Fiance finally over here

[Osa]

That's cool that you guys found a system that worked for you guys.


My ex-wife and I had a joint checking account for a season during our marriage, which was often a nightmare.


So this next time around, I think we will be using a cash-envelope systems for most of our expenditures.  I have gotten very much away from using banks anyway.  I now use mostly cash and money orders to pay bills (I know that sounds archaic and ghetto, but its a system that really works and has gotten me away from all those bank fees that I was an expert at racking up), and a prepaid credit card for things I can't pay for with cash or M.O., like my car insurance.

[piglett]

In addition to the shoes, the only items still on our list are a bench grinder (for the older brother who takes care of the 2 family farms), a cellphone and chocolate. Maybe some more 6 packs of Spam from Amazon or BJ's.
Chocolate was the only "openly" requested item.

well a bench grinder is going to be a heavy item to ship by itself which is the problem that i am having. Marilys dad asked me for a hand plane (he is going to build a bigger boat for fishing)
i can get a 14" jack plane at home depot for $29.95 however it will cost atleast that much to ship the thing. also i was asked for a good flashlight. i figured a rechargable led maglight with something to step the voltage down from 250vac to about 115vac.
i don't think i want to have my wife buy a cheepo plane & flashlight in Manila, i would rather buy quality that will last for years & then send them on over.
 
 
pig

[Osa]

so there aren't places in the asian pacific where you can pay more and get good quality?  just asking.


cause I was in Cote d'Iviore a few years ago and was told the same thing.  I was like "cant you pay more for good sofa cushions", and they were like "you can't get quality sofa cushions in West Africa."

[Capstone]

We have a joint checking account now that we both use, which solved a lot of problems. Her debit card got here two weeks ago or so. Just do it and get it out of the way. My old personal checking account was linked up with some trust accounts so I had to get a new account started, which was a bit more of a hassle, but well worth it in the end. No more dealing with allowances or pocket money or anything like that.

I agree with you - a joint account is the way to go.  Most of my U.S. accounts are joint accounts with my wife - she has total access to them and has never bought anything using those funds unless it was absolutely necessary (groceries, gas, baby formula, etc). I am also a joint owner on one of the accounts that she opened in the U.S. herself as well. We do however each maintain a separate account in the U.S - this comes in handy when buying each other gifts for Christmas, Birthdays, etc. Both mine and my wife's accounts in China are individual accounts though because they don't have joint accounts there - but we still have given each other access to those accounts.


An allowance is something that you give a child, if you don't trust your lady enough to grant her access to your accounts or if she has shown herself to not be responsible enough to handle it then you should probably not be married to that person in the first place.

[Osa]

Not sure about that.  There are alot of wives who a nice, hearts of gold, but just bad with money.  So you dont give them access to the accounts.


If you have a vintage automobile, and you're wife is a poor driver, and you don't let her drive it, it doesnt mean you dont implicitly trust her. It means you recognize the driver's seat may not be the best place for her.

[Capstone]

Not sure about that.  There are alot of wives who a nice, hearts of gold, but just bad with money.  So you dont give them access to the accounts.


If you have a vintage automobile, and you're wife is a poor driver, and you don't let her drive it, it doesnt mean you dont implicitly trust her. It means you recognize the driver's seat may not be the best place for her.

I guess it would be a matter of personal preference. I myself would never consider marrying someone who is irresponsible with finances - I could never see anything good coming out of a relationship with such a person not too mention it would drive me absolutely mad. But that is just my personality I guess - we all have different requirements in what we look for and would accept in a partner.

[piglett]

so there aren't places in the asian pacific where you can pay more and get good quality?  just asking.


cause I was in Cote d'Iviore a few years ago and was told the same thing.  I was like "cant you pay more for good sofa cushions", and they were like "you can't get quality sofa cushions in West Africa."

I'm not saying there isn't but i didn't find them.
the Ace hardwear had a bunch of hand tools all made in China
they did look to maybe be of better quality than what we normally get from China but still nothing made in the US or Europe
 
 
pig 

[piglett]

I guess it would be a matter of personal preference. I myself would never consider marrying someone who is irresponsible with finances - I could never see anything good coming out of a relationship with such a person not too mention it would drive me absolutely mad. But that is just my personality I guess - we all have different requirements in what we look for and would accept in a partner.

my cousin here in the US ended up paying thousands of dollars in overdraft fees over a few years time .....why?
because both him & his wife would deposit & withdraw money & they were never on the same page.
 
