Abraham Lincoln once said, “in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years”.
This sentiment rings true for many people as they approach retirement, and as you plan for your later years, you will likely want to make sure that you live life to the fullest.
The good news is that retirement is your opportunity to do all those things you put off because you were too busy with work or other responsibilities. But if you want to get the most out of your time, it may be a good idea to plan ahead by creating a bucket list.
While everybody has their own unique goals in retirement, there are some common bucket list items that often come up.
Indeed, a survey by Aviva found the most common bucket list items in retirement. While a surprising 17.48% said they had nothing on their bucket list or they didn’t know, the rest of the responses may serve as excellent inspiration for your own retirement plans.
Here are five of the most common things to add to your retirement bucket list.
1. World travel
Unsurprisingly, world travel topped the list, with 40.49% of respondents saying it was a priority for them. That’s likely because retirement gives you the time you need to take longer trips without worrying about work commitments.
While many people simply had a desire to travel as much as possible, the survey also highlighted some specific travel goals.
Trips to see the Northern Lights, go on a safari, and go on cruises, for example, were all very popular.
Some people also wanted to make their travel plans more permanent, with 16.93% of people saying they wanted to buy a holiday home and 15.74% wanting to move abroad permanently.
This demonstrates that, while travel is a common goal for lots of retirees, everybody has their own version of what those travel plans look like. What would be yours?
2. Outdoor activities
Spending time outdoors and getting active is a great goal to add to your bucket list because it has numerous physical and mental health benefits.
That’s why many respondents put some kind of outdoor activities on their bucket list, but this took many forms.
While 20.87% of people wanted to spend more time gardening, around 5% of people wanted to take up a new sporting hobby to stay active and social.
Additionally, some respondents also hoped to try adrenaline-fuelled activities like bungee jumping (4%) or skydiving (6%).
Whatever you decide to do, getting outside and being active is a good addition to your bucket list because it can help you live a longer, healthier life.
3. Lifestyle changes
Making general lifestyle changes was also important for many. For example, 37.95% said they wanted to enjoy themselves more while 34.66% said they wanted to relax more.
If you spent a big portion of your life juggling work and family commitments, you probably didn’t have a lot of time to stop and slow down. Fortunately, retirement allows you to do just that, as you are no longer working and your children are more likely to be self-sufficient.
So, you don’t necessarily need to travel around the world to enjoy retirement, just take life at a different pace.
4. Spending time with family
Having more time to spend with family is one of the big benefits of retiring, and this proved important to many people. This may be because, as you get older, you reassess your priorities and focus on the things that are truly important.
Indeed, 34.51% of people said they would spend more time with family and 14.49% of people wanted to go on a multi-generation family holiday.
This may be an opportunity to make up for lost time if you’ve had a busy career and haven’t had as much time with the family as you would have liked. Your children may also appreciate the support you can give with raising their own families.
According to the UK government, 63% of all grandparents with grandchildren under 16 help out with childcare. This suggests that time with grandchildren is a priority for many people in retirement.
5. Become financially secure
Financial security is a big goal in retirement, with 29.68% of people putting it on their bucket list.
That’s because, for many people, financial security represents the freedom to pursue their other retirement goals. It means that you won’t have to make sacrifices to your lifestyle because you are concerned about money, either.
Also, you may want to support your adult children and ensure that you leave them as much of your wealth as possible, so they are secure when you are gone. This can be much easier if you are financially secure yourself.
The good news is you can start working towards financial security now, before you retire.
The earlier you start planning, the easier it can be to maintain financial stability and tick off all the other items on your bucket list.
Get in touch
Getting your finances in order gives you the freedom to achieve your retirement goals without making sacrifices, and we can give you the advice you need to get there.
Email hello@fcadvice.co.uk or call 0330 828 4714 today for more information.
Please note
This blog is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.
