Just a 46-year-old mom of 2 in Northern California. My kids are Monkey Monkey(MM) and Drama Llama (DL). I am married to Monkey Hubby (MH). The True Cost of Your Bucket List
I thought this was a great article!
"Simply prioritizing those fantasies can help as well, allowing some adventures to be crossed off the roster. Some pros recommend identifying the rationale behind each desire, to see if a less expensive alternative might achieve the same result. If you want to spend more time with your children, for instance, a long weekend trout fishing might give you everything you've hoped for -- without the fantasy price tag."
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I suppose my pet peeve of late is every time someone in the forums mentions saving money, etc., no doubt a large number of people have to come out and say, "Live life!" "Don't forget to spend money to be happy."
It just annoys me I suppose, because who says one had to spend more to be happy? I am one of the blessed few in our society that understands this?
Bucket Lists just strike me as more of the same. The idea that a $10,000 vacation is inherently more meaningful and life affirming than any cheaper alternative. I applaud the marketing, but I personally ain't buying it.
I put this in the "living on one-income category" because we choose on a daily basis to put aside grand adventures with huge price tags so that we can focus on what is truly important. Home. Family. Relationships.
I've also seen quite a few online discussions in recent years about how throwing money away (money you don't have) on bucket list type items is overly encouraged. Usually a large sea of "You will never regret that $10k debt for that dream vacation with your spouse/parent/loved one." Really??? In those discussions, to disagree is to be immediately labeled as "jealous." Really speaks to the maturity of these groups. I'd beg to differ. Jealous is not the word that comes to mind - I have had amazing travel opportunities in my own life. They just don't mean that much to me in regards to my relationships and loved ones. They are shiny/expensive things, where my fondest memories are generally the cheapest and simplest. It's extraordinarily easier to find happiness when you realize how important the simple things in life are.
July 6th, 2011 at 02:37 am 1309919842
"Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it." - Benjamin Franklin
July 6th, 2011 at 04:30 pm 1309969842
No bucket list, here. The one thing that seems like a huge, shining, energizing life goal is also one that I do not expect to accomplish. It is not exactly an indulgent entertainment either. It would be a lot of work, and at this point, it would be work that someone else would have to inherit, as the job could not be completed in my lifetime....*I want to start a walnut tree farm*....
But before I could fund my tree farm I have to secure everything that is more important. By the time that is done, I imagine my age, strength, and health will preclude the tree farm, unless I pay someone else to do the work. But I want to do the work! And I'd have to have even more money if I were to pay someone.
So in the meantime, I do what many dreamers have always done. I read about my dream. I drive through rural areas, riverside, and say, "Ah, that would be a good place for my farm." I skim the rural land sales and evaluate their suitability. And maybe, just maybe, I'll stumble upon the deal of the century that will make it possible.
There is pleasure in that dreaming.
And I sort of meet the need in another way by starting a small urban peach orchard instead....And in the most frugal way!