🤯 Confused? GOOD! You’re Nearly There…

Have you ever stared at a financial concept, spreadsheet, or calculator and thought:
“Wait… WHAT?! This makes no sense!”

🎉 Congratulations! You’re in the magical land of confusion — and that’s a GREAT place to be. I have lost count of how many times the Donegans have ended up here scratching our heads trying to understand something.

🧠 Confusion = Progress in Disguise

Confusion isn’t failure. It’s not a sign you’re bad at money or not smart enough.

It’s actually the final boss before clarity shows up and says, “Hey legend, you made it!”

Think about it: when you’re confused, your brain is working overtime. It’s chewing on ideas, testing them, rejecting them, reshaping them. You’re building understanding in real time. That’s heroic stuff. 🦸‍♀️🦸‍♂️

👶 The Baby That Fell Over

Imagine a baby takes its first steps, wobbles, and falls.

The parents look chocked and fearful. Oh no our baby has fallen at the first step, it’s over, they shout, “This one’s not a walker! Bring out the wheelchair!” 🚫

Of course not! They cheer, laugh, and encourage the baby to try again. They know walking takes time, effort, and a few tumbles. They would work with their beautiful baby until it walks, no matter how long.

So why don’t we treat ourselves the same way when we’re learning about money, investing, or retirement? Give yourself the same love, patience, and time. You’re learning to walk financially. 👣💰

🤬 My Brain vs. Retirement Calculators

When I first learnt about early retirement and withdrawal rates, I was utterly baffled for weeks. It just didn’t make sense how increasing your withdrawal rate made your time to retirement go down and your target freedom pot size go down?

I argued with calculators. I argued with Katie. I argued with the universe. “It should go UP! This makes no sense!” 😤

Top tip, when arguing with the universe you won’t normally win. It is better to understand what is rather than force what you think should be on the rest of the universe!

But I kept going. I talked to Katie. I played with spreadsheets. I rolled the idea around in my brain like a marble in a washing machine.

And then… 💡 BAM! Clarity. “Of course it works that way!” It finally clicked. It took weeks of working on it, thinking about it but I got it.

If I can get it then I know you can too and probably quicker than I can!

💬 What To Do When You’re Confused

Here’s your Rebel Action Plan when confusion strikes:

1. Talk to someone — a friend, partner, someone in the Rebel Finance School Facebook Group.
2. Read about it — find a blog, book, or article that tackles the topic.
3. Watch a video — sometimes a visual explanation unlocks everything.
4. Keep rolling it around — let your brain chew on it.
5. Celebrate the confusion — it means you’re growing!

💥 You Got This

Confusion is not the end. It’s the beginning of understanding.
So next time you feel lost, stuck, or baffled, don’t panic.
Smile, breathe, and say:
“I’m nearly there.” 😄

Clarity is the other side of confusion.

You’re learning. You’re growing. You’re becoming financially unstoppable.
And we’re cheering you on every step of the way. 🎉💪