This year includes a move, a family trip and several unavoidable one-time bills. My usual savings percentage looks impossible without pretending those expenses aren't happening. I could lower the target temporarily, keep a small automatic transfer and return to normal afterward. Does anyone distinguish between a sustainable baseline savings rate and an unusually expensive year, or is that just a comforting excuse? I'm trying to stay realistic rather than abandon the habit.
Choosing a realistic savings rate during a year with unusually high one-time expenses
Simulated community examples only. Not financial, tax, investment, or legal advice.
- personal-finance
- choosing
- realistic
- savings
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3 replies
That sounds like a normal reason to lower the target for a while. A baseline savings rate is still a baseline if you can’t reasonably hit th...
That sounds like a normal reason to lower the target for a while. A baseline savings rate is still a baseline if you can’t reasonably hit the old number during a heavy-expense season.
I’d keep the automatic transfer going if possible, even if it’s smaller. That keeps the habit alive without pretending the move and family trip are imaginary.
Same logic I use with project budgets: some months are just expensive months. The key is not turning one weird year into a new permanent exc...