Recently, I sat down to write down some goals, like “pay off credit cards,” but I must have been in a particularly inspired mood, because it quickly turned into a bucket list of things to do before I die.
You’ll probably notice, as I did, that many of the items are travel-related. Almost half actually. And I didn’t even write down a fraction of all the places I’d like to go. I realized that if doing the things on this list are what’s really important to me, then I needed to readjust my priorities and finances to match. I have also recently taken over the family budget and started “stealing” from everything I can for my travel budget. We are eating out less and looking for deals whenever possible. It’s much easier to do when you know it’s a means to a very rewarding end. Having other financial goals on my list helps me stay motivated to keep a cap on my travel spending in order to realize those too.
It was fun to do and really gave me a nice perspective on what I want to do with my life. You may have noticed this blog is courtesy of #45. It’s amazing what can happen when you write something down.
Here’s my list:
Pay off credit cards
Pay off car
Save emergency fund
Own a house
Learn to cook well
Take and score well on GRE
Teach Jack French
Go to Manchu Pichu
Go to Atlantis
Take Jack to swim with dolphins
Go back to Paris
Go clubbing in Ibiza
Go to Spain to see the architecture
Get masters degree
Send jack to the best possible schools
Learn to breakdance
Read more books
Learn more about investing
Have plenty of money to send Jack to school, have a beautiful home, a nice wardrobe and travel
Take Jack on a trip around the world
Have a fantastic backyard with a hot tub
Host the best parties
Visit Bora Bora
Visit the south of France
Live in a foreign country (again)
Go on a ghost hunting mission
Get a book published
Take Jack to all the Disney parks
Go to Ireland
Ride a gondola in Venice
Go to Victoria Falls, Iguazu Falls, Niagra Falls
See the Northern Lights
See the Taj Mahal
Take a pottery class with Jack
Study more astrophysics
Read all Pulitzer Prize fiction
Volunteer often
Spend a week at a 5-star spa with girlfriends
Have a girlfriend get-together in Vegas
Learn CPR
Learn to make passive income
Take a speed reading course
Learn to get and stay organized
Start a blog
Take up Tai Chi
Get rid of all the clutter
Learn a new word everyday
Be part of a flash mob
See a beluga whale
What’s on your list? Check out this great site for inspiration.

TravelRecently, I sat down to write down some goals, like “pay off credit cards,” but I must have been in a particularly inspired mood, because it quickly turned into a bucket list of things to do before I die.

You’ll probably notice, as I did, that many of the items are travel-related. Over half actually. And I didn’t even write down a fraction of all the places I’d like to go. I realized that if doing the things on this list are what’s really important to me, then I needed to readjust my priorities and finances to match. I have also recently taken over the family budget and started “stealing” from everything I can for my travel budget. We are eating out less and looking for deals whenever possible. It’s much easier to do when you know it’s a means to a very rewarding end. Having other financial goals on my list helps me stay motivated to keep a cap on my travel spending in order to realize those too.

It was fun to do and really gave me a nice perspective on what I want to do with my life. You may have noticed this blog is courtesy of #45. It’s amazing what can happen when you write something down.

Here’s my list:

  1. Pay off credit cards
  2. Pay off car
  3. Save emergency fund
  4. Own a house
  5. Learn to cook well
  6. Take and score well on GRE
  7. Teach Jack French
  8. Take Jack to Beaches resort in Turks & Caicos
  9. Go to Manchu Pichu
  10. Go to Atlantis
  11. Take Jack to swim with dolphins
  12. Go back to Paris
  13. Go clubbing in Ibiza
  14. Go to Spain to see the architecture
  15. Get masters degree
  16. Take Jack on a cruise
  17. Learn to breakdance
  18. Visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam
  19. Read more books
  20. Learn more about investing
  21. Have plenty of money to send Jack to school, have a beautiful home, a nice wardrobe and travel
  22. Take Jack on a trip around the world
  23. Have a fantastic backyard with a hot tub
  24. Stay at the Woodlyn Park theme hotel in New Zealand
  25. Visit Bora Bora
  26. Visit the south of France
  27. Live in a foreign country (again)
  28. Go on a ghost hunting mission
  29. Get a book published
  30. Take Jack to all the Disney parks
  31. Go to Ireland
  32. Ride a gondola in Venice
  33. Go to Victoria Falls, Iguazu Falls, Niagra Falls
  34. See the Northern Lights
  35. See the Taj Mahal
  36. Read all Pulitzer Prize fiction
  37. Volunteer often
  38. Spend a week at a 5-star spa with girlfriends
  39. Visit the fjords of Norway
  40. Learn CPR
  41. Learn to make passive income
  42. See the pyramids of Egypt
  43. Take a speed reading course
  44. Get and stay organized
  45. Start a blog
  46. Visit the Greek islands
  47. Take up Tai Chi
  48. Get rid of all the clutter
  49. Learn a new word everyday
  50. Be part of a flash mob
  51. See a beluga whale
  52. Go on a helicopter ride
  53. See the Amazon rainforest
  54. Take Jack to Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen

What’s on your list? Check out this great site for inspiration.