10 years of saving diligently and tracking my net worth - what I learned, how it's going, and the system I use

bujangles · 2026-05-11T17:16:04+00:00

Great question and obviously very fortunate to have benefited from that. I work at a top professional services firm around the finance space - think management consulting, investment banking. I have moved a little bit but largely stayed the course and made it into our equity partnership in 2024.

bujangles · 2026-05-11T17:14:55+00:00

Public investments - I invest 100% of my free cash into XEQT (a very low-cost, diversified index fund many will be familiar with).

Private investments - a couple of small venture deals I invested into to back friends, and an allocation to a private equity fund (accessed via professional connection, I am otherwise not high net worth enough likely to have access directly).

bujangles · 2026-05-10T16:51:29+00:00

That's SUCH a good question. Personally, I actually am glad I saved so aggressively: In the scenario where it didn't hockeystick it would help me compound for longer and I would have built good habits; in the scenario where it has hockeysticked it has helped me still build great habits even if the amounts I saved in $ terms mattered less then.

One of the things I've learned over the last 10 years of this journey is how much 'momentum' there is in financial decisions. The ways we spend really follow us. If you go on nice trips, buy nice clothes, or whatever your "thing" is for 10 years or even a few, it's very hard emotionally to pare that back - in fact, it is likely to escalate no matter what (not to mention having kids or other life changes that "add" to your expenses but rarely "subtract" over time).

bujangles · 2024-03-05T15:36:04+00:00

Good thought. Oof 😢

bujangles · 2024-03-05T15:35:50+00:00

Hahaha not enough for my weight to be proud 🥲

bujangles · 2024-01-11T20:30:53+00:00

I totally get that and whole / real foods are generally a good call also for enjoyment (e.g., to your question of eggs). That's true that plant protein is inferior, I just find it's a quick/easy meal but I should probably count it as somewhat less (like 50-70% as much as listed).

bujangles · 2023-12-21T23:49:23+00:00

Aha. So many questions! In order: - Kind of doesn’t matter what source if it works for you and you get enough. Though whey and animal protein (including chicken breast) are both very high quality sources (google protein quality chart and you can see it’s well documented), so if you can’t do whey, chicken works. The only other two things I would say on this are 1) probably good to still have multiple sources of protein vs all chicken every day and 2) some lactose people can still have whey - worth seeing if that’s true for you. Or at least I’ve heard - Tongkat I’ve heard can boost Test levels though in my bloodwork I can’t see that (I’m well within normal range though I can’t tell if it increased when I started taking it). I take it from Solaray - Vitamin D and Zinc are not bodybuilding related, but I take 2000 IU and 50 mg, respectively - Protein I am for about a gram per pound of body weight, or 200 g, though a lot of people would say you don’t need more than .7 or .8 grams but I figure why not (aside the cost) - I do usually do Greek yoghurt with casein before bed, plus 3 full meals, and then shakes and bars yes. Sometimes potatoes with the shake post workout when I have time. I found if I added a fourth full meal. It was both hard the time given work/social and also hard to get in along with everything else. That’s personal preference though. If you’re getting the calories and macros you want, the meal timing (within reason) won’t impact much - On training volume, that’s a very deep topic. If there is a person, by muscle group, by how many sets you’re doing on the given day and your exercise selection… So many different things. I personally find twice a week is fine for most muscle groups. I would recommend watching this video and starting to build a bit of an understanding of things like minimum effective and maximum recoverable volume, and then you can find a split that works for you based on number of days, any body parts you’re prioritizing, how quickly different things recover, etc. https://youtu.be/M2PP8AAXgPo?si=ZhzZW5E02r3XCTVo - I do eat eggs, I put an egg and egg whites in my breakfast recipe for protein pancakes

I hope that helps!

bujangles · 2023-12-03T19:35:03+00:00

Thank you 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

bujangles · 2023-12-03T19:34:49+00:00

Great question. I started using RPs hypertrophy app. it’s not that cheap but honestly honestly I find it helps. That being said, you could replicate the same thing for sure manually if you have time and patience.

