So What DO I Want To Do?
When I Grow Up I Want to Get Out of Debt Because I Want to…
Made a Documentary in Tajikistan. Life is Fun!
1. Make more documentaries. I have one idea that involves my dad and the great Iranian traditions in poetry, another one on Haiti, another one on recycling…
2. Write a screenplay with my best friend.
3. Write a non-fiction book and get it published on paper.
4. Buy real estate as an investment. I want to be landed gentry!
5. Visit Hawai’i, New Jersey and Puerto Rico every year, and travel internationally at least once a year.
6. Not doubt myself. Not feel like I suck. Not feel like a loser.
7. Be able to focus my energy on creating things, igniting discussions, starting a movement.
8. Make more blogs. This is fun!
9. Be able to spend each day like an adventure: What do you want to do today? Let’s go check out that beach up north and then try that new restaurant! Not all the time, but it would be nice to do when I wanted to.
10. Create green spaces, improve urban environments, start a bike-sharing program in LA, start a podcast and a million other things.
11. Launch my secret project. My friend and I are already working on it.
12. Create and market a non-alcoholic beverage and successfully distribute it in the US. OK, I know this one seems weird. But it’s a dream of mine. I’ve always wanted my own drink!
Now that I look at this list, there are definitely some of these things that I can be working on now and I am, for some of them. I don’t need to be debt-free to write. Or start researching topics for the documentaries. I could start a podcast right now with GarageBand (who’s in?). I can also commit to not creating any new debt and therefore making each day a step in the right direction. Let me just admit honestly that it is a grind to pay off debt. It was so easy to accumulate it, but not so easy to pay it all off. I get really discouraged when I think, “Am I going to have to think about debt every day for the next 18-24 months while I pay it all off?” That sounds miserable. So I’m not thinking about my debt. I’m paying it off every day, but I’m not thinking about it. I’m blogging about debt but I’m not going to let my “number” hang over my head. Or any other number, like my the size of my retirement accounts, my credit score, my weight or how many years I’ve lived and where I should be on the achievement scale thus far. I’m doing the best I can, and I’m forgetting the rest (yes, Tony Horton, I did steal that from you).
What about you guys? Are you working on any goals/ideas for those debt-free days? Or if you are debt-free, what are your non-financial goals and dreams? Please share!
Wait…you made a documentary in Tajikistan? Tell us more! I’m taking a trip this summer and it would be interesting to structure it as a “business” trip with the purpose of making it into a movie. That’s probably not legit, though.
“or how many years I’ve lived and where I should be on the achievement scale” Ouch, that one kills me almost daily.
My goal now is to keep paying off my mortgage and find ways to earn more money and build a nice solid basis for my future, saving and investing. Also, travel a little bit more.
I don’t have much debt right now, but I will after graduate school! My goal will be to pay off the loans as quickly as possible, and then continue to save aggressively for retirement and hopefully travel internationally once (or twice – or more!) a year.
John, it was such a cool experience! Basically we didn’t know what we were doing, filmed a bunch of interviews for a couple weeks and had some funny run-ins with cops and bureaucrats. But once we started editing a storyline started coming together, it was really fascinating. I tried to upload it to Amazon’s self-published space, but it’s only 19 minutes, and they have a 20 minute minimum! We’re going to add to it eventually so we can finally share it. I highly recommend making a film, where are you going? It’s fun to do and iMovie makes editing fairly easy. You need a decent camcorder (professional grade) and a mic, other than that you’re good to go! I learned that anyone can make a movie, you just have to start asking some questions and filming.
Andrea, you’re debt free! So awesome. But yes, the “what should I have/have accomplished by now” question is always on my mind. It’s annoying! I just wanna live my life and be free
I like your list. And you have a secret project!? I’m intrigued.
Paying off debt is a total grind. But if you think about how little time two years is in the span of an entire life, it’s not so bad.
We’re currently paying off student loans and a home equity loan. With the economy so topsy-turvy and our income semi-dependent on it, it’s been hard to come up with a timeline for when we can have it gone. So for now, we’re taking it day by day, working hard and trying to stay balanced at the same time.
I’d love to be a landed gentry too.
Thanks for the comment Lindy! The secret project is really exciting. I admit we’re moving slow on it. It’s so true that you have to put 2 years in perspective. Our lives take on such an interesting, winding path and you never know how it will turn out. I am happy that I finally feel like there is a possibility of getting out of debt but only if I stay disciplined!
Landed gentry-I’m planning on doing some real estate posts soon!
That must have a been a great Tajik meal. Lots of beer and a plateful of tasty, crusty bread.
It’s the tail end of the meal…don’t forget the endless supply of watermelon!
[...] at American Debt Project, we have another delightful musing from S. on what she wants to do when she gets out of debt. Always entertaining and engaging stuff [...]
[...] So What DO I Want to Do? by American Debt Project [...]
What a great list. I hope you’re going to post the link here when you get your documentary uploaded; that sounds really cool. We are working on our last bit of debt (the house) and the biggest thing I want to do is travel more. There’s so much out there to see and do
we’re debt free and hope to stay that way forever! love this post…love it that you focus on your dreams, your reasons why to get debt free.
I would love to make a documentary. It sounds… fascinating and challenging. Your post gave me an idea for my bucket list!
I’m glad you liked it…I just remembered another one that’s been on my list for a long time: Take singing/voice lessons! That would be awesome. I can’t wait to see your bucket list! I’ve never made one, unless you count this. This is more things to do in the next 2-3 years.
I love this blog so much. You are so insightful I really feel like I am learning and growing with you =) Now…if only I could pay off my credit card.
Awwww, thank you! Wait, you are being serious right?
I love your list! It’s definitely interesting, creative and different. I know that you can accomplish everything here.
You’ve already made a documentary? I would love to do that! You should write a post or a series of posts on how you did it.
Thanks Jana! I will definitely write about the documentary and get it uploaded somewhere! What are your big “doing” goals? I’d love to hear them!
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