A
female
age
26-29,
anonymous
writes:I don't really know how to say all this but, I'm 17 and would like a little advice.In May 2011 I almost lost my mother, she was fighting for her life and thankfully made it! In November 2011, I lost my grandad, this was a complete shock as there was nothing wrong with him, my family were heartbroken and it isn't the same without him. I had counselling for this as it really affected me. July 2012, my family and I found out my nan has cancer, this shocked everyone in the family and has really made me think that life deffinately is too short.I recently made a bucket list and i am determined to fulfil the things on it. I would love to go traveling.I know i shouldnt be thinking of all the bad things, but i really want to do everything and see the world. I just don't have the money. How can i save money to do all of this? I know i'm only young but I really want to see and experience everything.
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female
reader, Abella  +, writes (3 September 2012):
 I can understand why you want to make these plans, and i think it is admiral that you do. Because you should have some hopes and dreams to look forward too.
Often when we are young we think it looks impossible.
Focus first on your studies. Get some qualifications completed.
Work smarter, not necessarily harder.
If you just want a reliable settled life, then after you gain some qualifications then start pursuing a career and build your life and your lifestyle around that.
If you want more, and have an entrepreneurial approach to life, and you are not averse to some risk, then start thinking about a business you could create for you, in the future, which has opportunities for growth, to allow for more in the future.
It can be anything that suits your skills.
Anything from writing novels as a career,
developing some amazing software, building a business that meets the needs of other businesses, something that makes life easier for others.
Because, if you do it right, and choose the right one for you, then you will always make more money in your own business than working for someone else.
So if being ambitious to live life and travel and experience more in your life you will need money.
Also you will never be short of money in your life if you always spend less than you earn. So another way to help you to achieve that is to say NO to all forms of credit cards for personal expenditure. Being over-burdened with consumer debt is the quickest way to stymie your dreams.
Little by little you will achieve many things in your life. It is an incremental journey.
For inspiration sometimes it is also a good idea to read biographies of other people who have achieved much in life. As reading such things can be inspiring.
When you read a few biographies of people you might be amazed to see where these people came from.
I was reading one such biography today, and read about a man who at 16 was separated from his family. He was penniless and was trying to flee his country, which had been under seige. He was taken into custody (it was WWII) and did not know at the time that his father had already died in the War. At 22, after WWII ended, he travelled to another country, still penniless. Today he is reputed to be worth billions. He owns shopping centers all over the world and travels anywhere he wants.
A
male
reader, no nonsense Aidan +, writes (16 August 2012):
You don’t need to rush to do all these things, you have years ahead of you. Are you working or in education? If the latter, perhaps you might like to get a weekend or evening job to start earning. It’s a good idea to start saving and learning to plan your finances at a young age. You could also break your travelling plans down in to stages: perhaps you won’t have the money any time soon to travel around the world, but save enough and you just might be able to travel to a different place each year. You can certainly travel on a budget if you do your research. It’s great to think big, bucket lists are where people think big and about their life as a whole, what they want to do and experience over the course of a lifetime. But you need to break that big picture down in to little manageable chunks. Think about what’s realistic now, what might be in a few years from now and what you need to do for that to be so.
I wish you all the very best.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (16 August 2012): I have only heard that term "bucket list" in this past year; have I been unobservant or is this a term that has just recently become popular maybe from a movie?
When I was 13 I was in a boating accident that caused me to be in a coma for 2 weeks and recovery for about 6-8 months. My eyes were opened at that time to how precious every moment of our lives are and I have from time to time reminded myself of that fact as the years passed. I took trips with friends who wanted a companion to go with them and did a lot of volunteer jobs throughout high-school years for the pure pleasure of the experience. I also had some enjoyable pay jobs as well; the kind that took my interest. It is surprising what jobs can become available to someone at a younger age as long as you are mature and have the backing of your parents. I got to be an art instructor for children from 5 up to my age of 16 and later work at summer camps too. I was considered foolish though on what I decided to spend my 1st couple paychecks as I bought a bike and a very expensive stunt kite. I have never regretted those purchases and they were well used and appreciated. Living life to its fullest and sharing what I could with others has been what made the life I fell into later so bearable as I no-longer can do any of those things and am so grateful that I did when I could. I am a bed-bound invalid now with Muscular Dystrophy and because I once had a life that was so full filling and because I did so many activities and met so many people I feel like I had a full life and I do not feel like I was at all stolen from. Be sure to spend some of those special moments with others while you have the abilities to do so. It is a delight to me to see that you and some of the commentators in here are so well aware of how precious each day is and that you all plan to make the best of each of those days too no-matter what your income restrictions or impediments in life might be. I enjoy every day still too and wish you all the very best.
