Bucket Bucket List Dream Checklist
Retirement doesn’t have to suck, you know. A lot of people dread the idea, assuming the rest of their life is going to be spent in front of the television watching Jeremy Kyle, just because they have nothing better to do with their time. But life post-retirement can be so much more than that. This is your opportunity to live out your bucket list dreams, assuming you have already made a bucket list in the first place. These are your golden years; your opportunity to make every day count. And while I would suggest putting as much as you can into your retirement fund (the list below contains two pricey ideas), your bucket list can also contain things that don’t involve a lot of money.
So, here are my ideas for your retirement bucket list. They aren’t set in stone; your bucket list is your own, so you can put down what you like. But if you’re short of inspiration, you might consider the following.
#1: Take an extended holiday
Is there anywhere you have always wanted to go? A sun-soaked holiday in Spain, a Caribbean cruise, a wine tour in Greece…the world is your oyster. Well, it is, provided you have put a few savings in place. And because you are retired, you might have the opportunity to have more than a one-week stay, because guess what? You don’t have to leave your holiday because of work commitments! Spend a fortnight, a month, or even a year! And if you don’t have the moolah to stroll around the world at your leisure, there may still be places in the UK that you haven’t visited yet, so you might consider an extended road trip or a coach holiday somewhere around the UK with your pals.
#2: Emigrate to another country
There are a lot of things you need to consider if you want to move abroad – it’s a pretty big step – but many people choose to after retirement. This is the opportunity to live another life, and if you have the money and don’t have a lot of commitments holding you back, then why not? Think about your bucket list destinations, and rather than taking a holiday to your dream location, live there instead. Taking a look at these beautiful examples of apartment architecture, you might consider a move to Australia, a popular hotspot for retirement. Or you might choose to live out your retirement in a Villa in Spain, especially if you’re a fan of sun, sand, and sea. You might even choose to live somewhere a lot more laidback than good old Blighty, such as Paris, Canada, or New Zealand. As I said, if you have the finances, the world is your oyster.
#3: Do something you have never done before
There are all kinds of things you can add to your bucket list that don’t cost the earth. You might (in no particular order), take up a new hobby, take classes in something that interests you, join a dating website, visit somewhere new in your hometown, learn some new recipes or volunteer for a charity that means something to you. Or something else entirely! If there is something you have always wanted to do, but never had the time previously, then grab the bull by horns when you’re retired and do it!
My final word
If you don’t have a bucket list in place yet, then start to put something together. You can have a new lease of life after you have retired, whatever you choose to do. And after all, anything’s better than sitting in front of the TV all day watching Jeremy Kyle, isn’t it?
