I’ve been talking a lot about paying off debts, saving money and getting rid of the excess in my life. I’ve mentioned that I would like to make more time and space in my life, but I haven’t specified what I plan to do with this extra flexibility. Some of the things I’ll be focusing on with the freedom I’m working towards can be found on my bucket list!
Do you have a bucket list?
For those of you that aren’t sure what a bucket list is, it’s a list a things you would like to experience before you die. When you create a bucket list, you should pour out every desirable experience you can think of — without regard to time or money.
That last part was so important that I’m going to repeat it. If you had no time or financial contrants, what kind of life experiences would you like to have?
A good starting point is to think of your list like this: At the end of your life, what experiences would you like to look back on? What memories would you like to have?
You still with me? OK, now start writing down whatever comes to mind.
No matter how crazy the things flowing out of your soul may sound, just keep writing. Besides, who says you can’t do each and every thing on your list? It’s your list, and you can do anything in this life that you set out to do.
The following is what I’ve come up with so far on my own bucket list. I’ll be adding to the list as I think of new things I’d like to experience and I’ll cross things out as I accomplish them.
My bucket list
Marry a wonderful man.Become a mom.- Ride in a hot air balloon.
- Visit all 50 states in the U.S. (11 down, 39 to go!)
- Visit all seven continents (One down, seven to go! Ha, ha.)
- Visit all seven natural wonders of the world.
- Travel in the U.S. for several months in an RV.
- Travel in the U.S. for several weeks in a House Boat.
- Visit Hawaii. (Planning a trip for next March to attend the Go Slow Summit!)
- Write a book (or books) that positively change millions of lives. (Working on an e-book now!)
- Send out positive ripples wherever I am thrown. (More of an ongoing goal I have for myself.)
- Sleep in a tent on a mountain.
- Go snow skiing in Vermont and Colorado.
- Be completely financially independent by the time I’m 50. (Making progress!)
- Be able to work digitally, from anywhere within the next five years.
- Learn to play the piano.
- Learn to speak Italian.
- Relearn to speak Spanish.
- Visit Spain.
- Ride a water taxi in Venice, Italy.
- See the Eiffel Tower at night.
- Take the Amtrak.
- Take the kids to Disney World.
- Go on a cruise.
- Visit Alaska.
- Visit Ireland.
- Visit Sweden.
- See the Pyramids in Egypt.
- Ride a Zipline.
- Go repelling.
- Run a 5k.
Get a tattoo.- Learn to water ski.
Drive a jet ski.- Become a black belt in a martial art.
Go on a helicopter ride.Go parasailing.- Go bungee jumping.
Fire a pistol.- Become a Toastmaster.
Earn a Bachelor’s degree.Graduate Summa Cum Laude.Own a small business.Go skinny dipping in the ocean.Donate blood.- Live in a mostly, or completely self-sustainable house.
- Walk across hot coals, barefoot.
Want some more inspiration to get you started on your own bucket list? Some other great examples of lists can be found on the following awesome blogs:
OK guys! The floor is yours. Do you have a bucket list? What are you working on knocking off your list now? If you don’t have a list, do you plan on writing one? Spill it in the comments section below!
Did you like this post? If so, please consider leaving a comment, and signing up to receive updates by email or RSS feed from Ex-Consumer. It’s completely free and I never spam! You can also follow me on Twitter and Facebook.
Related posts:
Love to read Bucket Lists! We have a few goals in common
I have a travel bucket list and I’m saving for one of the main goals at the moment: a month in Manhattan…so exciting.
Hi Laura! A Month in Manhattan sounds amazing! I can’t wait to read about your adventures on your blog.
I like the list!
Do you know if you’d have to own an RV and a house boat to do those two? Or are there places where you can rent RVs and/or house boats on a longer-term basis?
Robert Wall recently posted..Being Specific About Stuff
Hey Robert! Thanks!
We’ve looked into renting an RV, and seems pretty outrageous. It costs a ton for the RV rental, and then you have to pay so much per mile. If the RV breaks down or needs an oil change, we would be responsible for having the work done, and then we would need to try and get reimbursed for any repair expenses upon our return.
Needless to say, we’re still trying to figure out how to make the RV/Houseboat thing work without actually owning either.
Love your list! Another great reason to create a list is to give yourself a goal and reduce the occurrence of ‘boredom.’ Having a list motivates me to pick something off the list and go do it. I actually crossed off an item this weekend! Felt so good!
(PS: Thank you for the link!)
Thanks Laura! Your list was a great inspiration as I created my own. I mean, I haven’t ran naked with 90 other people or anything, but I have some dreams!
