Timing milestones requires realistic horizons. Shorter timelines require larger monthly savings or tighter budgets; longer timelines allow smaller monthly contributions and more time for compounding. When you juggle several milestones — car, house down payment, college contributions — consider sequencing and whether goals can overlap. Automating contributions, re-evaluating annually, and adjusting for life changes are practical ways to keep progress steady. This final question asks for a general planning principle that ties earlier topics together.