Our kids are gone!
And we are living our dream life.
When you’ve been focused on your kids for years, you can start to get almost resentful, or at least feel like you’re missing out on life.
I know I did.
It’s easy to start to feel like your kids are going to rule your life forever.
But that’s up to you.
It’s also very common to lose your sense of purpose once they’re gone.
Today, I want to help you understand that you have more autonomy and choice when it comes to what your life looks like. #AfterKids.
You can decide, like my husband Bret and I did, to make a bucket list of all the things you want to do once the kids are out of the house.
We made a point to say to each other all the time, “When the kids are gone, we’re going to travel. We’re going to live our dream life.”
Oftentimes these types of hypothetical statements, gave us something to look forward to. Planning, dreaming and even thinking about what our lives would look like when it was just the two of us helped us to transition once that stage was a reality.
Bret and I always knew we wanted to live at the beach, and even in different cities. But neither was sustainable with kids at home.
Since both of our kids got married less than a year ago (yes, within 30 days of each other!), we’ve lived in Miami and traveled to Italy, France, and Greece.
And now, we’re visiting family across the midwest, and all while continuing to grow our business and deep in the connection between the two of us.
It may seem like a sudden and even emotional lifestyle change, but with the proper planning, it can also be very exciting.
Between setting our kids up for personal success and making smart financial moves, we ensured we’d have the future we dreamed of.
Now that we’re living it, we want to share our strategies with you. Hopefully you can implement them in a way that works for you.
Talk About the Future (A Lot)
For me, it’s when I don’t have something to look forward to that I feel like my life is dull.
Make a habit of talking about delayed gratification by focusing on the things you want, but know that you can only have later on down the road.
By focusing on the future, you are more likely to…
- set and achieve meaningful long-term goals
- improve ability to anticipate potential challenges
- make proactive decisions to overcome obstacles
- invest in activities that contribute to your future success
- build financial security and accumulate wealth
- prioritize the well-being of your partner and/or family
Once you have an idea of how you want your dream life to look, you can start to focus on the details.
Get Specific
Housing and Lifestyle
- Owning a home, renting, or downsizing
- Proximity to family, work, amenities, and healthcare facilities
Travel and Experiences
- Destinations, duration, budget
- Cultural immersion, adventure trips, or volunteer opportunities
Family Planning
- Having children or expanding the family
- Owning and caring for pets
Career and Education
- Further education or advancement prospects
- Maintaining a healthy work-life balance
Personal Growth and Hobbies
- Social connections, leisure activities and relaxation
- Personal development goals and new skills or hobbies
Health and Well-being
- Healthy lifestyle habits, including exercise and nutrition
- Regular health check-ups and preventive screenings
Financial Planning
- Budgeting, long-term financial goals, paying off debt
- Insurance needs and emergency funds
Retirement and Life After Work
- Retirement savings needs and investment strategies
- Part-time work, volunteering, or travel
Not everyone’s season of freedom happens for the same reason.
Maybe your kids are going off to college, or getting married. Or maybe you’ve been caring for a family member who recently passed.
No matter the change, it can be tough.
We were able to seemingly move on so quickly because we planned ahead. We made moves for years to get where we are now.
Make Gradual Changes Early
- Start downsizing and decluttering now in order to make the process more manageable
- Review and adjust investment strategies to align with long-term goals
- Create a bucket list and prioritize based on preferences
- Develop a more flexible work schedule to allow for travel
- Build excitement and anticipation for the upcoming changes
- Incorporate regular exercise and healthier habits into daily routines
- Seek advice from friends and family who have experienced your upcoming season
It’s kind of like fitness; you aren’t gonna go to the gym tomorrow, do a full body circuit, then wake up the next day and look like a bodybuilder.
It all takes time.
Now, you may have noticed a recurring theme here – freedom and flexibility require money.
It’s important to be financially literate for many reasons, but if you want to secure your dream life, you’ll need to master the fundamentals.
Focus on Financial Literacy
Ask yourself this: What is it you want to do and how much money is that really going to require?
- Research: There are plenty of books and articles by financial experts, as well as reputable websites and courses that cover various aspects of personal finance, investing, and budgeting.
- Set Goals: Define clear financial goals, like saving for a house, retirement, or paying off debts.
- Budgeting: Tracking income, expenses, and savings can help you understand your spending habits and identify areas for improvement.
- Basic Investing: Understand the fundamentals stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other investment vehicles.
- Responsible Habits: Live within your means, invest regularly, keep an emergency fund, and avoid unnecessary debt.
- Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date with financial news and economic trends to have a better understanding of how global events can impact your finances.
- Seek Advice: If you have complex financial needs or specific goals, a financial advisor can provide personalized guidance and create a tailored financial plan.
The bottom line is – start investing in a way that makes your money work harder than you do.
For us, we knew we might only have a short window. A brief time when we’re able to act like we’re newly dating again and do all the things that we want to do – go out, travel, do crazy things (check out the Patreon for those details)
Here’s why you want to listen to episode #1005 – Creating Your Dream Life…
- How we decided to downsize & move to the beach
- The things we had to give up before we could live our dream life
- How we decided on European travel
Check out the following links for more tips on building a better future…
Why I Plan to Die with Zero – Blog
How to Increase and Maintain Energy – Blog
The #1 Secret to a Successful Marriage – Blog
