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(I think I know who to thank for much of that, but let's keep US politics out of it! - Lol!)
Looking at the world's biggest financial market measured by the US NASDAQ and S&P 500 indices (most of the other world markets have followed the US market trend)
The NASDAQ is down from about 7K to 6.6k ( -8%) and the S&P500 about the same (-8%) from about 2.7K to 2.5K.
In a longer term view, that's not exceptional, Dips that size happen every few years, but in the longer term both indices (markets) just keep on rising at 10% pa or better.
Lots of good people running good businesses, providing the goods and services that people want.
Sure there are business exceptions, but on average, that's the result.
On the other hand, anyone who bought (I hesitate to say invested in) Bitcoin is looking at a dip of 15K to 4K (-74%) ...... or ignoring the early exceptional early-year peak, from about 10K to 4K, a mere -60%!
There is probably a good lesson to be learned here? ... Bitcoins, etc are products priced entirely on market sentiment! ... no substantial asset or service backing to define a real value!
While in the cities, larger USD notes are commonly used, in the smaller provincial villages, like where we are in the province, Riel is king. You can't take a $50 USD or $100 USD note, and just break it anywhere here. Provincial shop keepers simply don't keep that kind of money on hand.
What works best for us is, while in the city, Chan changes money into 10,000r notes and brings them to the farm. The specific amount to change has varied, depending on how long we would stay here at the farm. Now that things are more suitable to my style of living (READ: living in comfort), we stay here much more than before. In fact, after a short visit to the city (BTB) in early June to pay bills and shop, we will be back here for the duration of the month. Then, we will repeat that again the following month.
After reading about Schwab I am very interested. I travel a lot and get killed on fees from ATMs. However, there is only an appointment only office in Vancouver (yes I'm Canadian) and I don't know if I will be able to get there before I leave Canada. I had a look online and it appears I can open an account that way. Before I go further, has anyone else done this and which type of account would I want?
A member here - @tonny2, who is quite voiced on the subject of the Social Security Administration, passed along some recent information he found on the SSA website. This should interest American retirees who reside, or wish to reside, in Cambodia.
The question as to whether or not, American Citizens (residing in Cambodia) can have their SSA funds direct deposited in to a bank account in country, has come up a quite number of times. This question, I am very happy to say, has officially been answered.
But, first, I would like to thank @tonny2, for his efforts in contacting the US Embassy in Mania. Because of his doing so, I have now received the direct deposit form file, to share with others here. So, thank you, James. This is truly appreciated, sir.
Now, if you would like to have your SSA monies sent directly to a bank within Cambodia, please download the form immediately below, open it with a PDF reader, and follow the instructions:
SF-1199 Cambodia.pdf
PLEASE NOTE: I noticed on the form, that deposits may be converted to Cambodian Riel (KHR), prior to being deposited into an account within Cambodia. This information is located on page 2 of the form. However, I will say that, in the communication forwarded to me, from James, the embassy employee made a point to include the following statement in her reply:
If there is any question in your mind, I would suggest contacting the SSA office at the US Embassy in Manila, to verify this information, prior to filing this form with them.
However, from others whom I know in the Philippines, they have their funds deposited as US Dollars, into USD Savings Accounts there.