Hey — welcome to CraftYourExit.
I’m really glad you’re here. Whether you stumbled across this blog by accident or searched for something specific and landed here — I think you’re going to find something worth sticking around for.
Let me tell you a little bit about who I am and why I started this.
The Moment That Started Everything
Not too long ago I had one of those moments. You know the ones. Where you’re just sitting there and a thought hits you out of nowhere and suddenly you can’t stop thinking about it.
Mine was simple: am I actually on track for the life I want?
I’m 40 years old. I work in banking and finance in the Bay Area. Life is good — genuinely. But something about that question stuck with me. So instead of brushing it off like I probably would have done a few years ago, I actually sat with it. I started reading. Researching. Asking better questions. And the more I dug into it the more I realized — there’s a whole world of people building their exit from the grind in ways I had never really considered before.
That’s when things started to get interesting.
Why the Philippines
Here’s a little background on me. I’m Filipino-American — born in the US, dual citizen, with family both here and back in the Philippines. I’ve always felt a deep connection to the Philippines even though I grew up here. The culture, the food, the warmth of the people — it’s hard to explain if you haven’t experienced it. It just feels like home in a way that’s different from anywhere else.
I already own a condo in Quezon City that’s fully paid off. So when I started doing the math on retiring there, something became very clear very quickly.
The cost of living difference between the Bay Area and Manila is not small. It is enormous. What costs you a fortune here costs a fraction of that there — and you’re not sacrificing quality of life. If anything you’re upgrading it. Better food. Warmer culture. Family nearby. And all of Southeast Asia right at your doorstep if you love to travel — which I do.
So the retirement number that felt out of reach when I was thinking about staying in the US? Suddenly it became a lot more achievable. That realization genuinely changed how I think about everything.
Why I Started This Blog
When I started going deeper into all of this I noticed something a little frustrating. Almost all the retirement and FIRE content out there assumes you’re staying in America. Retire in Florida. Maybe Arizona. Portugal if you’re feeling bold.
Nobody was really talking about what this journey looks like for Filipino-Americans who want to go back — or for anyone who wants to use geography as part of their retirement strategy.
So I decided to just document my own journey and share everything I learn along the way. The wins, the setbacks, the strategies, the lifestyle. All of it — as honestly as I can.
That’s CraftYourExit. A blog about building a deliberate, intentional exit from the grind — on your own terms, at your own pace, toward a life that actually excites you.
Who This Is For
If you’re Filipino-American and retiring in the Philippines has been sitting in the back of your mind — this blog is for you.
If you feel like you’re behind and need to see that it’s not too late to build something real — this blog is for you.
If you’re chasing FIRE and want a fresh perspective you haven’t heard before — this blog is for you.
I’m not a financial advisor. I’m just a regular person with a plan and a lot of ground to cover. And I’d love for you to come along for the ride.
Welcome to CraftYourExit. Let’s build this together.
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