[USER]

Do yall ever get close to a milestone and something always happens. As a result you take 2 steps back before you can meet it?

For those who have had this happen how we’re you able to get yourself out of that pendulum motion?

Where you ever frustrated because of the constant setbacks from a goal in reach? I’m just curious how yall have addressed this stage in FIRE.

For example I am so close to meeting my first 15k goal as I am at 14k right now and then just before meeting it there is a car issue, family matter ect causing me to go back to the original amount.

it’s been like this for a few months and I am just trying to meet that goal I set for myself so I can move to the next ect.

[Dena]

Ya…that time I was diagnosed with cancer just as I was reaching my highest earning potential and a few years away from fi.

Then it got way worse & I had to stop working. Because I was fiscally responsible my entire life, I’m now penalized for it & can’t get any type of assistance.

Just because you have cancer all the life stuff you describe still happens too.

I always use to tell people, don’t worry about a flat tire (meaning any speed bump life throws at everyone), plan on having one, because it will happen.

I just didn’t think it would be this bad all before turning 40, but here we are…

[Leslie]

Just keep swimming bud
And if you need motivation go look at your bank account or net worth history in graph/chart form over time.

Look at all the dips and how it rises back up and remind yourself of all the things you overcame already.

[Carolyn]

I am in the same boat of feeling, everytime I just told myself, thank god I at least have this $14k saved so that I have enought to pay for the surprise, otherwise that would be another debt hole for me again.

And gradually keep saving and going upwards.

[Ian]

Always keep going. It’s often two steps forward and one step back.
Think of it like this…you have $14,000 dollars saved!

Good work! Keep moving forward.

[Nisha]

Life doesn’t happen in straight lines, which means that no one has a consistently upward trajectory. It just simply isn’t the way it works.

There will always be peaks and troughs, but when you look back, you’ll see that each peak is progressively higher over the duration.

Keep plugging away and don’t get disheartened.

[Lacey]

I just had a $8k truck repair bill come up that put a dent in my projected 2025 savings rate plans. Not fun, but I created a silver lining by opening a new credit card to at least get a sign up bonus for the spend.

The answer you’re probably looking for though is “sinking funds.” Not to be confused with emergency funds, which is your safety net if you suddenly lose your income.

To me, sinking funds are for sporadic but somewhat predictable rainy day inevitables like what you’re describing.

I’m a big fan of “buckets” so having different accounts for different jobs is something I like.

—- I have an account for emergency funds (which in my brain is off limits money).

—- I have another account for Sinking Funds, and it’s like a tidal pool … I add funds to it in anticipation of being prepared for whatever comes up… and then when it does, funds are drained, and then I build it back up again. For me it ends up mostly a slush fund for all my vehicles.

—- and then I have Goal Savings accounts. These are the ones I primarily add to regularly (unless the Sinking Funds account needs to be filled back up).

Psychologically…
(1) yeah, set backs happen — whether it’s an expense in life, or a market correction that moves your investment balances the wrong way.

These are temporary blips. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, trust the process, stay the course.

(2) this might be a little “woo woo” but hear me out. I totally believe that people will either repel or attract money depending on their mindset about money and what they believe they deserve and are capable of handling.

So, if you have adopted the belief that “every time I get $X, something ALWAYS happens.” You might think you’re making an objective observation — but what you’re actually doing is creating a narrative, and when your brain believes in something (whether good or bad) your brain’s reticular activating system will find ways to reinforce that belief to prove yourself right.

And so, people set for themselves their own “upper limits” that they may or may not be conscious of.

And breaking that upper limit requires new beliefs about money. Think of it like a thermostat … it’s set at a certain temperature.

If it gets warmer than that in the room, the system will kick on to cool it back down to the setting. Adjust your thermostat.

[Author]

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