Part 10: How To Backwards Budget
From the February installment where I introduced backwards budgeting—
Backwards budgeting flows freely from our two previous checklist items—pots of money and finding the floor on your cost of living.
I’ll save details on backwards budgeting for post #11 in March.
More importantly, the way one idea—or checklist item—precedes and leads into another, indicates a comprehensive strategy. There’s reason and logic, links between, and a concrete path to doing the things we discuss in this newsletter. It’s not one-off, lifestyle hack type stuff you so often see in the financial and popular media on personal finance.
Just as you can group checklist items #1 to #5 together, then do likewise with #6 to #8, you can do the same with #9, #10, and today’s #11.
And that’s just what I’ll do come March. I'll tie it all together.
Hopefully, you can see it all coming and tying together.
I see this newsletter like a journey we’re taking with one another.
You’re on your path. I’m on my mine.
The details of my present situation and where I want to be going forward and for the duration help weave a narrative and bring the thoughts and ideas we discuss to life.
This newsletter is a core part of my Never Retire plan. I plan on doing it forever. If all goes well, it will be my primary source of cash flow into and beyond relative old age.
Yes, the cash flow matters. However, just as important, writing this newsletter helps keep me focused on my own situation. It helps me make sense of it and evolve—and sometimes change—my thinking. It keeps me engaged, invested and inspired.
Which brings me to an announcement I’m happy to make—
The other day, we welcomed paid subscriber #182 to the Never Retire newsletter. This equals an 82% increase in paid subscribers since we hit the #100 milestone in November.
The income I generate each month from the newsletter now equals my rent payment.
Matching cash flow to expenses. A key element of the backwards budgeting discussion we’re about to have. We’ll elaborate on that in a moment.
But first—thanks to everyone who subscribes. I appreciate it and will strive to continue moving the story and concepts we discuss forward.
I anticipate broadening the scope of our content—sort of like I did in February—while staying focused on the Never Retire and semi-retired life sweet spots we have created.
Now is a great time to join with or upgrade to a paid subscription. You have three options—
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With that said, on to backwards budgeting—