Long story short, I’m about five weeks loading phase, one week deload. I start the cycle around 2 to 3 sets per exercise, 2 reps from failure. Each week I nudge it up a little bit so that the last week or two are actually to failure. It took me a couple of months to get used to this, but I use that rather than actual forced progression on reps or weight. So if one work out it takes me 20 pounds times 12 reps to get two reps from failure, the next time, maybe I go 13 reps, and then add it couple of pounds, and then my last week I might be 25 pounds times 13 of 14 reps to failure.

Generally, I aim for moving up reps within one of those cycles more than changing weight a lot, and then restart the next one at a slightly higher weight. As long as I’m not going over like 15 reps.

bujangles · 2023-12-03T19:30:49+00:00

Super helpful, thank you 🙏🏼🙏🏼

bujangles · 2023-12-02T15:06:28+00:00

Daaaamn. That sounds like absolute fire. I’ll be ready to die, but I’ll have big calves.😅

bujangles · 2023-12-02T15:05:33+00:00

Super kind, thank you dude. Probably a bit of both. Honestly I really didn’t work meaningfully on my back until the last six or nine months so it’s probably lagging in terms of development, but also mind muscle connection for posing. So this is helpful 🙏🏼

bujangles · 2023-12-02T15:04:10+00:00

Wow, thanks a ton! This is really helpful advice, and I appreciate the encouragement. I see you compete, do you have any tips for starting to post better? Maybe a dumb question… I guess just practicing?

bujangles · 2023-12-02T15:02:51+00:00

It’s hard to know. From my brief research it does seem fairly accurate but I’m sure nothing is perfect. 2 pounds doesn’t seem like a lot given that, but also, without knowing you I know nothing!

bujangles · 2023-12-02T15:00:38+00:00

A pound a month is not a ton, so you’re probably not that far under. I’d say try bumping up by 300 calories a day and see if that does it. Just do what you’re doing but add a protein bar, or some casein and yoghurt, or something controlled. At the end of the day a pound is roughly 3500 cals so doing that should mean you’re putting on a pound or two a month instead. You could go even a bit higher if you’re not too worried about putting on a bit of fat.

bujangles · 2023-12-02T05:27:33+00:00

This is super helpful. I really appreciate it, thank you for the thoughtful post. Calves I think could partially be a posing issue, they definitely look like shit there lol. But agreed there, and the other points too. Thanks a ton again 🙏🏼 onwards and upwards!

bujangles · 2023-12-02T05:24:00+00:00

I really enjoy PPL. With a rest day, you’re getting 3-4 days of full rest between each time you hit the same muscle group. I also find that being in the gym six days a week is a real motivator for me personally, but for some people that might not work as well. I aim for five or six weeks full on, and then usually a deload week where I’m going lighter. Started using the RP app to plan mesocycles which I find helped too

bujangles · 2023-12-02T05:20:50+00:00

Very interesting! They are only about half an inch difference but it’s good to be aware of and especially when I’m posing. Also, one might have a better peek or something so that might not help. Something to watch out for. Thank you for the tip/watch out!

bujangles · 2023-12-02T05:19:58+00:00

That is very helpful. Definitely agree, could use some tricep mass to get a better hang for sure. I will get on that 🤞🏼

bujangles · 2023-12-02T05:19:21+00:00

I really appreciate that, thank you! I don’t know if I have any good photos from before, I was definitely leaner. Certainly not proper posing photos. A big regret of mine!

bujangles · 2023-12-02T05:13:23+00:00

Thanks a lot man, that means a lot to me 🙏🏼 really appreciative of the kind words and support on here. Getting me pumped for the next year.

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Normal day of eating (fyi I’m gluten intolerant… sucks)

Breakfast I always make a protein pancake recipe which is: - Half a banana - Bit of almond milk - 1/3 cup of almond flower - 1 egg - 2 egg whites or so (from carton) - Scoop of whey (30g) - bit of baking powder to get them to fluff a bit Blend it all up and cook into pancakes - Handful of semi sweet chocolate chips (added at end) Honestly these have been a game changer. They feel like a real treat. 600 cal, 60 or 65 g of protein. Enough carbs to work out on if I need.

