Dreaming Big

Dreams are an important part of retirement planning. Many people see themselves jetting off to exotic locales, buying dream houses and spending their time on their favorite hobbies and with their favorite people. What do you want to do?

“Everyone wants to have that dream retirement life,” Jan Cullinane, co-author of The New Retirement: The Ultimate Guide to the Rest of Your Life. “For most of us, when we retire, it’s the first time in our lives when we have the time and money to do the things we always wanted to do. When you’re younger you have the time but not the money. When you’re working, you have the money but not the time. Make sure you plan to have the life you always wanted and you will understand why they call them the golden years.”

Give yourself some quiet time to think about what you want to do after you stop working. What part of the world do you want to live in? What places do you want to visit? What activities do you want to try or spend more time participating in? Make a list and know what you are saving for. Visualize yourself actually doing those things. It’s much easier to save money if you have a picture in your mind of what the money will go toward some day. If you are married, talk about these future goals with your spouse and make sure you are on the same page so you can share your dreams together.