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A
female
reader, Stayc63088 +, writes (16 August 2012):
 You are still very young. Most of the things on your list will probably come in time but you have a long life ahead of you! I made a bucket list about 5 years ago I think, called it "My List" and saved it to my computer. I just sat and thought about everything I wanted to be able to say I have done in my life. Some items weren't very hard to do and some I had no idea how I would ever make it happen but put it down anyway. At the age of 19 I had no idea how I would be able to afford going out of the country, an item on my list, but that wasn't the point- it was something I wanted to do so I added it. When I was married earlier this year we ended up going on a cruise for our honeymoon and crossed off quite a few things on my list, one being going out of the country. We went to Mexico, Jamaica, and the Grand Caymans.
So just make your list and take it as you go. You don't know where you could be in 5 years. As time goes on you will find ways to make them all happen. I still have a lot on my list but I'm young too with plenty of time :)
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A
female
reader, Honeypie + ♥, writes (16 August 2012):
 Start working jobs after school/week-end and save up. The summer I turned 17, I spend 30 days seeing a lot if Europe on a Euro rail pass. I worked 3 jobs after school (not all 3 the same days lol but basically 6 days a week) My parents were OK with it as long as I kept my grades up (and I did).
That was my first Euro rail trip with a couple of friends. And it was awesome. I got to see so many places. Berlin, Paris, Rome, Pompeii (I would LOVE to go back there), Florence, Venice and that year we did Corfu and Sicily.
Having a bucket list is fine. Having a bucket list that is totally unrealistic is fine too, because.. you just never know :)
I have many many things still on my bucket list. And I still add stuff :) But since I have kids now, they have to happen a little more "organic". For instance we will be driving across the US come spring and I'm planning to hit North Cali/Oregon so I can HUG a redwood tree :)
Don't give up. Plan. But don't forget to enjoy life while you work,save and plan :)
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (16 August 2012): im the same i want to do these things but its just not possible i want to get out there try it all but its like impossible they say if you want to do something go do it i wish i could
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A
female
reader, Aunty Susie  +, writes (16 August 2012):
 All of these things that have happened in your life is what life is - a real roller-coaster ride sometimes.
Having dreams and going after your goals is the best way to live your life. You'll figure out how to achieve them along the way.
Some dreams take many years before being fulfilled, so don't ever give up!
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A
male
reader, DoubleM +, writes (16 August 2012):
 You are certainly young to be worrying about this, but no, you will probably not ever do all you would like to do. Few of us do. But rejoice that you have so many years ahead of you - at your current age - to accomplish hundreds of dreams. We cannot do everything we wish, but you'll be just fine.
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female
reader, starstrukkx3 +, writes (15 August 2012):
 Hey,
First-off, I know exactly how you feel. We found out that my nana has cancer and has months to live earlier this year. Then, just over a month ago, my grandad died, totally unexpectedly. I'm so sorry for your loss. :(
I think it's great that you want to travel. Why don't you plan it all out carefully? Like, choose what countries you definitely want to go to and put them at the top of the list. You could plan your route and use the Internet to help you estimate your flight costs, etc. Then you could promise yourself, I'll definitely be travelling by the time I'm 25, or something like that. In the meantime, if you have any form of job, why don't you put away some money every week? You could also try selling a few items that you don't want or need anymore for some extra cash.
I'm not too big an expert on travelling OR money, but I hope this helps somehow. :)
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