From Spreadsheet Savings to Balanced Bliss: A Personal Finance Reflection

It’s , and I still meticulously track my investments and savings on Excel. Call me old-school, a finance nerd… I own it. This spreadsheet isn’t flashy, but it holds the keys to my financial kingdom – net worth, retirement contributions, asset allocation, and, importantly, my savings rate.

The Savings Rate Rollercoaster

Recently, while analyzing my annual savings data, a few trends jumped out:

The – Surge

My income increased, and so did my savings. Simple math, satisfying results. Like, seriously, who doesn’t love seing those numbers go up, up, up? It’s basically the digital equivalent of getting a gold star in kindergarten, am I right?

The Anomaly

Savings skyrocketed! A confluence of factors contributed: pandemic-induced frugality (hello, sweatpants and sourdough baking!), FOMO-fueled investments across various assets (crypto, anyone?), and a dash of “look at me now” financial bravado. Let’s just say my spreadsheet was LIT.

The – Rebalancing

Savings dipped as I embraced a more balanced approach to money. Because, you know, life is about more than just hoarding digital dollars, right?

The Evolution of a Saver

I’ve always been a saver, wired that way. Blame it on my Depression-era grandparents or my innate desire for financial security. But the experience, coupled with life’s unpredictable nature (because seriously, who had “global pandemic” on their bingo card?), sparked a shift. Maximizing savings is no longer the only goal.