10 year plan

[giles]

Anyone make them? This April will be the 10th year after we made one. We have failed miserably. Looking back, our plan was not realistic at all. It didn't leave any room for life mishaps. 2 of the 10 goals have happened. Camper and barn. We have wasted a ton of money on used trucks and would've been money ahead to purchase a new one 7 years ago.

So now we need to start thinking about the next 10 year plan. With a new outlook and being 10 years older, I am thinking the first problem with a 10 year plan is that it is 10 years away. It went by FAST but at the same time, 10 years ago was not today. Much has changed. I could not imagine a cell phone being the price they are today. Trucks, housing, building materials, fuel and so on. So how the hell do you plan for that?! Thinking my first change will be to make a 12 month plan.

This last year got financially sketchy. We don't have CC debt but we got real close to needing one at one point. That paycheck to paycheck living isn't how I like to live. For some people it works and the motivation is needed to go to work, but that ain't for me. Looking back, those increases I was talking about above took our 6 months of bill/life we kept aside was only 3 months. So that needs adjusted.

This 10 year plan of our is materialistic. Anyone else do this? What are some things that are important to you to obtain? I imagine that the age of the family really plays a roll in this and would love to have some insight from some of you older fellas. Some of you younger guys I might be able to help also. So share away, even if you are the type of person that plans nothing.

 

[bowhunter1023]

In 10 years, we'll be paying for college for the oldest, buying a car for the middle, and preparing to send the baby to the middle school. And I'll be 50

We don't really have a plan per se. I'm the type who has a vision, then I take action in a logical progression until I reach my goals. Frankly, in 10 years, if we're enjoying a similar quality of life as we are now, I'll be a happy man. I'd rather plan in 1-3 year increments because life is both agile, and fragile, so planning a decade ahead is wishful thinking IMO. Know your vision, plan for the immediately controllable future and allocate your resources as efficiently and effectively as you can.

 

["J"]

I think I’m past the 10 year plan stage in my life. Spending time with the kids and grandson is my main goal these days. Fish with some buddies a half dozen times a year and then move into archery and gun seasons too round them off. Hopefully I’ll be doing this for the next 10 years!

 

[giles]

In 10 years, we'll be paying for college for the oldest, buying a car for the middle, and preparing to send the baby to the middle school. And I'll be 50

We don't really have a plan per se. I'm the type who has a vision, then I take action in a logical progression until I reach my goals. Frankly, in 10 years, if we're enjoying a similar quality of life as we are now, I'll be a happy man. I'd rather plan in 1-3 year increments because life is both agile, and fragile, so planning a decade ahead is wishful thinking IMO. Know your vision, plan for the immediately controllable future and allocate your resources as efficiently and effectively as you can.

Outlook, vision, goal is all the same to me. I need to look ahead to get out of bed today. Gives me reason and motivation to live life, not just float on by.

 

[at1010]

My plan is fairly simple as it is mostly only focused financially.

Save
Don’t take on depreciable debt
Leverage good debt
Invest regularly

 

[giles]

Investing is something I have never done. Never even looked into it. Even the thread on here about it gets zero reading by me. Maybe I need to entertain getting involved or at least educating myself on it. The original 10 year plan involved having 100 acres bought this year. We are a longs ways away from $1,000 acres now. Fack

 

[P8riot]

In 10 years, wouldn't it be great to say "I'm 10 years sober"

 

[giles]

In 10 years, wouldn't it be great to say "I'm 10 years sober"

It all starts with a day.

 

[gjs4]

Life is what happens when you’re making plans.

 

[Bowkills]

Id like to be 100 percent done building a house with another building and owe 0 money in 3 years. Enjoy all ten years. Throw in an erie boat somewhere along the way in that ten yrs. Thats my plan. Watch my kids grow. Continue going to church every sunday. Maybe meet a few more of u.

 

[giles]

Speaking of meeting more members, I should probably add handing out these coozies

 

[Clay Showalter]

Speaking of meeting more members, I should probably add handing out these coozies

Hum yea don't you have some for me? Lol

 

[Clay Showalter]

We made our first set of goals when we were 22 & 23 years old. We met about half of them.

Next set of goals were for 10 years, but I got some great advice given to me. Set 1 & 2 year bench marks. Helped greatly, we had set backs, but still meet some.

We have most seasons of life represented in this group and we can all learn from each other.

if you are young save as much as possible before you are 30.

 

[jagermeister]

My plan is fairly simple as it is mostly only focused financially.

