Welcome to the very first episode of our MONEY SEED Series, where we sit down with people walking the path toward Financial Independence and Retiring Early.
Today's guest is Anna, better known online as @pandabossanna, who's telling us how she turned her finances around.
A quick introduction
Hey, I'm Anna! I'm 28 years old and work as a chartered accountant. I've clocked in over seven years in the finance industry, and helping people sort out their money is something I'm genuinely passionate about. I run a YouTube channel called PandaBoss where I share tips on personal finance and breaking free from debt.
Your Quirk Money Type came back as "The Explorer" — did it match who you are?
It really did, and that surprised me. I was expecting something generic, like a horoscope reading, but instead it felt oddly specific to my life. It described explorers as people who view money as a means to freedom and independence, which is literally why I started my YouTube channel in the first place. It also pointed out that explorers track their money more closely than the average person does — and yep, I'm checking my balances and spreadsheets almost every single day.
What pushed you to launch your blog, @pandabossanna?
Helping people has always come naturally to me. When I began working on my own finances, I started sharing what I learned with friends, and they kept telling me how helpful it was. That feedback made me realize I could reach a much wider audience through a blog or a channel. Within three months, my YouTube channel hit 1,000 subscribers, so I decided to launch a website too and expand from there.
How would you describe your relationship with money today, and what shaped it?
These days, it's in a really good place. That wasn't always true, though — I went through a phase of relying heavily on loans and credit cards, one after another. Everything shifted last summer when I had to take five weeks off work due to burnout. That experience made it clear I couldn't keep living and working the way I was.
That was the moment everything changed. I committed to clearing my debt and building toward financial independence, and I haven't looked back since. I gave up habits like buying pricey clothes or ordering takeout nearly every night out of exhaustion (lockdown actually helped me get more comfortable cooking). I also set myself a simple rule: no purchase unless I can pay for it in full, upfront.
What's kept you consistent with budgeting and spending?
My spreadsheet is honestly my anchor. I log every transaction as it happens and review it often. It shows me in real time whether I have room to spend, and if I do splurge on something, it flags exactly where that money is coming from — whether it's my savings or investments taking the hit. That kind of clarity makes it easy to decide if a purchase is really worth it.
What's your favorite thing to spend money on?
Massages, hands down! It's my one indulgence, and I've made peace with spending on it. I don't think financial freedom should mean cutting out every source of joy along the way — it keeps me motivated and it's good for my mental health. Good food is another one, though I always keep that within my budget.
What's the worst financial advice you've ever gotten?
Someone once suggested I take out a loan specifically to invest it. I never followed through, because I think it's a genuinely risky move. Picture doing that right before a market downturn — you'd end up stuck repaying the loan with nothing to show for the investment.
How often do you review your finances?
Almost every day. I like having a clear, constant picture of where I stand financially.
Walk us through your financial setup
I keep three bank accounts — a main current account, a Monzo account (mostly for the solid travel exchange rates), and a separate savings account. I'm still working through paying off two 0% interest credit cards, alongside two investment accounts. When it comes to budgeting, I rely entirely on my own spreadsheet since it gives me full control over exactly what I track and how it's laid out.
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