SO I TURNED FORTY: REVISITING MY BUCKET LIST

Five years ago (and that just feels crazy to type), I decided it would be fun to publish a short bucket list of life goals to accomplish before I turned forty for Blogtober. Now that I’ve met that mid-life milestone, I thought it’d be fun to revisit that list and see where I’m at.

I would also like to note that turning forty was nothing monumental. I feel almost the same as 39, perhaps a bit better even since I’m about 20 pounds lighter than on my last birthday.

*This page contains affiliate links. At no cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking my links.  For more information see my full Disclosure Statement.*

BUCKET LIST GOAL ONE: BE A FULL-FLEDGED WORK AT HOME MOM

With a regular income no less. My plans pivoted for the better when I was offered a part-time position at our church. Since then, I have maintained office hours and am now paid for accounting duties I had previously been doing on a volunteer basis.

I love my job, and I love not working a lot when I’m at home. My kids even get to come to work with me on summer break. This was a win-win situation; I already loved the work I was doing, and now I have a job that does not require childcare. I’m off before the kids are home from school and even have a little time for errands.

The other bonus is that this is also a good resume filler if I decide to find full-time accounting work in the private sector when the kids are older.

I have made a small amount of money from the blog, but I prefer it as a passion project rather than an income generator. Because let’s be realistic; my message is minimalism and budgeting. I’m not going to do a lot of sponsored posts. I’ve turned most opportunities down for that very reason.

So that’s one goal I’ve decided not to pursue after all.

GOAL TWO: GET BACK (AND STAY) IN THE HABIT OF REGULAR BIBLE STUDY

Okay, I’m happy to say I’ve done pretty well with this one; it doesn’t hurt that I’ve attended a weekly Bible study at work for the last year! Even outside of that, I’ve leaned into my love of reading for the last couple of years, including the annual United Women in Faith Reading Program.

I’ve also gotten caught up on all the devotional books I’ve been gifted over the last few years. This is a habit I will continue to try and keep. I still read quite a few books for fun, but most books I choose to help me grow in some aspect or another.

BUCKET LIST GOAL THREE: TAKE A TRIP WITH HUSBAND SANS KIDS FOR OUR 15TH ANNIVERSARY

This one has actually become an annual getaway, so I think we nailed this goal. We stayed in a cabin just outside of Eureka Springs to celebrate our 18th anniversary this summer. We make a point to visit different destinations every year with a separate running list of where we want to take the kids on a separate trip.

Who knows, I might have to throw a post about Eureka Springs in with my Let’s Go series. Speaking of, I’ve got quite a few state parks to add to the series as well. I’m right at a year behind posting our adventures.

GOALS FOUR & FIVE: BECOME A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL COUCH and help people get out of debt

Along with goal number one, this changed when I accepted my current job. While I do still offer budget advice when asked, I am no longer interested in a certification.

I did however complete a different certification program just this summer. The Professional Administrators of the Methodist Connectional Structure, or PAUMCS for short (pronounced pom-ex) offers a certification program and my employer paid for me to take the course this year. So while I didn’t pursue training or certification as a financial coach, I don’t feel like I came up empty with this goal since I still completed a certification in my current career field.

I also still offer budgeting advice from time to time, and this blog still exists, and I’m okay not earning an income from that particular endeavor. In January our church offered Saving Grace: a Guide to Financial Well-Being and I led that session. Winter weather really affected our schedule, but I’ve already been asked if I would co-lead the course again in 2025. I feel like I am still doing what I can to help people change their family tree.

BUCKET LIST GOALS SIX & SEVEN: MAKE ONE NEW FRIEND A YEAR & NURTURE THE FRIENDSHIPS I ALREADY HAVE

While I’d say that I’ve probably done pretty well with making new friends, nurturing my existing friendships is a work in progress. We text semi-regularly, but I could count the number of times I’ve seen my best friend this year on one hand.

I definitely need to do better; just because we’ve been friends for almost three decades (and wow, how time flies!) and refuse to get rid of each other, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t still nurture our relationship.

Yes, I met my best friend way back in 1995 at the start of sixth grade. And upon reflecting on how little we’ve seen of each other this year, I’m going to make a point to do better next year.

GOALs EIGHT & NINE: TAKE A GIRLS TRIP TO IDEA & ATTEND LOCAL DFC MEETUP

Neither of these have happened. The first I just haven’t gotten around to prioritizing in our budget. We have other goals to meet first. The second is more just I’ve realized I’m more of an introvert by nature and I don’t find getting together in person with people I don’t know all that comfortable. So I think I’ll pass.

BUCKET LIST GOAL TEN: TAKE THE KIDS ON VACATION

We’ve been doing mini-vacations and long weekend trips for two years now. After getting on The Arkansas State Park Passport Program, it has taken us almost all over the state. We have now visited close to 2/3 of the state parks.

So we haven’t left the state much, but we have gone on more than a few road trips with the kids now and they’ve all been focused on getting out in nature and learning state history. I think we’ve done pretty well with this one.

When we finish the state parks I want to start planning the National Parks. I’m already looking forward to it.

SO THAT’S HOW I’VE DONE WITH MY BUCKET LIST, WHAT’S ON YOURS?

Have you started your own bucket list? Is it ever-evolving like mine? This is far from a comprehensive list on my part, I just had a few things I wanted to see if I’d accomplish in a five-year period. If nothing else, I enjoyed revisiting it with you. And here’s to the next five years!

See you in the next post! Until then, stay frugal and healthy friends.

Sharing is caring!