Save
Don’t take on depreciable debt
Leverage good debt
Invest regularly

This ^^^ right here, for the most part.

The bulk of my goals, which really are goals for my family, tend to be financially-centered. One thing I do that I would encourage everyone to do, is keep a record of your financial progress. It doesn’t matter how big or how small. I use an excel spreadsheet that lists every asset, liquid, non-liquid, every account, and of course every debt/liability. The figures get updated typically every 3 months, 6 months at most. Each update becomes a new column, with the date at the top. This does a couple different things… 1. It gives you a very clear perspective on which way you are trending, whether accounts are increasing or decreasing, and at what rate. 2. It provides you with motivation. If you’re trending upward, it gives you confirmation in your process. If you’re trending downward or remaining stagnant, it (hopefully) motivates you to make some changes.

I have a vision per se, and sometimes set yearly goals for myself. But I don’t have my own 10 year plan. God already has a plan created for me. My job is to simply have faith in where He’s got me heading, and do my best to make good decisions along the way.

 

[hickslawns]

Spot on Jager. My 10 year plans took about 3 curve balls in the last two months. Thankful for what I have. Trusting in His plan. So far, my mental well being hasn't been attacked with these recent surprises. Life isn't all bad. If you think it is, then look around. Our worst days are substantially better than the best days of others. I wouldn't trade what I have or the direction I'm going with anyone. And one of my curve balls is leaving me wondering about our long term financial well being. Still wouldn't trade my problems for someone else's.

 

[LonewolfNopack]

Honestly with all the early death and tragedy I've experienced and continue to experience in my family.....if myself and all of my currently living immediate family is still alive, happy and healthy in 10 years I am a thankful man. I feel like this is more fate rather then anything I have control of, so not so much a goal as a hope. So much can happen in 10 years and an actual goal i want now may be irrelevant years from now. I know planning financially is smart and is definitely what we all should be doing but I refuse to let it consume my life. I have some friends that are so concerned about finances and making money I'm afraid they never once stopped to enjoy even the dam air they breath, and their hour glass is flowing like all of ours is. Enjoy life, support my family and raise my son, that's my goals always. Reminds me of this quote.

"When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when i grew up. I wrote down 'happy'. They told me I didn't understand the assignment. I told them they didn't understand life".

Life is all about perspective, and my goals reflect my perspective.

 

[5Cent]

You want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans.

No, not going to go all religious on ya, but I think we all learned early that goals are good, but have learned as we worked towards them that they have to be realistic. That varies by person, their circumstances, and their opportunities. Your measurement system needs to be adjusted, same as your goals as things progress. Unless you are talking big life items like starting a family, or very specific personal goals like earning a degree or making a certain team, etc., the plan has to be elastic. I do not think things we plan for today should remain static for 10yrs. There will be many blessings and set backs along the way. I would highly challenge anyone that names materialistic things as a goal. Those things come and go, merely tools for the bigger goal.

My goal for the rest of this life is to make the most out of being a father and spouse. This encompasses everything in-between to make that happen. Whether it be financial, time management, or being present, I'll use today to make tomorrow work for me.

Most people are not happy with their life, or don't feel success for one reason....their dreams are too small. If your dreams are small, so will be your goals and the plan you set out on. Dream big fellas, work hard and don't take your eye off the prize. Everything going on around you is just noise.

 

[5Cent]

Outlook, vision, goal is all the same to me. I need to look ahead to get out of bed today. Gives me reason and motivation to live life, not just float on by.

Dave, I'll challenge you to break these apart.

Your outlook = mindset.
Your vision = what it takes to reach a goal.
Your goal = something that makes you feel successful.

Your goal each day is to get out of bed. Each night you then develop the vision to make this happen. As you fall asleep, and as that alarm clock goes off and you want to hit the snooze, this is your mindset. You can't hit the snooze, you have to get up, you have to be disciplined, you have to work hard. If your vision is strong enough, and your mindset is right, then you hit the alarm clock, sit up and attack the day with vigor. Without one of these pillars, the stool falls. Hard work and discipline are the world's great equalizers. NOTHING in this life worth having comes from easy, being average.

I've really come to love Motiversity videos. These guys know how to flip the switch inside all of us......will you flip yours today?

 

[Big_Holla]

OK I suck at this.......

 

[giles]

This list was about material things in life. Other thought are very deep and I thank you guys for sharing. Not my intent to pry on those subjects. Please keep sharing though as those are very important lessons.