Calculate your personal “enough number” and finally break free from endless financial worry
When it comes to money worries, the solution always seems to be “save more.” But people often assume their financial anxiety will disappear once they hit a certain savings milestone, only to find themselves moving the goalposts again and again. The cycle of “just a little more” can become endless, leaving even successful savers feeling perpetually insecure about their financial future.
According to finance expert Fred Harrington of Vetted Prop Firms, a trusted platform helping traders navigate proprietary trading firms, the real solution isn’t simply accumulating more money. Instead, it’s getting clear on exactly how much you actually need.
“Most financial anxiety doesn’t stem from having too little money,” explains Harrington. “It comes from not knowing what ‘enough’ looks like for your specific situation. Without that clarity, every dollar feels insufficient.”
Below, Harrington reveals why traditional saving advice often backfires and shares his approach to calculating your personal “enough number” – the specific amount that can finally put your money worries to rest.
Why “Save More” Advice Can Backfire
The standard financial advice just to save and invest more money may seem logical on the surface, but it often creates a different problem entirely. Without a clear target, people can find themselves trapped in what Harrington calls “the never-enough cycle.”
“I’ve seen traders and investors with six-figure accounts who still lose sleep over money,” says Harrington. “They’re following all the right advice – maxing out retirement accounts, building emergency funds, investing regularly – but they’re still anxious because they don’t know when they can actually feel secure.”
This endless accumulation without direction can actually heighten stress levels. Every market dip feels catastrophic, every expense feels threatening, and every financial decision becomes overwhelming because there’s no framework for evaluation.
Understanding Your “Enough Number”
The “enough number” represents the total amount of money you need to cover four key areas: your current lifestyle, retirement security, emergency protection, and personal joy. A clear, realistic financial target that reflects your actual needs and values is the key to feeling secure and in control.
“Your ‘enough number’ isn’t what someone else needs or what financial magazines suggest,” explains Harrington. “It’s the amount that allows you to sleep well at night, knowing you can handle whatever life throws at you while still enjoying the things that matter most.”
This number includes practical necessities like housing, food, and healthcare, but also accounts for the experiences and purchases that bring genuine happiness, whether that’s travel, hobbies, or supporting family members.
How To Calculate Your Personal Target
Determining your enough number requires honest assessment across several categories. Start with your monthly living expenses, then multiply by the number of years you expect to need this income. Add your retirement goals, factoring in inflation and potential healthcare costs.
“Don’t forget to include a buffer for the unexpected,” advises Harrington. “Medical emergencies, job transitions, or market downturns shouldn’t derail your entire financial plan.”
The calculation should also include what Harrington calls “joy money”, meaning funds designated for experiences, gifts, or purchases that enhance your quality of life without guilt.
The Benefits Of Knowing Your Number
Once you’ve defined your “enough number”, financial decisions should become significantly easier. You can evaluate opportunities against a concrete target rather than vague feelings of “more is better”.
“When you know your number, you can actually enjoy reaching it,” says Harrington. “Instead of moving the goalposts every time you hit a milestone, you can recognize genuine progress and even celebrate financial wins.”
This clarity also reduces the emotional impact of market fluctuations. A temporary drop in your portfolio value becomes a mathematical problem rather than an existential crisis, because you can assess whether it actually threatens your long-term security.
Moving From Anxiety To Confidence
People who calculate their “enough number” often discover they need less than they imagined, or they realize they’re closer to their goal than they thought. Both revelations can provide immediate relief from financial anxiety.
“The magic happens when you shift from ‘I need more money’ to ‘I need this specific amount for these specific reasons,’” explains Harrington. “Suddenly, your financial journey has a destination instead of just a direction.”
Fred Harrington, finance expert at Vetted Prop Firms, commented:
“Financial anxiety is rarely about actual numbers. Instead, it’s about the unknown. When people tell me they’re worried about money, I ask them what specific amount would make them feel secure. Most can’t answer that question, which explains why no amount of saving seems to help.
“Defining your ‘enough number’ turns abstract financial pressure into something concrete and achievable. Instead of chasing an invisible target, you’re working toward a specific goal that reflects your actual needs and values. This shift from vague anxiety to clear purpose changes everything about how you experience money.
“The relief people feel when they finally know their number is immediate. They stop second-guessing every purchase, stop panicking over market dips, and start making financial decisions from a place of confidence rather than fear. The real power comes from knowing exactly when you’ve arrived at financial security.”