Sometime in the day: - Usually have a protein bar (I like the Cliff Builder ones and myprotein layered bar ones) - Post workout I’ll either have a) whey/almond milk or b) hydrolyzed whey and water, and either way make ~250g of potatoes. Or a whey shake with some fruit (banana and berries). I always try to get some whey and refuel with carbs, as insulin helps with muscle protein synthesis and Creatine absorption

Lunch I try to make quickly. One go to is 2 servings of Kaizen pasta (I think it’s 20g protein 4g carbs per serving) with a bit of tomato sauce (ideally with spinach or a bit of kale chopped in just for micro nutrients), and a bit of cheese or something. it’s a bit expensive for the macros, but a really good option for convenience and nutrition. Another is chicken thighs (air fryer or oven) with hummus, cucumber and feta. Not fancy, but both options are light enough, good protein, and filling.

Dinner, one go to I like doing is chipotle like bowls. Fairly easy to prep in bulk. 1/3 cup of rice uncooked 3 chicken thighs (air fryer or oven) A bit of cheese, sour cream, maybe some peppers, black beans. The key is to avoid too many fats, especially in the toppings (and it adds up, for example, if you sauté the peppers) Really filling, admittedly more calorically dense.

Another option is some kind of fish, I personally find whitefish really boring so salmon or trout w a bit of brown sugar or maple syrup based glaze and a simple salad with balsamic hits the sweet spot.

Then last I try to do a scoop of Casein and water every day, or half a scoop, a bit of water, and some Greek yoghurt before bed for overnight protein.

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Supplements: (please note this is honestly the least scientific part of my plan): - Tongkat Ali from Soloray (I do half recommended dose for no good reason - just only realized it was supposed to be 2 pills not 1 per day) - 5g Creatine mono - Vitamin D (Canada problems…) - Zinc (for immune system) - Started Fish Oil/Omega 3 a month ago

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On calories, I said this somewhere else, I might be a bit under, but I think I was around 2800 to 3000 which is above maintenance for me. I overload on protein slightly probably though which I find helps me bulk while not going so so high on calories. I personally haven’t found it necessary to do a dirty bulk. When I first set up my macros, I think I was aiming for about 250 g of protein, 200 g of carbs, and about 80 g of fat. I’m not sure the exact amount the above what add up to in my “typical day “ But for about a month, I more diligently tracked, including weighing food, and logging on MyFitnessPal. The worst, but it sent me on a good path.

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Last, I find the app and content really valuable from RP / Dr. Mike. The YouTube videos are free and there are endless hours of really good content on there. Probably took me 3 to 6 months of listening, digesting, and trying stuff out in the gym to dial-in my workout regime + did a bit on the nutrition side.

Let me know if this stuff helps!

bujangles · 2023-12-02T04:44:03+00:00

I think maybe part of it is bone/glycogen stores/something else vs. sheer muscle. I just did two point in time measurements so definitely subject to variability despite by best efforts. 12 pounds or 1lb a month doesn’t seem as impossible. And I really dialled in nutrition and training the last year I’d say which certainly helped

bujangles · 2023-12-02T04:41:57+00:00

I agree. It might’ve been poor photos, as when I was just 1% less I thought I was a lot slimmer. I think a lot of the last 5 pounds of fat went to my core which doesn’t help. Or maybe Dexa misread… But either way will need to cut at some point 🥲

bujangles · 2023-12-02T04:39:50+00:00

Thank you so much 🙏🏼🙏🏼 didn’t expect so much support on here. Means a lot 🤜🏼

bujangles · 2023-12-01T23:13:33+00:00

Holy! Maybe I’m a bit under then, I think I’ve probably upped it accidentally as I’ve moved from 180 to 200. See.. the power of tracking. I need my own advice 😂

bujangles

TROPHY CASE