This Year I'll Save Less (money).
In moments of self-reflection, I contemplate my life and all that I hope to accomplish this year. The list is long, and it often clashes with my constant focus on personal finance. I have an aggressive and diversified PAC that I’ve been disciplined with for the past three years, and I’m proud of that.
However, I’m also aware that life is meant to be lived, and I don’t want to let my financial goals prevent me from experiencing all that life has to offer. This year, I’m challenging myself to find a balance between financial responsibility and personal fulfillment.
I have a car, exactly the one I’ve always wanted, I also own a motorcycle, and I live alone in a rental. This seems to be a perfect situation and, i’m proud an happy with that also because despite my indulgences in technological purchases, I manage to save and invest about 55% of my monthly earnings. This should make me satisfied, and for the most part, it does. However, sometimes I doubt whether I’m saving too much, considering that I’m 28 years old. I wonder if I should go out for dinner more often or not seeing the all-you-can-eat sushi as just an occasional luxury (since it only costs 40 euros).
I question the correctness of my choice to live frugally, limiting my experiences and dedicating almost all my free time to reading or watching content on personal finance and investments, in addition to compiling extensive Excel sheets full of numbers and analysis. I wonder if this commitment to saving and investing will one day bring me the much-desired financial independence, allowing me to live a happy and carefree life, or if I will end up being one of the wealthiest people in the cemetery.
Sometimes, I must admit, my passion for personal finance gets the best of me. I worry that it has become a bias within me, causing me to scrutinize every unnecessary expense. Occasionally, I’ll scroll through Instagram and see people seemingly living a qualitatively better life than mine, yet I know for a fact that they earn less or, worse, don’t earn at all. Of course, appearances no longer matter to me, but perhaps I need to find a middle ground.
Therefore, I’ve decided to reduce my PAC by 10%. It’s not much, I know, but it’s a good first step for me. I now have that extra 10% each month to spend on things I enjoy, things I must make an effort to spend on.