CROFT 35% – From bravery to savings : our financial future

Preamble : cultivating curiosity to surpass ourselves

Confronting our own limits, then transcending them: a fascinating experience.

For as long as I can remember, challenges have sparked an insatiable curiosity in me. There is something deeply existential in reaching a goal: a way of asserting oneself, of giving meaning to our actions. 

Setting a specific goal is not a trivial gesture. It is a confrontation with oneself, a clarification of means and paths. It inevitably raises a central question : “How to act, how to transform aspiration into reality?” 

Once the goal is thought through and defined, it becomes a tangible target, almost within reach. You stretch your arm, and it might seem that a single step will bring it to you. However, it is precisely this distance – sometimes tiny, sometimes immense – that gives the challenge all its weight.

Of course, there is no guarantee, and obstacles can make the gap between aspiration and reality feel infinite. 

But embarking on such a project can only be enriching. Even if the ultimate goal is not achieved, the experience gained remains valuable. The journey is never in vain.

And when a challenge is part of a collective dynamic, it takes on a larger, more meaningful dimension. Emulation becomes a powerful driving force.

So, why not channel this momentum and organize a challenge around personal finance management to motivate us? 

To reinforce the collective aspect, I’ve come up with a term for these challenges we could tackle together : CROFT, Challenge Rose or Finance Together. 

Saving to dream, dreaming to savings

Knock knock knock
– Who’s there?
It’s me, Money.
– Finally! I’ve been waiting for you…
Oops, I didn’t plan on staying.

I’ve always believed that money is earned. That if you want it, you have to work for it, make efforts, be reasonable. I believed that one day it would trust me, that it would stop playing cat and mouse.

Yet, every end of the month, the same tune: it arrives, it leaves, and I’m left wondering what I missed. 

As if I were letting it dictate who I am, what I’m worth, and what I can hope for.

A specific goal to raise capital base

I’ve set myself the goal of saving 35 % of my annual income by early 2026, and I encourage you to set your own goal, so you can become fully in control of your financial future.

It’s true that I’ve learned how to budget, manage business finances, and understand economic flows. I’m not starting from scratch. However, I don't feel particularly wise.

Even with a solid understanding of financial management principles, I haven’t yet felt the alchemy that would make me a seasoned investor. Additionally, over time, my perception of money hasn’t fundamentally changed.

Money is like water. If you don’t give it a path, it gets lost

Here’s the plan :

1. First, change the way you look at it. Forget what I was taught about it. Deconstruct. Start over from scratch.
2. Next, sort things out. The essential, the superfluous. What I keep, what I let go.
3. Then, we will build. A solid fund, a safety cushion, freedom.
4. Finally, learn to invest. Not just save for the sake of saving, but save to move forward.

Great prospects. One more step toward the target. 

A dream to hold onto in moments of doubt

I truly believe in the power of the individual and that of the collective. In this challenge, we find ourselves at the crossroads where these two realities can meet and nourish each other. 

I’m doing this for myself, for my son, for my loved ones. And for all those who silently struggle, who think they don’t have the right to dream because they count too often.

I want to be able to offer experiences full of meaning. To bring people together, create, inspire.

I dream that you can envision a future where your own dreams become reality.

On croit souvent que la liberté, c’est d’avoir plein d’argent. Mais la vraie liberté, c’est de savoir quoi en faire. Alors si toi aussi, t’en as marre de jouer à cache-cache avec lui, viens. On va lui apprendre qui commande.

Together, with boldness, wisdom, and solidarity, we move forward.

It’s time to change the way we look at money

“Alright, this all sounds good. Financial freedom, deconstructing beliefs, building something solid… But practically, what do I do tomorrow morning? Do I sit cross-legged and wait for an epiphany?”

— No, tomorrow morning, you make a coffee, take a deep breath… and ask yourself the right question : why do you want to do this?

“Well, to have more money, right?”

— Sure. But beyond that, what would you really like? Less anxiety? A real project that motivates you? What does freedom mean to you? Why do you want more money? For what purpose? For whom?

“Uh… Maybe a little of all that. To be at peace. Not panic over every bill. But in the meantime, that doesn’t tell me what to do.”

— We’ll get there. Picture a seed. If you plant it in one of your flower pots and wait for it to grow on its own, it’s very likely to die. You need to know where to place it, how to water it, and give it light.

“Yeah, except I don’t have a green thumb.”

— Exactly. This challenge is to learn. Right now, we’ve planted the idea. Now, you need to think about what you need to make it grow.

“Like what?”

— Like, what’s blocking you the most today? What do you dream of? What are the conditions you need to start this challenge?

“Ah, OK… I should ask myself that question?”

— Indeed. Because in the next article, we’ll look at how to water all of this. How to structure it, create a rhythm, so your project can come to life. But before that, take the time to think about it. Motivation is not just about organization.

“Alright… I’ll need to buy a watering can then.”

— That’s right. And don’t worry, we’ll learn how to use it properly.

In the next article, I’ll share the concrete action plan for the next year to put the CROFT 35% into action. 

See you soon.🌻