Financial Goals – keeping you on target for success

When I was in my early twenties, I had financial goals that included retirement at age 35. This meant saving and investing was a key part of my approach to frugal living.

I achieved many of these goals, including being able to retire at age 35.

I did it on my own, following my own strategies. I had plenty of assets and plenty of money in the bank.


I was an employee back then, and that meant I was making money for other people as well as myself. Just think how soon I could have retired if I had been focused on making money just for me.

Despite my clear success, I started listening to other people – people that had little or no money and not much of a track record of financial success. I foolishly changed my strategies and lost sight of the core concepts of frugal living that had served me so well.

My ship not only wandered off course, it sank to the bottom and I had to start over again at age 41. I got what I deserved.

After ridding myself of the bad influences in my life, I recommitted myself to the core concepts of frugal living, formulated a new strategy, and refocused my goals on early retirement. I got back on track and achieved my goal of financial freedom and early retirement in only 7 years after having to declare bankruptcy.

I did these things on my own. If you are married, remember that you have twice the earning power and should be able to recover from financial challenges even faster.

Now at age 51, I have been retired for about 2 years. I’m talking about self-retirement on my terms. I don’t get any money from the government.

It feels good to have achieved these goals, but you can’t achieve them unless you have them to begin with. Make your financial goals realistic and specific.

Also, if your frugal living plan is doing well, don't mess with it. Stay the course and you will arrive at where you're suppose to be according to your financial goals.

Done with Financial Goals, take me back to Are You Frugal?