My wife and I like to talk relatively frequently about the things we’d like to do and things we’d like to have later in life. In reality, with two young daughters at home our financial perspective doesn’t often drift beyond the near future but that doesn’t stop us from partaking in a little wishful thinking now and then.

In 2007, Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman starred in a movie titled “The Bucket List”. It chronicled the story of two terminally ill men who go on a journey to do everything they’ve ever wanted to do in life before they “kick the bucket”. Thankfully, no one in our house is terminally ill but that hasn’t stopped us from creating our very own “bucket list” of things we’d like to do or have.

With a slight nod to that movie, here’s the financial version of my very own bucket list.

Own a Vacation Home

We’ve always dreamed of having a little lakefront property that we can visit with our girls on weekends. My wife and I both visited our grandparents’ cottages when we were young and want to be able to pass that experience on to our daughters too. I’m really excited that we’re taking the steps right now to make that happen. We’ve spent the last few months putting out feelers on a couple of properties and it looks like this might actually become a reality within the next year or so.

Buy a Convertible

This is one of those completely unnecessary purchases but I’d love to have one anyway! Right now, I’m limited to the wind I get from rolling down the windows on my Saturn but I’d love to be able to cruise down the open road with the top down and nowhere in particular to be. I’ve already convinced my wife to let me buy one when we’re retired so I think this one is going to happen!

Day Trade Stocks

Before you tell me how risky this is let me clarify that I’m not necessarily looking to make money off of this. I just want to take a little bit of money to experience the thrill of it even if it’s only one time. Some people go to the casino to gamble. I think about what it would be like to day trade stocks. It’s my own personal vice I guess!

Be Really Charitable

I’d really REALLY like to make this one happen. My wife and I have always liked the idea of setting up a charitable donor advised fund and using it to fund an annual college scholarship or some other charitable donation of our choice. With two young daughters demanding our resources right now I don’t think this is in the cards for the near future at least. I like using Donors Choose to fund small educational needs across the country and will probably stick with that in the meantime.

Give a Fun Gift to My Daughters

Like most dads with young daughters, I love spoiling the heck out of them when given the chance. I’m not talking about giving a huge gift to them either. I was thinking something along the lines of $5,000 each and giving it to them around the time that they graduate high school or are early in college. It’s just enough to make a big difference in their young lives yet not enough to really ruin them. It’s just a chance to let them have some fun.

Looking back at the list now it appears that most if not all of these things will have to wait until we hit retirement. That’s OK. It’s fun to dream about these things now but still I can’t wait to get there!

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