Beeminder Journal for 365 Days

[clivemeister]

@linux535

I still am struggling with trying to create a goal that helps with overspending. As just having a goal that says if you overspend you fail does not work. As when I tried that once my thought was “Well I over spent anyways whats another $10 or $30?”. Also sometimes a category might be overspent out of a new need arising so its complicated.

Would tiered goals help with this? Goal 1 against a maximum spend of $50 in a particular category, goal 2 against a maximum spend of $75 in the same category? Then if you miss the first for some reason, you’ve still got an incentive not to go completely wild, as the second is protecting you against that?

For the overspend because of new need, perhaps you could set them against a budget, but leave that budget number out of the goal? Then you could have:

• goal 1: do not spend more than budget for category X
• goal 2: do not spend more than budget+15% for category X

Your target budget can adjust if you have a new need (perhaps with some rules like the total amount has to balance, and you can only adjust budgets on a strict schedule).

[linux535]

Day 37:

Been a good two days was on vacation. Missed on screen goal so derailed on that.

[linux535]

@clivemeister

Would tiered goals help with this? Goal 1 against a maximum spend of $50 in a particular category, goal 2 against a maximum spend of $75 in the same category? Then if you miss the first for some reason, you’ve still got an incentive not to go completely wild, as the second is protecting you against that?

I might give this a go. Thanks for the idea.

[linux535]

Day 38:

Long day no derails yesterday but wil likely derail today.

[linux535]

Day 39:

1

[linux535]

Day 46:

I am going to switch to weekly as I last couple weeks have been very busy so doing it weekly will be more sustainable.

[linux535]

I have gotten way off track as of recent. I have had a lot of life things going on. But going to try and get back on track.