ON MONEY
Why Financial Freedom Is Just a Spreadsheet Away: How I Stay on Top of My Finances (Free Template Included)
I have OCD when it comes to my finances. When I hear friends talking about how they went into debt with their debit cards and how little money they have in their accounts, I cannot relate at all.
I adopted healthy money habits early in life, after making the big mistake of getting a motorbike license when I was 16 years old (it costs a fortune to do it here). I needed to find a way to get back the money I lost on the license so I took my first job as a waiter at 16. Since then I have tracked my finances with a simple spreadsheet.
The Monthly Check In
I might have OCD with my finances, however I just check into them once a month. On the first of every month, I take 30 minutes to note all the current states of my accounts and credit cards and note my income. My spreadsheet then calculates the balance to the month before and indicates my expenses for the month.

At that point, I reflect on whether I spend too much or if I am on the right path.
The Big picture
The second thing that serves me is the „Big Financial Picture“. This calculation is inspired by the principle of „Dying with Zero“.
In short, I want to die with zero dollars in my bank account, having made the most out of the money I owned and having turned it into as many experiences as possible.

The only input I need to give here is my birthday, the day when I turn 30 and my current net worth (sum of all accounts).
It then calculates the amount of money I have per day, week, month and year until I die.
I also calculate the money I have until I turn 30 because that is the latest point in time at which I will start working and (hopefully) gain a stable salary. The rules of my money game will change from that point on forward.
The violet part is something very interesting. It relates to the idea of „decumulation“, as soon as you have enough money. If you want to die with zero, you have to start spending more than you make at some point.
The input you give is the amount of money you need per month for the lifestyle you want to have. It will then calculate how much money that is in total until you die (times 0,7 as some of your money should be invested in assets that grow over time).
The bottom line then calculates how much more money you need to make, to start breaking up your nest egg.
I am far, far away from that point, but it is nice to keep in mind, that this point in time will come.
Here is the link to the free template of the spreadsheet.
More about finances
Have a great day!
Matteo
