We are not where I thought we’d be with our finances.  Last year this time I had it all planned out. Another group of student loans would have been wiped out. Savings would be dripping in finesses, and the Wrights would be moving up the East Side. I’d be lying if I said this didn’t bother me just a tad, but I had to accept the fact that life happens and when life happens you have to be willing to pivot and switch so that you can take on whatever is being handed to you with your full strength.

This is what I’ve had to do. I’ve had to pivot my goals and switch how I’m handling things to get back on track the designated track. Paying off debt is a beautiful thing. I’ve experienced and basked in the joys of not having to pay another car payment and happily waving Sallie Mae goodbye, and no more credit card debt. This freedom is the good of it, and this is the primary thing focused on by many people. No one want’s to talk about life happening. No one wants to talk about when you have nothing exciting to share on your Instagram feed because all your doing is just trying to maintain. No one wants to admit that they’ve had to make a pivot and it’s slowed their payoff goals down.

A pivot can either be forced by a life situation, or it can be a strategic action that you implement on your own. If you’re experiencing burn out or if things aren’t working as well as you’d hoped it might be time to pivot into a different direction. A direction that will still align with your goals but take you on a different path to get there.

Also Read:

Why I Started MicroManging Our Money

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Three Ways to Contribute to Your Finances that don’t Require Money

While we’re not on track with our debt payoff journey, I for one am happy with the pivot that life made me do. In this pivot, I realized that I had to slow down and the things that were important to me before are still important but just aren’t as important in the “now.” I realized that I was missing out on everything only to fulfill one goal. We talk a lot about sacrifice, but does anyone know what the truly entails in the grand scheme of things? How much are you willing to miss out on to make an extra payment? Think about it; Grandma won’t turn 94 years old again. There is no guaranteed next time.  We’re told that we should “live like no one else so that we can live like no one else,” but I wonder what’s gained from living to such an extreme that you miss out on spending time with loved ones. What’s gained from missing out on laughing with friends and dipping your toes into the wet sand at a beach? The older I become, the more fragile I realize life really is. I’m getting older (my knees remind me daily), my parents are aging, my younger family members are all grown up, and I was missing out on key life events because I was so focused on paying off a bill. I believe that we should live in a way that makes sense.

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Then there was the switch.

My pivot has taught me that there is so much more than throwing up large numbers on your debt payoff wall every month. My pivot has taught me that it’s okay to say no to paid opportunities because I would rather take the time to stop and literally smell the flowers in my garden. My pivot has allowed me to switch gears and set other financial goals beyond debt payoff. This year is the first year that I made a vow that I would fully fund my Roth IRA. This year is the first year that my husband and I decided to take the plunge and buy things that we’ve been needing, oh like a new mattress instead of lamenting about how that money could have paid off a student loan. This year is the first year that I’ve stepped out on faith, tossed all caution to the wind (almost) and said let’s do it regarding following my hearts desires.

The switch feels amazing.

The switch allows me to be guiltless.

The switch allows me to simultaneously meet multiple goals that I wouldn’t have dared set before like deciding to pick up our lives and move to another state by this time next year. So what if we’re not throwing up big numbers every month. We’ll still get to our goals.

I believe that at some point in their lives everyone should be open to switching even if it means putting some of your financial goals on hold. The most constant thing in the world is change. How we choose to accept the move will help develop the stories that come forth from it happening. Switching can be as simple as saying I want to be able to enjoy at least one vacation with my family a year so instead of putting all our money towards debt. Your switch doesn’t have to be life-altering or shocking. It can be something that allows you to feel at peace and at ease.

I’d love to hear about your pivots and switches. Was it with finances, a job, love, or maybe even a life experience. Share your comment below so that others may learn from your experience as well.

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