just wanted to share :)

30F, make a decent salary (3600/bi weekly). I've been so laser focussed on saving everything I can to make sure I'm set up for some good compounding interest later in life; ie: used to try to keep bi weekly expenses to <800$ if possible. like living super cheap. My hobbies are running, skiing (cheap once you've paid for the pass considering I live 45' from a ski hill), and crafting. I would say I live quite a modest life.

I've since shifted to the following as a biweekly investment:

– 700 RRSP (6% employer match)

– 500 own RRSP contrib

– 270 TFSA

– 300 Taxable Account contrib

– 1320 for mortgage

and I enjoy life with the rest. Usually this leaves 1400/bi weekly for expenses and even that 600$ increase I feel like I have freedom to shop more / do whatever the hell and live less restricted. I know this sounds insane (I am, I would say, type A), but it feels like such a rad realization that I will be ok financially and can spend a teeny bit more now.

Things that helped: making a financial planning spreadsheet running out scenarios based on compounding interest and continuing with a similar investment strategy through to ~2050 and 10% returns. I'll be 55 and would be able to retire sooo comfortably (hopefully) and it just kind of put me at peace.

Other realizations – I don't think its the worst thing to grind it out and try to save as much as you can for the first few years of your working career. I have ~300k invested now and am starting to see investment growth compounding and its so rewarding.

Sharing in case this helps anyone else who may be living extra restricted as I was – there's more to life than saving 🙂

Also, I understand I'm still probably living restricted compared to most but its all relative <3