$$$ Check-Up Time

Well, dear readers, it’s that time of year, again.  Time for a little health check-up of your finances, year-to-date income, and – gulp – your estimated income taxes for 2010. Readers who’ve kept up with my articles know that I’m a CPA and I love my work.  Helping others do “battle against the beast” is [...]

Updated: Warranties in the Philippines

When buying a major item like a car, a new PC or an appliance, most of us always consider what kind of warranty is being offered.  The longer the warranty, the more likely we are to consider buying the item if it meets our needs. In my time living in the Philippines, more than a [...]

Franchisor Expansion Rate

Initially, a Franchisor must determine the markets in which the franchised business is most likely to be established successfully. It is generally advisable to concentrate expansion in one or a few markets where “critical mass” can be achieved quickly in order that the network have in such markets effective advertising, support and assistance and effective [...]

The Nuclear Option

Over my years of living in the Philippines I have adjusted to many new and different things.  Almost everything in life is a bit different here, but on almost everything, even when it’s been difficult, I have made the adjustment. I’ve adjusted to different types of foods. I’ve adjusted to a totally different style of [...]

Pilots are flying

As the title of this article says, pilots are flying.  And, what I am saying is that Pilots for Philippine Airlines (PAL) are flying. Well, Bob, of course the PAL pilots are flying… that is what pilots are supposed to do, fly planes! Well, yes, pilots are literally supposed to fly airplanes, but I never [...]

Vacation from a Vacation

Huh?  Whazzat you’re talking ‘bout, Paul?  Are you thrusting another mind-bender on us? Many have been wondering what I’ve been up to.  It seems as though the last, three-part article was a little bit much for some readers.  Other readers wonder if something is wrong and that I’m relying on “back-up, just in case” articles [...]

Exclude Me? Pt III

In Part I and Part II of this series, I introduced you to the  Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and Housing Exclusion and Deduction,  a list of definitions, the “mechanics” of the exclusions and deduction , explained how they reduce the income tax liability of qualified taxpayers, and discussed IRS Form 2555-EZ. Now for the heart of [...]

Exclude Me? Pt II

In Part I of this series, I introduced you to a tax saving strategy that is very relevant to living in the Philippines – to the entrepreneurs and the wage or salary workers alike – Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and Housing Exclusion and Deduction. Additionally, I presented the basic requirements for qualifying to use these exclusions [...]

Exclude Me? Pt I

In an earlier article, I mentioned a topic that needs an article of its own – the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and Housing Exclusion and Deduction.  It’s very relevant to living in the Philippines – particularly to hard working residents and entrepreneurs. It’s a legal method promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to reduce [...]

Bob’s plan for ending corruption

As anybody reading this likely knows, the Philippines has a new President, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino.  Today, June 30, Noynoy will take the Oath of Office and officially become the new President of the Philippines.   One of President Aquino’s big campaign promises was that he was going to put an end to corruption in the Philippine [...]

Copycat, Copycat, Copycat!

During my time in the Philippines there is one question that I get asked quite regularly by visiting Foreign Nationals and the question is, what business would you recommend for me to do when I move here? This is always a difficult on for me as I have seen many people come here, start a [...]

Getting real about jobs in the Philippines

One of the most frequent e-mails I get from people is one that asks me how they can get a job in the Philippines.  People want to move here, but they don’t have any money, and they write to me and ask me how hard it would be to find a job here in the [...]

Claustrophobia

OK, I’ll reveal a bit of personal information about myself that most people don’t know: I’m claustrophobic. Why? I have absolutely no idea. It’s not so much about being locked in a closet or something similar. That really doesn’t bother me so much. In my job, I’ve had to climb around in confined spaces on [...]

A microcosm of life in the Philippines

Last week one day, I decided to make a visit to the public market in Bankerohan, Davao City.  Bankerohan is the biggest public market in the City, and it’s not too far from our house.  Probably between 5 to 10 minutes on a tricycle from the house, and we are at the market.  I have [...]

Seeking Answers for Taxing Questions

I’ve been receiving a lot of tax questions lately.  Many deal with living in the Philippines and Fil-Am relationships.  I thought I might share some of them with you.

This article is not an all-inclusive Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) piece.  It’ll cover just a few questions that pop up from time to time, centered on a [...]

A little LiP business

As any of you regular LiP readers will recall, just a few weeks ago, I introduced a new design here on the Live in the Philippines Web Magazine.  Overall, I think that the changes were for the good, and the feedback from readers has been nearly 100% positive, which makes me very happy.  I am [...]

Family Outsourcing

A little over a week ago, I wrote an article asking if Outsourcing is exploitation.  In the end, I do not believe it is exploitation, and it seems that most, nearly all, readers felt the same way as I did.  Of course, we want to always treat our employees in a fair way, and with [...]

HOAs: The root of all evil

Freedom.
A man’s home is his castle.
The right to hold private property.
Words to live by. The right to do as you wish. In the United States, I call B.S.! In the Philippines, property owners have more freedom. Yes, you read that right. Why?
The Homeowner’s Association.
Americans are probably more familiar with homowner’s associations than Europeans, so there [...]

Million Peso MAN, A Greedy Lawyer!

This is an account of a tragic accident which took place last year, 2009 on Mothers Day leading to the unfortunate death of a young 11 year old boy in the Cambridge Farm Hotel Swimming Pool and the pure greed of the Mother and her Lawyer in trying to make a large amount of money from [...]

Talking with DJ

As I told you in an article earlier this week, Feyma, the kids and I were down in General Santos last week for the wedding of a niece.  Before going to the wedding, we had a chance to visit with some family members for a while.  I got a chance to talk with one of [...]

Filipina by birthright but…

Today, we have a guest article from Anna Haller, whom I recently met online through this site.  Anna has an interesting story to tell, and I am sure you will enjoy hearing about it.  Welcome to LiP, Anna, and I hope we will hear from you more.  MindanaoBob
My name is Anna Haller and I am [...]

Taxing Times (for U.S. Expats)

What’s this, Paul – another tax article so soon after April 15?
Well, yes and no.  This article doesn’t directly address the topic of taxes.  It delves into a little “preventive” action, however, regarding some required Department of the Treasury report filings.
While this article focuses on an issue facing a U.S. citizen/taxpayer, it may very well apply [...]

Is outsourcing exploitation?

The other day, I got an e-mail from my friend, Dave Starr.  Dave was letting me know about an article that he thought I may find interesting.  Over the years, both Dave and I have followed the blog of a fellow in Australia named Yaro Starak.  Yaro is an Online Entrepreneur, just like I am.  [...]

Get a great deal through this weekend!

Woke up this morning feeling good, and wanting to spread the feeling!  I got an idea to offer my book at a great sale price!
So, I’m feeling good, and want to spread the good cheer!
What can I do to accomplish that?  Well, I’ve decided to offer the best discount ever on my book, 49 Ways [...]

Ten!

Yes, it’s true… I am celebrating my 10th Anniversary today. Marriage? No. Birthday? No. Hmm… what could it be? Well, as of today, I have been living in the Philippines for 10 years!
In many ways, they have been 10 long years.  In other ways, they have flown by quickly.  Some things about living in the [...]



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