That’s great that you crossed another item off this weekend. Congratulations!
Jenny you rock! I LOVE YOUR BUCKET LIST! I may have to steal a few haha. I feel like every time I do something I just add more! LOL.
I loved your ‘Take the kids to Disney’ one. I don’t have kids at this point in my life but I absolutely plan to have a few down the road and that’s one of my dreams too. I remember how much I loved it & how excited I was when I was a kid. I want to do the same for my kids!
Thanks for sharing your dreams Jenny!!!! If you keep making yours happen I’ll keep making mine happen!
… except bungee jumping… that one literally scares the crap out of me haha
- Laur
Lauren @ The Mad To Live recently posted..Sit Downs With Mad Ones- Lach Cotter of The Art of Audacity
Hey Lauren! Bungee jumping scares the crap out of me too! I had a date with one of my best friends to bungee jump about eight years ago at our state fair (yeah, I know. Lame). We went there all pumped up and ready to jump and the bungee jump station was closed down! We took it as a sign and haven’t planned to do it again since we’ve both had children. But, I still planning on doing it one of these days!
You’re definitely living it up over at Mad To Live! Keep it up!
I don’t have a bucket list and don’t really want one, although there are a few things I’d like to do, like go to the UK, for example. (Two of the world’s most entertaining tourist cities — Austin and San Antonio — are only a few hours away from me.) I know people who’ve done many of the things on your list and did not get much fulfillment from them. I think the RV thing would be fun, too, but I don’t want to drive that thing. Teleport is my preferred way to travel.
These days, I’m focusing less on doing and more on just being. I’ve been doing too much for too long.
Gip
Hey Gip! Kirk and I have been discussing who would be driving the RV. He doesn’t want to, I’m willing to try it. We had a bad experience driving a U-Haul through Philadelphia, PA once and we’re afraid the RV will be like driving that thing.
We’re both willing to try it though! I love seeing new places.
Of course if teleporting was an option, that would absolutely be the way I’d want to travel! (Unless we’re *really* talking about astral travel? I’ve tried that and it kind of freaked me out!)
Jenny, is there any chance you could buy a trailer of some sort and pull it with a vehicle you already own? Trailers have the advantage that they tend not to have engines – only wheels. That makes them much cheaper both to buy and repair.
Just a thought!
Robert Wall recently posted..Being Specific About Stuff
That’s a possibility Robert. I’m not sure where/how to store a trailer though. I like the idea of renting an RV so I don’t have to take care of and insure something long-term. Ya know?
Hi Jenny!
I love to read other people’s bucket lists! We do share many things that we would like to do. I have not actually written a list down, though. Maybe I should!
Here are a few off the top of my head!
-Travel the US in an RV (we’ll buy used & hubby can do most repairs)
-visit Italy for an extended visit
-Amtrak across Canada
-Spend a New Year’s Eve in Times Square
-Hike in the Rockies
Thanks for making me think!
Bernice
Living the Balanced Life recently posted..Are you stuck in a rut
HI Bernice!
Those are great bucket list goals! I remember you saying that you and your husband planned to travel the US in an RV. That’s great that he can do the repairs — what a huge bonus!
It was so fun to make the list. I would highly recommend writing your own bucket list! There is something about seeing the list all written out that makes it all seem so possible.
I did one of these when I was in 7th grade, but I have since lost it (which is kind of remarkable, considering the amount of stuff I “saved” for so long).
I don’t have one now, but I have a few things I really PLAN to do in the future:
- follow my husband and re-supply him when he hikes the whole Pacific Crest Trail (about 4 months)
- build a tiny house (I have forever dreamt about converting a school bus)
- learn letterpress
- go to graduate school for gender studies and do my thesis on the gender performance of David Allan Coe in relation to gender performance in rock & country music, with insight into the gender politics of “glam.”
- work somewhere where they play The Ramones.
Here is an interesting link to piece that was too long for me to read last week, but I do want to read it eventually: “How to Make a Life List You’ll Actually Do” http://tinyurl.com/mfq2as
Liina recently posted..April 2011 Expenses
Hey Liina! You mean you didn’t keep your bucket list with the Cabbage Patch figurine?
I’ll bet it would have been fun to look at it and see how much it’s changed over the years.
The items you listed are so specific! That is amazing your husband is planning to hike the whole Pacific coast over a four-month time period. Is he going to be camping along the way? Are you?
Converting a school bus into a tiny house would be such a creative challenge. Everything you listed sounds great!
