The year was 2008 when Michael McCullough experienced a devastating setback while living in the Philippines. The US-based company he was working for in Manila unexpectedly stopped operating and eventually closed down.

Michael had only US$500 left in his pocket at the time. When you have rent to pay, that could be a cause for alarm. “On December 15 that year, I was laid off,” Michael unabashedly recalls. “I had zero money in my account, not even severance pay. My last $500 was an all-time low. I didn’t see that coming because that company was doing well.

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