How do you exercise your Patience Muscle?

[tlars699]

Like Frugality, Patience gets stronger with practice, and occasionally needs a rest day to stay strong.

How do you keep your patience with your plan for FI going strong?

(Currently in 130% of the poverty line, and we're building our way out within the next 3 years with DH graduating with a good job lined up, and we scrimp and save every penny to get there, but... the WAITING until we get there. WAIIIIIIIITING!!!)

[asauer]

I hear you!  We're in the midst of paying off our mortgage.  Every single extra penny goes there.  Can't wait until that's done so we can put way more money in investments!

[Murse]

I have always naturally been the kind of person that wants to put off pleasure today for a better tomorrow. I have just recently come to realize how much time I have wasted with this mindset. I actually realized this when I was considering grad school, even though I absolutely hate school. I have been battling with it since because I always think to myself that everything will be better once I get to x... What ends up happening is I can't enjoy the NOW because I am always focused on maximizing the LATER. FI is actually the ultimate example of this. While I am not answering your question, I would caution you against getting in the mind set of waiting. You should not be focused on waiting, you should be focused on maximizing happiness with what you have TODAY.

[thedayisbrave]

I have always naturally been the kind of person that wants to put off pleasure today for a better tomorrow. I have just recently come to realize how much time I have wasted with this mindset. I actually realized this when I was considering grad school, even though I absolutely hate school. I have been battling with it since because I always think to myself that everything will be better once I get to x... What ends up happening is I can't enjoy the NOW because I am always focused on maximizing the LATER. FI is actually the ultimate example of this. While I am not answering your question, I would caution you against getting in the mind set of waiting. You should not be focused on waiting, you should be focused on maximizing happiness with what you have TODAY.

I am definitely guilty of this too.

[KD]

Set your levels where there is some fun in the PRESENT.  Not all dollars should be scrimped for FUTURE.  Nor every dime paid on debt from the PAST.  You don't have to spend exorbitantly in the now, but do some fun things otherwise you will reach burnout w/the waiting. 

Make the fun now in the lower end range of spending, but you can make it a game to see where all and in what ways you can have fun w/o spending a poot-ton of money.  Look for frugal ways to entertain you and yours.  Go out for the ice cream.  Visit the parks.  Hit the festivals.  Find the low-budget indie films. 

Don't defer all fun now for some mystical future.  Every week plan some small splurge.  Every quarter plan a mid plan splurge.  Every year plan a lil'more pricey splurge.  INCREMENTALLY on the lower end of the possible spending, but not totally deferring everything til later.

[Zikoris]

It's a long wait until FI for us, since we're pretty early in the process. While our money accumulates, we:

1. Learn and develop new skills and hobbies, especially ones related to self-reliance
2. Focus on living awesome lives outside of work
3. Travel a lot, scouting out areas for eventual longer-term stays post-retirement (so far we've got Budapest, Marseille, and Guatemala)

We also keep monthly journals tracking our progress. Looking back on that is great.

[Ynari]

I've been heavily practicing this lately as I've been unemployed/job hunting.  It's painful making all these plans for scenarios that may or may not happen at any particular moment.

Staying focused enough to pursue your goal is important ("patience" won't ever get me a job, but impatience won't either. I have to be persistent and diligent), but being able to get your mind off of a process that has been set in motion is also important.  So, make a schedule/goal/plan, stick to it, but when you're not advancing your goal, do something else.

I've been studying Spanish in my spare time :)  Skills and hobbies are great ways to keep heading *somewhere* even if you can't make progress on the other goal.

[KD]

freznow - YES, a set it and forget it attitude for the automated savings/investing.  Work w/the remaining budget to stay on track and have a little fun along the way. 

[tlars699]

I've realized that I am much more of a do-er than is currently good for our long term goals.
I want to start building our stash now, but can't really aside from penny pinching.
I want to do SOOOO Much, and I realize that part of this is that I'm unsatisfied with the way things are now, but I don't know how to let go of that ambition or redirect it to more productive means, i.e.: I want to start biking the kids to daycare, and bike to work, but I can't, as the wee-est one still can't hold his head up for very long, and it's been winter in WI... The plan is for Mid March and/or April, but >>>_<<< WAITING.
Or the garden. Starting seedlings= productive, but starting them RIGHT NOW, and not being able to plant them til mid April means overgrowth we don't have space for... WAITING.
Any of the home improvement projects(aka energy savers) we want to do, but don't want to blow emergency fund for. WAITING.
Increasing 401K contributions- can't, every penny is already pinched 3x before gone. Our "shopping" is either consumables or thrifting for clothes for the wee ones...WAITING.

The only thing I've been able to do is try to minimize the stuff we have in our house, which is slow goings as I need time when babies are asleep and I'm not passed out immediately thereafter (Why do babies have so many Sleepyons? WHY?!?). Doing ONE project at a time until it's finished. WAITING.>_<

[KD]

tlars699,

I understand.  It sounds like you feel stuck in idle-mode.

If you've an interest you could spend some of that time while the kidlet is sleeping to:

1)Take an online course that is either fun for you or in a vein that will help you increase a side gig or earning power later.

2)Learn the ins and outs of investing so when more dollars/time is freed up you can hit the ground running.

3)Learn other more economical ways from other tightwad, ermm...frugal minded parents on how to raise the kiddies w/the least amount of expenses.

4)Learn to sew/cook/clean/build, etc. in what ever way that will help you guys going forward.

5)Start a blog or other side gig to increase income.



6)Dream and plan the retirement itinerary.


7)Plan and budget for your first frugal family vacation.


8)Make meal plans that will help your bottom line.  [yes, both!  ;) ]

Fill in these blanks w/other forward looking plans...
9)

10)