I myself have 4 accounts with 4 different banks
if i put money in one of these for the house payment i know it's there for that reason & that will stay rite there till the bank removes it. i have another account through  TD bank & Marily has my debit card for that account. when she is ready to leave the PI i told her to just leave that card with her youngest brother. that way we have an EZ way to get him his tuition money & money for other emergencies over there.

once my wife arrives i intend to continue paying all the bills
I'll probably have her get into the habit of buying the groceries & maybe something small like pay the electric bill. the rest is all me
that way it it doesn't get paid i can only blame myself ....rite ?
 
 
 
pig   

[Ray]

well a bench grinder is going to be a heavy item to ship by itself which is the problem that i am having. Marilys dad asked me for a hand plane (he is going to build a bigger boat for fishing)
i can get a 14" jack plane at home depot for $29.95 however it will cost atleast that much to ship the thing. also i was asked for a good flashlight. i figured a rechargable led maglight with something to step the voltage down from 250vac to about 115vac.
i don't think i want to have my wife buy a cheepo plane & flashlight in Manila, i would rather buy quality that will last for years & then send them on over.
 
 
pig

Solution: Balikbayan Box.
　
They charge by the box and there is no weight limit. From West Coast to Manila is about $45 for a large box, door to door.
　
Ray
　

[robert angel]

There's NO END to what we can stuff in those boxes. We're gunning for a send off by mid September from the Atlantic US Coast to Manila and Mindanao, hoping it all arrives by Christmas.
 
 
Sound likely, Fellows? Poll--odds?
 
Thank God for duct tape--and the Gorrilla Glue brand tape's pretty  good about now--a bit better than  the old standby '3M'.
 
I'm hoping to get an 18 inch chain saw, assorted hand tools, including wood planes, rip and hack saws, vice grip wrenches (boy they LOVE those vice grips and find a million uses for them) a convection oven, another computer, lots of clothes,  Barbi dolls, chocolates, assorted small electronics, the usual Victoria's Secret stuff, PLUS my 14 y/o son in the bigger box!
 
I sure hope it gets there!    (and so do they!)

[thekfc]

There's NO END to what we can stuff in those boxes. We're gunning for a send off by mid September from the Atlantic US Coast to Manila and Mindanao, hoping it all arrives by Christmas.
 
 
Sound likely, Fellows? Poll--odds?
 
Thank God for duct tape--and the Gorrilla Glue brand tape's pretty  good about now--a bit better than  the old standby '3M'.
 
I'm hoping to get an 18 inch chain saw, assorted hand tools, including wood planes, rip and hack saws, vice grip wrenches (boy they LOVE those vice grips and find a million uses for them) a convection oven, another computer, lots of clothes,  Barbi dolls, chocolates, assorted small electronics, the usual Victoria's Secret stuff, PLUS my 14 y/o son in the bigger box!
 
I sure hope it gets there!    (and so do they!)

Now you talking RA, piggy take note of the above......except the last part about the kid. 

I saw a beautiful cordless drill set & tool set, I will just get them - when the price is right.

Since, ours destination is Manila - I will be sending the BB in early October for X-mas delivery.

so there aren't places in the asian pacific where you can pay more and get good quality?  just asking.

Yes there are but there is the cost factor for them and that extra sentimental value of it coming from the USA.

[piglett]

Now you talking RA, piggy take note of the above......except the last part about the kid. 

I saw a beautiful cordless drill set & tool set, I will just get them - when the price is right.

Since, ours destination is Manila - I will be sending the BB in early October for X-mas delivery.
 Yes there are but there is the cost factor for them and that extra sentimental value of it coming from the USA.

the only problem i see is shipping time
if it takes 3 months from today to get there will they already have the new boat already built by then ?? but the cheep price does sound good
 
pig

[thekfc]

the only problem i see is shipping time
if it takes 3 months from today to get there will they already have the new boat already built by then ?? but the cheep price does sound good

It usually takes around 30+ days to get to Manila (non holiday) but is will be the x-mas shipping season and we all know that shipping during the holidays is heavy & a bit slow. We give the extra time as we want to be safe and have the BB arrive in time for x-mas.

[piglett]

It usually takes around 30  days to get to Manila (non holiday) but is will be the x-mas shipping season and we all know that shipping during the holidays is heavy & a bit slow. We give the extra time as we want to be safe and have the BB arrive in time for x-mas.

your sending a BB gun
i like to target practice myself but i like something a bit heavier than a BB gun.
 
 
pig

[thekfc]

your sending a BB gun
i like to target practice myself but i like something a bit heavier than a BB gun.
 
 
pig

BB = Balikbayan Box
Not the stuff you hold your poor cat hostage with. 

[Ray]

 
Some comments on Robert's post:
 
 
I never use duct tape because it will come loose in the hot tropical climate. Use a good celophane packing tape on a tape gun (3M).
 
Plastic strapping is great if you have access to the tools and materials.
 
Glue the bottom flaps down before packing!
 