Jenny, thanks for the inspiration (again!!). I agree with you bucket lists are definitely for the ‘now’ – anything that you think you’d put on it, put it on, and aim to do it, sooner rather than later.
It’s funny – I’ve done many of the things on your list (like see the Eiffel Tower at night) – and many of the other things on your list would definitely make it onto mine – like Alaska!!
The big ticket item for me right now though is to pay off my debts and put an end to my wage slavery – that way me and my wife can head off into the sunset doing another of the items on your list (sort of). You have down travelling the US in an RV – we have a couple of years travelling round Europe in a VW Camper Van…..
You inspire me – thanks.
Steve
Steve M recently posted..A simple day out
Hi Steve! Thanks for your kind words!
My main focus is to end our debt too. We’re figuring we won’t be completely financially independent for about 17 years, but we’ll be substantially freed up from our financial commitments by the end of this year. Hurray!
Traveling around Europe in a VW camper van sounds amazing!
Jenny, how do you calculate 17 years til financial independence? Is there a formula for that?
Liina recently posted..April 2011 Expenses
Liina – there are a lot of unknown variables (e.g., our projected annual income each year, health, etc.), but a good starting point is a retirement calculator like the one on CNN Money.
Hey jenny thanks for linking to mine! You have some really good ones on your list, I may have to steal a few and add more onto mine. Hot air balloon, yeah!
I think i’d like to travel Europe in a VW camper van too, awesome!
Hi Marianne! Your list is great. I’ve been wanting to ride in a hot air balloon for years! It’s just so darned expensive (about $500 for two people!). I keep looking for deals.
Hi Jenny
Hmmm. This is very tricky for me as I’ve already had so many experiences in my life. The only continent I haven’t been to is Africa. Most of it was done very unhappily. I remember staying in the most luxurious accommodation in Tahiti. It was a pole-house over the water and part of the floor was made of glass. You just went down some stairs outside to swim in the sea. It was amazing but it was the end of a month long trip around Europe and all I wanted to do was go home.
Don’t vomit but I feel very much like that song “I’ve been to paradise but I’ve never been to me.” Except that I am trying to find “me” at the moment and it isn’t a particularly pleasant experience. I’ve even given myself a reprieve from blogging.
I’d love to know what your e-book is about but I understand that you might want to keep it under wraps.
Deb
deb – life beyond stuff recently posted..5 Ways to make Peace with Time
Hi Deb! I wonder if the experiences would be different if you tried them after you “found you?” Maybe your life circumstances at the time interfered with your enjoyment of the experiences you had.
My e-book is (loosely) about the psychology of advertising. I’ve found that many people in my life don’t understand how they’re being swayed by advertisers — I would love to help them see what I see. I’m planning to publish the into here in the next week or two.
Great list Jenny! As per our Twitter conversation earlier today, you’re right, making a bucket list DOES sound like fun! Now, the question is….do I share the list made for public consumption, or the “real” list. Well, you already know I don’t mind embarrassing myself (aka, mullet picture)…… Oh, how much fun this will be….
Travis @DebtChronicles recently posted..Forum Post- Re- Proposal
Hey Travis – Yes! I want to see the list made for public consumption! Ha, ha.
Yo Jenny!
Very nice- dig the list. I’ve done a lot of things on there but nothing has changed or effected me quite as much as your number 12. I’m looking forward to hearing about that experience in the future!
Anon recently posted..My life story part 3 of
Hey D! Well, you know who inspired the goal to sleep on a mountain in a tent don’t you? Yep. The photos from you and your sweet, sweet wife’s adventures!
I’m happy to hear that, yeah!
Anon recently posted..My life story part 3 of
What do you consider the 7 wonders of the world?
Hey Wanderingtrader! This is a great question — I should have been more clear.
I was referring to the seven natural wonders of the world, although there are more than seven natural wonders I’m sure. As you probably know, there is much debate about what actually belongs as part of the list of seven.
At any rate, when I listed “The Seven Wonders of the World,” I was referring to the following:
1.) Aurora Borealis (Especially this!)
2.) Grand Canyon
3.) Great Barrier Reef
4.) Harbor of Rio de Janeiro
5.) Mount Everest
6.) Parícutin volcano
7.) Victoria Falls
Thank you for helping me clarify!
I love your list, Jenny! I love the whole Bucket List idea. I like making lists and having goals to strive for. Oddly, it took me a long while to get down to making my Bucket list, but I finally did last year. If you’re interested in seeing it, it’s at http://bit.ly/cOEvdu.
