> As a programmer, it just feels liberating to get the data out of some closed banking app and into a space I'm comfortable in.

Quote of the week for me. well said.

~15 years ago I fumbled around with web programming basically because I never learned how to use excel in school. Nerded out with css, html, forms, then php and mysql to script together an unbelievably worse version of what a spreadsheet could do, but it was incredible that I could build something entirely made for my idea. And with the power to improve it.

Thank you for writing and sharing your story, it's motivating and comforting even. Good luck!