Booked a one way ticket to Manila without much of a plan how long I'm staying or where I'll be by the end of the year. For now I have a place in Taguig for up to 6 months.

I've quit poker in October last year but while grinding online I was usually silently reading 2+2 degen stories in the Phils, Thailand and Cambodia threads and of course k2d's thread who inspired me with his cheap, arguably strange lifestyle. I didn't even have any intention of going to Asia at the time, I just found the stories in those threads entertaining and it always makes me happy to see people cut ties from the norms and expectation of society to live life as they want.

Flight to Manila is in 9 days, idk what to expect but I'll share my experiences here.

Good luck in your new adventure. Did you also get a plane ticket leaving the Phils? I hear you need one or they might not let you in.

Yeah I'm getting a throwaway ticket for the sake of being let in but thanks for reminding me.

Actually I'm thinking of "renting" a ticket from a site like FlyOnward for $10. Anyone ever done that and can confirm this works without problems?

Yep can confirm it works, make sure to time it with their working hours. I got screwed out of one before because of this and they refused to refund (after I asked like 5 mins after booking when I realized my error).

Wish you a proper blast in the phils mate! what are you going to be doing for money?

I look forward to this thread.

What are you hoping to do while in MNL for 6 months? Bang hoes? get a gf? Start working online?

Do you have a set budget your'e sticking to?

I'm coming to Phils with savings for 6 months. I expect no significant income for the next few months. I'm working on a Youtube channel of mine that currently has 4k subs. My goal for the year 2017 is reaching 50k. I think you need at least 100k though to make a modest living off weekly videos.

The Youtube thing is part of the reason I'm choosing Phils because the people speak English which is kinda a requirement for my type of videos. This is what I'll be doing in Phils apart from banging hoes. A gf would be nice too.

I'm gonna post my channel another time, it's a bit embarrassing.

My budget will be tinier than anyone I've seen here before. $600 for everything. No drinking, no P2P, $250 rent.

Good luck im moving there on the 24th pm me your contact if u wanna hangout

Atleast K2 is inspiring some one lol , all the best of luck.

Its great you have the guts to do stuff like that. Imo super interesting you go Manila which is more expensive than Thailand or cambodia or some else generally and I think its going to be so boring that it will drive you to be productive with stuff. I think though Cebu or some else place in the Phillippines would be nicer than Manila as you dont play live poker or anything.

Maybe a bit too ambishious if only income comes from some YouTube channel.

Gl

Thanks guys!

Yeah it's a gamble and success is not guaranteed but if it doesn't work out I can always still do something else, be it in Asia or home or elsewhere. I'm only 22 after all. I just don't wanna miss out on trying out things that could go wrong but could go very right.

Any reason why Manila over a beach town? Seems like on your budget quality of life would be better, but each to their own ofc

I just prefer life in a large city cuz I've grown up in one. For the same budget I'd personally prefer staying in a cheaper area of Manila like Taguig over a nicer area of Cebu.

What if i told you...

Looking forward to this thread ! Good job having the guts to do it . You can always fly home if you hate it . Ill be curious to hear your budget reports . Sounds like you got the kinda lifestyle to support the cheap cost of living . I was in the philippines and i found food to be the biggest expense (higher then i thought)

Don't fly home if you don't like it. Fly to Pattaya instead and spend your 6 months budget in to weeks.

Thing with food in Manila is that streetfood is generally terrible when in Thailand its awesome. Buying a meal from streetkitchen is generally more like dog food alot of bones and bad stuff. I recommend you to cook on your own cause in decent places to eat the meal costs around 4-6 dollar at lowest. Junk food is cheap but obv. I dont recommend to eat it alot.

Locals buy vegetables, fruits meat and fish alot of times from food markets which are in places a foreigner doesnt really go (hard to find). In market these are kind of expensive especcially fruits and vegetables. Milk products are very expensive (imported from New Zealand or Europe).. Phillippines is a country of cheap junkfood and cheap alcohol, you can get bottle of rhum (tanduay for 1 dollar).

( ) strange lifestyle

you dont want to live in manila on a $600 budget

i know that us telling you this won't change your mind, but i'll repeat you don't want to live in manila on a $600 budget

ive probably been to 15 different cities in SEA, i would rank manila at the bottom of the list for that budget

250 for your room then you got water/electric/internet. Just get a fan dont use AC. Eat Ramen every meal. Invite girls over from the internet for free(dont be paying for transport) and drink 1.00 bottles of liquor and have delicious ramen dinners with them. If you subside your youtube income with a internet blog you'll be good to go.

If this fails come to Pattaya and spend your entire budget in 10 days and go home a new man.

I spend money on almost nothing but rent, bills and food. I've lived in Malta and Greece on $700/month and I was happy. If I can do $700 there I can do $600 in Manila. I cook at home and for that budget it doesn't even need to be ramen everyday lol, I allow myself $10 a day on food. Other than food - no AC, barely any transport, no drinking (I haven't in 3 years anyway), free girls from the internet or malls. I'm 30-40 min walk from BGC so I'll probably be there most of the time and obv I'm walking there as well.

I'm happy living with very little anywhere I go so I'm sure I'll be ok

You know k2 I don't find your lifestyle strange at all but I felt like many people do, even by poker forum standards. Nothing wrong with that though

you've been out-nitted.

Are those food markets way cheaper?

Maybe I should get a local gf to show me food markets and stuff like that.

How do Filipinas view a broke white guy living in a tiny place with no AC?

I out nitted Dante long before this. Hell I outnitted Dante long before he ever even stepped foot in Asia.

the girls you will be dating dont have running water so they will love your place.

Also not as big of a deal when you are a young guy, which you are. Unless you are ugly as fu ck and have a miceodick, then you might be in for a rough time.

I'm traveling from Malta to Manila in 25 hours for $360 instead of 17.5 hours for $600. Is that nitty too?