Why I'm Returning to Africa in 56 Months (And Why I'm Telling You About It)

For years, my plan to return to Cameroon was simple: 'someday.' Someday I'll have enough saved. Someday I'll figure out the logistics. Someday the timing will be right. The problem with 'someday' is that it never arrives. It's a moving target that shifts every time life happens — a new job, a new expense, a new reason to wait 'just one more year.'

In May 2026, I decided to stop waiting for someday. I set a hard deadline: December 2030. That gave me 56 months — roughly 4.5 years — to get my finances in order, plan the logistics, and actually execute the move. This post is about why setting that deadline changed everything, and why I'm documenting it publicly.

The Problem With 'Someday'

Most diaspora I talk to have the same plan I had. They're working abroad, sending money home, and telling themselves they'll go back 'eventually.' The problem is that 'eventually' has no accountability. There's no urgency. No monthly milestone to hit. No date on the calendar that forces you to ask: 'Am I on track?'

When I finally calculated my savings rate, I realized I was saving about 15% of my income. At that rate, my 'someday' was roughly 12-15 years away — not the 3-5 years I'd been imagining. The math didn't match the dream. That gap between perception and reality is what 'someday' hides from you.

Why December 2030?

I chose December 2030 for three reasons. First, it's far enough out to be achievable — 56 months gives me time to build savings, pay off debts, and plan logistics without rushing. Second, it's specific enough to create urgency. Every month I can count down: 55, 54, 53... Third, it aligns with a life stage where I want to be back home — my early 30s, young enough to build something, old enough to have saved meaningfully.

The exact date matters less than having one. You could pick June 2028, December 2032, or March 2029. What matters is that you pick a date, calculate whether your current savings rate gets you there, and adjust one of the two until they align.

Why Document It Publicly?

I'm building calculators and writing about this journey for a selfish reason: it keeps me accountable. When you tell the internet you're returning in 56 months, skipping a month of savings feels like breaking a promise. The public commitment is a forcing function.

But there's a less selfish reason too. When I started researching what it takes to return, I found almost nothing that was calculator-backed, honest, and in-progress. Everything was either romantic ('come home, it's beautiful') or after-the-fact ('I moved back, here's what I learned'). Nobody was sharing the actual math, the real timeline, the unsexy planning that happens before the move.

That's the gap I'm filling. Not with inspiration. With numbers.

What's Coming

Over the next 56 months, I'll be publishing weekly articles, videos, and calculator walkthroughs. Each one tackles a specific piece of the return planning puzzle. I'll also be doing a monthly reassessment — publicly tracking where I am, what's changed, and whether I'm on track.

If you're planning your own return, the calculators are free. The content is free. The only thing I ask is that you run the numbers yourself — because your return shouldn't be a guess. It should be calculated.