Before that, I made a F*ck It list, which is a list of things I just don’t have the time or inclination to do. That one, you can find at http://bit.ly/khn8ch. It ended up being a silly list, but I also like the idea that there are things in my lifetime that I don’t have to pressure myself to do.
Nenette recently posted..4th Annual Life Candy Freebie 5- Whos on your list
Hi Nenette! Thank you for leaving the links to your bucket and f*ck it (ha, ha) lists! I can’t wait to check them out.
Also, why an RV? With a little organization and planning, you could car camp- much more experience rich, cheaper, and you dont have to worry about piloting and finding sites that you rv in(typically much less scenic, and more crowded than tent camping areas…
Anon recently posted..My life story part 3 of
This is a great idea D, but I really like the idea of having a shower and bathroom (I’m the only girl in my family too!).
The car seems pretty small when I think of four people staying in it for any length of time!
I’ve never written a bucket list. I need to!
Like you I have a lot of travel I would like to get in. I’m in the process of creating a list for while we live in Europe. The only thing I know for sure is that I want to go back to Italy for a bit. We’ve been twice and I love it.
Other things: run the NYC or Boston marathon, bike across Canada, publish a novel.
Hi Rachel! Italy is one of the places I really want to visit also. I love your other goals too! Biking across Canada sounds amazing! How long would that take?
Pingback: Friday Favorites! | Ex-Consumer
Pingback: Keep Your Eyes on the Prize | Move to Portugal
Just curious, why Sweden?
Hi Maria! I guess because the photos I’ve seen of Sweden are all so beautiful.
Maybe she wants to make a pilgrimage to the birthplace of Ikea?
Or maybe she just wants those good European dessert foods and has determined that going to Sweden is easier than making them at home (and she might not be that far off!)
Robert Wall recently posted..Is Daily Grocery Shopping Frugal Foodie Friday
Ha, ha. Your answer is far more compelling than mine Robert!
Well there is always the largest IKEA in the world to go to:-) Easier to get in to then out, I always seem to get lost on the way… It sure is beautiful, not always, but most times (not so much yesterday when I biked 30 kilometer in rain, rain, rain…)
And there sure are some great desserts (and food)
Maria – Are you living in Sweden? If so, I would love your recommendation on where I should visit!
Oh, and if there’s good dessert I’m in!
Hi, Yes I live outside Stockholm. Where you should go depends one what time of the year you are planning to come I would say. If you come at wintertime you should go up north to make sure you see the Norhtern lighy (you get it down here aswell sometime but you can’t be to sure about it. Summertime I would say more south, between Stockholm and Gothenburg and maybe a bit north of that (The part called “Dalarna”) and of course Stockholm any time of the year, it is a really beautifuk capital, and I can always show you around:-) Even if I get lost most of the time:-)
This is great information Maria — thank you so much! I’ll have to get in touch with you when we come to the planning stages of a trip to Sweden. We’re waiting for our littlest (20-months) to get a little older before we travel too far.
Jenny,
Every time I read your blog, I feel so proud to be your sister! You are so amazing… I LOVE your bucket, I still sit here and wonder how my baby sister got so courageous?? Was I not just changing your little diapers and now you want to bungee jump! Hot air balloon. I am not that brave! I am going to work on a bucket list! Thanks for always inspiring me! I love you!
Hey Jilly,
Awesome! I can’t wait to read your bucket list!!!
Thank you for all the love.
I used to have one such list in my school days that I had stuck on the back side of my room-door. It had summer camp, parties, vacation, school result-aims and so on… those were sweet childhood days… This list totally changed with age… And to add some humour, now I am in my company hiring some data services and checking on some Good-HUGE lists like… Business Mailing lists, consumer lists, etc… The lists changed for me
Hi Betty. This is so true, our lists typically change as we grow and change. The goals of a 10-year old are likely to be much different than those of an adult.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your thoughts!
Pingback: Interview with Jenny of Ex-Consumer
YES!! Cruise!!! I need to update mine with that now – I’ve been trying to do one forever
I know! An Alaskan cruise would be amazing, I bet.
Hey Jenny, I love reading bucket lists! We share some in common (3, 4, 6, 18 just to name a few)
My friends and I created our 40 by 40 lists and are helping each other achieve the items on our lists…so much fun!
~Kesha
Kesha Brown recently posted..Adult Truths – Things You Don’t Learn Until You’re an Adult
Hi Kesha! A 40 by 40 list sounds so fun!
I need to get cracking on my bucket list — thanks for the reminder.
Pingback: My Life List | Budgets Are Sexy