Here are a few of the mistakes I’ve made on the way to simplifying my life — the kind that sting a little at the time but end up teaching you more than any podcast or planner ever could. Some are small, some are expensive, and all of them got me closer to calm. Enjoy the mess.
My Beautiful, Broken Spreadsheet System
I once built an Excel spreadsheet so intricate it could probably file its own taxes. Rows, formulas, colour coding. It divvied up my savings into goals like holidays, nursery fees, mortgage overpayments and investments — all based on percentage allocations that made complete sense in theory, and absolutely no sense in real life.
I remember looking at it one night, exhausted, wondering why it still felt like I was falling behind even though I was doing everything right. That was the moment it clicked: I wasn’t building a system to support me. I was building one to prove I wasn’t making a mistake.
And there it was — the real lesson. Mistakes weren’t the thing to avoid. They were the thing to learn from. Turns out, my road to a simpler, more intentional life wasn’t lined with flawless planning. It was mostly trial, error, swearing, spreadsheets, and eventually — surrender.
The Card That Cost Me More Than I Expected
Let’s rewind to the time I bought currency on a credit card. I’d got a cracking rate too — one of the perks of working at the shop that sold it to me. But what I didn’t know (and no one thought to mention) was that cash on a credit card? Yeah, that starts accruing interest immediately. No grace period. No “oops” buffer.
The kicker? I was trying to be clever. Optimise the exchange, use a good rate, feel savvy. But I learned pretty quickly that clever doesn’t always equal clear-headed. Now I treat credit cards like what they are: slippery when wet. A tool, not a shortcut.
My Brief, Glorious Career in Day Trading
This one’s embarrassing, but here we are. I downloaded one of those flashy apps that makes trading look like a fun little game. I dabbled. I lost 20% of what I’d put in. Then I paid a £25 withdrawal fee just to get the rest back out. Ouch.
But here’s the thing — I don’t regret trying. It gave me a front-row seat to the hype machine. Everyone’s chasing the quick win. And while some people might thrive on that, I discovered I’m more of a “boring is beautiful” investor. Give me a low-fee index fund and a cup of tea, thanks.
When Patience Becomes Procrastination – Eye See What Went Wrong
I wanted laser eye surgery for over a decade. Every time I thought about it, I told myself, “Later. Future me will handle it.” I put it off, year after year, thinking it was the “responsible” thing to do.
Eventually I realised I was so focused on future me that I’d forgotten about present me. The one squinting through smudged glasses, debating whether to spend money on a real solution or another pair of lenses.
I finally got the surgery. It was worth every penny — not just for the clarity (literal and emotional), but for the reminder that spending well isn’t the enemy of financial independence. Delay isn’t always the answer. Sometimes the simple choice is to just… do the thing.
The Overachiever’s Trap: Complex = Safe
There was a time when I thought complexity = control. My elaborate budgeting system? A masterpiece of mental gymnastics. But it didn’t make life easier — it made it louder.
After talking it through with my partner, we did two things that changed everything:
- We focused on one savings goal at a time.
- We lowered our targets — because a £1,000 holiday is still a holiday. And sometimes, good enough is perfect.
The relief was immediate. No more spreadsheet acrobatics. Just progress I could actually feel.
Mistakes Helped Me Find the Simple Way
Here’s the truth no one tells you when you start chasing financial independence or trying to live more intentionally: your biggest breakthroughs will probably come right after a facepalm.
Mistakes show you what matters. They strip away the noise. They force you to get real — not just about money or systems, but about you.
I used to think I needed to get it right the first time. Now I know I just need to listen the second time.
Mistakes gave me:
- The confidence to say “this isn’t working.”
- The courage to try a different way.
- The clarity to know what simple actually looks like for me.
And that’s what freedom looks like — not perfection, but perspective.
Gentle Questions for the Road:
These days, I try to keep my life and money systems as simple as possible. Automate where I can. Reflect when I need to. And when things go wrong (because they do), I ask: how could this be simpler next time?
That’s it. No shame spiral. Just a small shift, and a bit more grace.
Here are a few gentle questions for your own journey:
- What mistake taught you the most about what you actually value?
- Are there any complicated systems in your life that secretly stress you out?
- What would “simple” look like if you let it be enough?
You don’t have to get it all right. You just have to keep paying attention.
Mistakes aren’t detours. They are the way.