

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Actually, I shouldn't jump the gun. I don't know where I plan to end up, but I could think of worse places. There will be many factors besides mongering.

I think it's helpful to speak at least a little bit of the language no matter where you live, although I find English goes a long way in both places.

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Originally Posted by insular

And I guess for the record, I would like to be an Ex-pat
one day, somewhere in Asia!

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You will have a lot of company!

I don't know if I technically fall under the "ex-pat" title or not really... but as many of you know, I moved to Cali, Colombia back in July of last year. I came with some savings and another small source of residual income, but really, everything I have gotten here so far, has been by me working. I have taught English here and it has more than paid the bills. I recently switched institutes and am currently working for the largest institute in Colombia. It is an international institute with over 600 locations worldwide. I am living fairly comfortable NOW. There were some bumps along the way, but I managed to get through them.

I won't go into what exactly I have or make income-wise, but let's say that a single person here in Cali, can live very comfortably on an income of say 2 million pesos per month (close to $1k).

Along with my new job, I also give private lessons and make a nice additional income from that.

I have a few ideas for businesses here and actually know quite a few foreigners, AND Colombians that have successful businesses here. I have a Canadian friend (born in Canada and lived his whole life there, but was born to Colombian parents there), who teaches French here and also has a internet thing going as well. He is doing very well.

It can be done...

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Originally Posted by 3somefan

I won't go into what exactly I have or make income-wise, but let's say that a single person here in Cali, can live very comfortably on an income of say 2 million pesos per month (close to $1k).

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Well an apartment in a safe area in Medellin runs at least $650 a month so how safe is your area? What is your rent?

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Originally Posted by 3somefan

I have a few ideas for businesses here and actually know quite a few foreigners, AND Colombians that have successful businesses here. I have a Canadian friend (born in Canada and lived his whole life there, but was born to Colombian parents there), who teaches French here and also has a internet thing going as well. He is doing very well.

It can be done...

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I would think that there would be many 1,000's that have successful business in Cali.:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Jimmydr

Peter was there before we got there. He was living there 20 years. He is not one of us nor are the owners from Baileys.

The baileys people have been in the restaurant business for many years, so they say.

Lets revisit this in 10 years and you can tell me how many of the guys that you met on monger trips succeeded.

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The Happy Bar, at the end of the strip, is apparently owned by an ex-pat and his Dominican girl friend.

I noticed when I was in Sosua last month that there were very few people in the place. It used to be popular at one time. I think it has been affected by the crackdown in a major way.

But then, what do I know. It seems Seacrets is always empty (more bartenders than customers:rofl:) and it is still in business.

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Originally Posted by DASBOOTY

But then, what do I know. It seems Seacrets is always empty (more bartenders than customers:rofl:) and it is still in business.

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Its called money laundrying.

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Originally Posted by Jimmydr

I would think that there would be many 1,000's that have successful business in Cali.:rolleyes:

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My Colombian friend has a daycare, and his sister has a successful construction company here in Cali. They are also opening a language institute here in the south in the next 6 months.

My wife's two cousin owe a detailing company. They started with one shop in Puerto Tejada, and now, they have opened a new in Cali.

My wife's aunt and uncle own a sewing and alterations shop in Cali, they are literally so busy that they are working 7 days a week.

I can go on... I was just saying that it can be done. :)

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Originally Posted by 3somefan

My Colombian friend has a daycare, and his sister has a successful construction company here in Cali. They are also opening a language institute here in the south in the next 6 months.

My wife's two cousin owe a detailing company. They started with one shop in Puerto Tejada, and now, they have opened a new in Cali.

My wife's aunt and uncle own a sewing and alterations shop in Cali, they are literally so busy that they are working 7 days a week.

I can go on... I was just saying that it can be done. :)

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You are talking about business people who lived their whole lives there. I live in NY and we have many millions of business people here.

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Originally Posted by Jimmydr

Well an apartment in a safe area in Medellin runs at least $650 a month so how safe is your area? What is your rent?

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The area is called Valle Lili, it's one of the safest areas in Cali. Rent with the administration is $700,000 COP a month.

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Originally Posted by Jimmydr

You are talking about business people who lived their whole lives there. I live in NY and we have many millions of business people here.

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very true, That is why in the original post, I said AND Colombians.

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Originally Posted by 3somefan

The area is called Valle Lili, it's one of the safest areas in Cali. Rent with the administration is $700,000 COP a month.

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I think that you layed out the expenses to be about $520 a month.:iconTU::iconTU:

Its about $800 a month in Medellin.

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Originally Posted by 3somefan

very true, That is why in the original post, I said AND Colombians.

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So what is your monthly food expense?

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Originally Posted by Jimmydr

So what is your monthly food expense?

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Well it has taken sometime for me to get my body used to the Colombian food, but to feed all 3 of us, we spend on average about $300,000 COP on food. A lot of that is fruit and vegetables that we go buy at a local galleria, which is much cheaper.

If I was on my own, I could do it for probably around $150-$200,000 COP.

We go out to eat usually one time a week. So that really cuts costs down and we also get meat from Puerto Tejada, where her parent's live. The quality is just as good as the meat here in Cali, but about 40% cheaper.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 3somefan

Well it has taken sometime for me to get my body used to the Colombian food, but to feed all 3 of us, we spend on average about $300,000 COP on food. A lot of that is fruit and vegetables that we go buy at a local galleria, which is much cheaper.

If I was on my own, I could do it for probably around $150-$200,000 COP.

We go out to eat usually one time a week. So that really cuts costs down and we also get meat from Puerto Tejada, where her parent's live. The quality is just as good as the meat here in Cali, but about 40% cheaper.

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So what type of work does she do? The bus is 1,500 in Medellin. How much is it there?