The 24/48 Proposition

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I am a planner to the core, and I always like to be fully prepared for whatever comes at me. Life is unpredictable. And so being able to navigate whatever comes at you is always an important thing to me. I think it should be an important thing to anyone, which is why I tend to share as much as I do around here about money. I know a thing or two, and have learned a thing or two, and what kind of a jerk would I be if I did not also share a thing or two about the things I know or the things I have learned? I have in place what I call the 24/48 Proposition. What it is essentially, is a plan that is in place, that can be executed at a moment's notice in the event that it becomes necessary to employ it. And for whatever reason such as is decided in the moment. By me. By my wife. Or by our bosses. Plain and simple, it's money. The 24/48 Proposition is a dollar amount based on the minimum amount that my wife and I require to maintain our expenses and live comfortably in a short term period. One full year. It is not based on our income nor on full income replacement. It is bare bones, hunker down and get it done money. It's prevent starvation money. And it is money that would not force us to change much about our leisurely spending activities in the process. So, what is it actually? It is $48,000 that sits in an account, separate from all other accounts, that has no purpose other than to serve as the proposition. It is not for emergencies. It is not to earn money. It is not for retirement. It is not for vacations or pleasure. It serves only to fund the proposition. It is $24,000 each. $24,000 for me and $24,000 for my wife. If I have a change in employment status, for whatever reason, the 24 portion of the proposition is set into motion. If the you-know-what really hits the fan and the wife and I are both not working, then the 48 part of the proposition is set into motion. What it is really about is freedom, and preventing a disruption in our lives. It's about having an edge and having an upper hand. It is about not being subject to things beyond our control, and not being affected by them. It also gives us time. One year to be exact. To figure things out and come up with a new plan and strategy. To avoid panic and be able to fully comprehend and plan out the future plan. It is our soft landing from what could otherwise be a hard fall. I think back to the height of the pandemic when so many people lost their jobs. How much difference could it have made in their lives if they would have had a 24/48 Proposition? I think about people who, even in good times, get a notice from their boss saying the business is closing and they are no longer required. Life is short. It requires being prepared. It requires forethought. It requires planning. Having something in place like a 24/48 Proposition means that just because life tosses you some hard times doesn't mean you have to fall into hard times. Be your own person. Be reliant on yourself. Have the ability to decide what is best for you rather than what is best in the moment. Reduce your sacrifices and avoid capitulations. Set a course and a path for yourself that is based on your ability, your means, and your terms. And never, and I mean NEVER get caught with your pants down, and never let them see you sweat. Never force anyone to make you sweat. If you do not have a proposition of your own in place, the time is now to get one in place. Because the time to plan is not when life comes at you. It is to be prepared when life does come at you.