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Can I limit how high my pledge gets?
Yup! You can set a pledge cap when you create a goal and adjust it at any time, and you can have different pledge caps on different goals. You can also set a default pledge cap for all your new goals to adhere to.
For example, normally if I derail at $90, the pledge would automatically increase to the next step in the pledge schedule, $270. But if I cap it at $90 it'll stay at $90, and all subsequent derailments will cost... you guessed it! $90.
Because this is a per-goal setting, I can have a different goal where the cap is $30, and the pledge would increase until it gets to that level, each time that goal derails.
You can (and should!) choose a pledge cap appropriate to the importance of the goal in question.
To change the cap after goal creation, click the pledge amount in the top line on the goal page to bring up the pledge settings. To set the pledge cap, pick the level you want to be the highest pledge you can pay using the slider . Click Update cap to save changes.
The sliders are coupled: if you try to set the cap below your current pledge, the pledge level will be dropped too (subject to the akrasia horizon).
A note of caution! Be careful not to cap your pledge too low. I know, I know, it seems like we would encourage you to go high... but it's in your interest to make sure your pledge gets set at a level that's motivating for you. If it's too low, you could end up paying more in the long run because you repeatedly derail. So make sure you're set up for success and have a pledge level that's motivating for you, i.e. something that might mean you have to choose between keeping your goal on track or not being able to get takeout, or having to defer getting a shiny new thing for your hobby or going out to the cinema (or whatever optional thing you like to spend your money on).
That said, be careful not to let your pledge get so high that the pledge will get too scary and cause too much stress, cause you to lose too much money, or make you tempted to half-ass your goal just to avoid derailment!
Keywords: pledge caps, pledge ceiling, highest possible amount at risk