Expect fragile and glass items to be broken in transit and pack accordingly. Place liquid containers in zip-lock plastic bags. Expect your box to be crushed when it gets placed on the bottom of a stack in the shipping container.
 
Elctronics items and electric appliances, especially new ones, are generally not allowed because of customs duty issues. Also, guns, ammunition, blade weapons, flammables, dangerous chemicals, etc are forbidden. Ask your shipper about restricted items.
 
Also, commercial quantities are not allowed. That usually means 12 of each for canned foods for example, but not always strictly enforced.
 
Sure, a lot of folks lie on the customs declaration and send electronic stuff, but if your box gets opened in the random customs searches, the whole thing may be confiscated or held for payment of customs fees which can be very substantial. Customs officials in any country don't like being lied to.   
 
Ray
 
 

[robert angel]

Good advice Ray,
 
As I recall now, we've usually put a lot of the duct tape on first, as tightly as humanely possible --you know--so much stuff in there already, you have to get the wife to stand on top to seal the dang thing for starters. We will have to give that 'glue the bottom flaps down ' thing a try. I kind of figured they stack those boxes everywhich way on the ship and in port--up, down, sideways, etc., but it can't hurt!
 
Then we add layer after layer of the clear 3M type tape until the box is almost 'mummified' in appearance--the whole thing--the cardboard underneath and all, just seems more rigid after all that. I can imagine how 'gummy and nasty' duct tape can get on that long, hot and humid boat ride and sitting in some port, etc. and how it can catch--snag on stuff and come undone.
 
I wonder about what percentage of boxes they actually open and inspect and if making ours like a mummy fortress makes them having a 'look see' more or less likely?
 
I'd sure hate to be the poor cuss who has to open it up, muck around and then repack the whole thing...

[Ray]

 
Robert,
 
If you ship it during the "Christmas Rush" period, it is probably much less likely to get spot checked by customs because of the large volume of boxes coming through.
 
The reason for gluing the bottom flaps is not just for added strength, but because the thieves will usually turn it upside down, slit the flaps open with a razor, rifle the box, put the rest back, and then re-tape the bottom. When the box is received, they won't notice that it was opened and probably won't know anything is missing.
 
I always include a detailed itemized list inside so they can take inventory and let us know if anything is missing.
 
The shippers standard insurance usually only covers $100 - $200 max and if the box is lost, that includes your shipping fee, which really sucks! The shippers are usually extremely careful whom they employ or contract with in the PI for delivery because a few thefts can really kill their business when it gets out on the grapevine.
 
 
 
 

[thekfc]

I took Ray's advice last year & I glue the bottom flap then I also cut out a piece of cardboard and also glue it to the bottom. I use 3.5 MIL heavy duty industrial tape to seal my cartons. There are duct tape that are of the high performance plus grade (rated up to 200° F), so they may be good.


I also email a list of the carton contents.

[piglett]

guys if they don't charge for extra weight why not just build a 1/2 plywood box that is exactly the size of "inside" of the cardboard box?
i built one for my farther in-laws 1/2 gal. of jack & it came through just fine. if cost is an issue go with 7/16 OSB only about $8 for a entire sheet. I used a screw gun to build mine but nails would probably work too.

 
 
pig

[thekfc]

guys if they don't charge for extra weight why not just build a 1/2 plywood box that is exactly the size of "inside" of the cardboard box?

     

[piglett]

     

ok why are you banging on my head
put the plywood box inside the cardboard & then fill the thing
maybe i should have explained it better but i thought i did.
 
pig

[Ray]

ok why are you banging on my head
put the plywood box inside the cardboard & then fill the thing
maybe i should have explained it better but i thought i did.
 
pig

 
      

[robert angel]

Is the world starting to change the direction it turns, or am I wrong--is our 'resident cheapskate' 'El Pigglet'--'Zeeee Pig'--'His Pigness'--'His Highness of Swineness'--- of P-L is this the SAME guy who's actually coming UP with ideas for expensive things to send over to to the PI--TO people we figured would never see even a single sentimo from him?.
 
The way things are going around here, Ray's gonna end up writing warm and fuzzies for Hallmark greeting cards!
 
Maybe we do need a flame war!--(NO-not really)
 
By the way a sentimo's a coin worth so little, (I think 50 went into a single peso and figure, about 45 peso's will get you a dollar) they stopped making them--even THERE--the ones they might chance to find, having a nifty little hole in them, can make good spacers, or short term washers for leaky faucets but little else.

[robert angel]

BTW-STOP telling Piglett about the 'no weight restrictions' on balikbayon boxes. I'm afraid that eventually, he's going to comprehend what we've been trying to tell him and then he'll be putting himself and his lovely asawa in those boxes, instead of springing for airline tickets!