Why and How I Retired at 42 (And Why I’d Never Go Back)

I retired at 42 years old—and in this video, I break down exactly why I made that decision, along with a little bit about how I was able to do it. This isn’t a “get rich quick” story, and it’s not about luxury or flashy lifestyles. For me, it was always about freedom—owning my time and choosing how I live my life. I talk about growing up in blue-collar America, what I saw that shaped my mindset, why traditional careers never felt right to me, and how years of simple habits like saving, investing, and living below my means made early retirement possible. After retiring, I spent a couple of years living the vanlife before eventually moving to the Philippines—where I’m now building this next chapter. If you’ve ever thought about retiring early, leaving the traditional 9–5 behind, or even moving overseas, this video is for you. Let me know in the comments: 👉 Are you thinking about retiring early? 👉 Would you ever consider living abroad? 👉 Or does this whole idea sound completely crazy? #earlyretirement #financialfreedom #retireearly #philippines #dumaguete #livinginthephilippines