What Baking a Cake Taught Me About Financial Planning

Right, two things we know, I love eating the produce from: baking - I'll be honest, less a fan of the baking itself - and financial planning. At first, they might seem worlds apart, but hear me out. The process of baking a cake is surprisingly similar to managing your finances. Both require preparation, patience (lol), and just the right mix of ingredients to succeed. And yes, if you skip a step, the results can be a little, well, not great.

Here’s what baking a cake taught me about getting your financial life together:

1. Start with a Recipe (Have a Plan)

Would you throw a handful of flour, sugar, and eggs into a bowl and hope for the best? No, because you’d end up with something even something my Nyla (sweetest baby angel ever) wouldn’t eat. The same goes for your money.

You need a plan—a “recipe” for where your money should go. Savings, debt repayment, investments, and a bit of fun money. Get the proportions wrong, and you could end up with a bit of a mess.

2. You Can’t Skip Ingredients (Cover the Basics First)

You wouldn’t bake a cake without flour, right? Similarly, you can’t build a solid financial foundation without covering the essentials:

- Emergency Fund: Your financial safety net.

- Debt Repayment: Because interest is like a soggy bottom—ruins everything.

- Pensions and Investments: Future you deserves a slice of the pie, too.

Skipping these is like leaving out sugar—it’s just not going to work.

3. Timing Is Everything (Start Early)

Ever tried to bake a cake in a rush? I haven't either but I assume it just wouldnt work. Either the middle’s still raw and the edges are burnt, or it sort of collapses. The same goes for investing: starting early gives your money time to rise (thanks, compound interest).

Even if you’re late to the party, it’s never too late to start. Just know that you might need to turn up the heat (or save more aggressively).

If the ideal time to start was years ago, the next best ideal time is now.

4. Don’t Peek Too Soon (Patience Pays Off)

Opening the oven every five minutes won’t make your cake bake faster—it’ll just ruin it. Likewise, obsessively checking your investments or panicking at every market dip is a recipe for stress.

Set your goals, stick to the plan, and trust the process. Like a good cake, financial growth takes time.

5. Chocolate ganache Is the Fun Part (Enjoy Your Wins)

The ganache is what makes a cake look and taste amazing—it’s the reward for all your hard work. Financially, this is your “fun money.” Yes, save and invest, but don’t forget to enjoy life along the way.

Whether it’s a holiday, shoes, or just treating yourself to a nice dinner, ganache makes the whole thing worthwhile. Just don’t eat it straight from the tub—balance is key.

The Final Takeaway

Baking and financial planning aren’t about perfection—they’re about getting the basics right, learning from any mistakes, equipping yourself with the right tools; be it a financial planner; apps or spreadsheets, and finally, enjoying the results. And if you do decide to take up baking and money management then remember, both are a little easier woth a good recipe.

So, go ahead. Bake that cake and sort those finances. Future you will thank you—preferably with a slice of the pie.

p.s not advice obvs!