You probably have wondered whether some purchases you make are worth it or not. There will be moments where you will regret it and there will be moments where you’ll say, worth every penny. Of course, the less regrets the better the decision.

I write this because my family recently made an investment into getting a family dog. We bought a one-way ticket on the Pandemic Puppy train. It was a long and hard family decision. I knew there would be a financial cost including veterinary visits, shots, food, toys, and time. Not just a one-time commitment but a very long commitment. This life changing event will change everything our family does.

How does this support my journey to early retirement? At first it didn’t and I called it a setback. This is delaying me from reaching financial independence. Not only does the finances change but also our family regiment. We easily can leave the house, go on road trips, and travel easier. Now, I have to look for pet-friendly lodging and places I can take my furry friend. I can’t just walk into a store like I used to. Also, my fear was that I would be handling all the pet duties.

If it’s a setback, then why do I call it an investment? What I had hoped would happen is actually happening. Everyone is putting an effort and taking care of “Benny.” From feeding, playing, walking, bathing, training, and going to the bathroom, even my kids are taking responsibility. What a relief!

By them learning to be responsible, keeping their promises, sacrificing their time and sleep, and giving them an opportunity to love an animal makes it an investment and not a setback. I was initially against having a family pet but Benny is now part of the family.

What other situations did you think were setbacks but realized they weren’t? If you’ll be better off in the future than you were today, I consider that as not being a setback, rather an investment. Let’s take college as an example. It’s a financial setback as well as a time commitment. Is it a setback? Only if it doesn’t put you in a better position in the future. Will the education land you a better job, a better career, a network of people, and be part of a bigger initiative? If the answer is yes, then it’s not a setback, it’s an investment.

How about starting that 401K through your employer? It’s a hit on your take home pay so you’ll have less in your pocket. Will you be better off in the future? Hopefully, because that’s what happened for me maximizing my 401K. So not a setback. It’s an investment.

What about that new car that was just released? Definitely a financial hit but is it a setback? Depends if you’ll be better off in the future because of it. Was it a car that you really needed? Was it a car you could afford? Was it a car that put you in a better future situation? Only you can answer that question. I bought my first 5-speed manual transmission BMW long time ago. I always thought it was so cool to learn how to drive a stick even though it was a pain at times. I really did love it. Little did I know, knowing how to drive a stick came very crucial when I rented a huge moving truck to move from one city to another and all they had was manual transmission. If I didn’t know how to drive a stick, I would probably not have been able to move that week. For me, not a setback, an investment.

What are some of the things that you consider a setback? Are they truly a setback? No one can predict the future but taking the time to make the best decisions today can positively impact you in the future. Setbacks usually have a financial impact so it can have an effect on your future finances. Is a setback really a setback? Only you can answer that. As I learned from my past finance decisions and also from my furry experience, not all setbacks are setbacks. If you are interested in following my journey, email subscribe to get alerts of latest posts or follow me on Facebook.