A ‘hobby’ is understandably number four in the list of six cornerstones of good life planning. Obviously, it is key to have something alongside your day job or household work. Something that allows you to be away from your routines, an activity that recharges your batteries, that renews your energy. Eventually you can start to do your hobby professionally as a sole trader in a secondary occupation and possibly start reducing your day job work plan to 80% or less. Of course, this will only be possible if your secondary job is not in competition with your employer’s activity.
On number five is your ‘projects’. Depending on your age in the life cycle, this is about starting a family, buying a house, starting a business, buying a second home or a boat, writing a book, or travelling the world. Indeed, when your mortgage on your home is paid back, another option for the newly available money is to take another mortgage, this time on your second home, possibly your future retirement home. Helping your children to get a good start in life with their studies, business startup or own home is another very popular use of the money freed-up after the mortgage is paid back.
Eventually, we come to ‘money’ at number six, the last element of a good life planning. In our capitalistic world it is not really possible to do without any money. You need money to make a lot of the above happen. This knowledge inspires us to be more compassionate with the less unfortunate in life and more willing to share part of our income or savings with them, through our rather comprehensive social security systems or by giving back to the community. We all want this life planning to lead to sustained happiness, at least for our lifetime and that of future generations.
If there is one thing to avoid in life planning, it is to turn the order of the six cornerstones upside down. Sadly, in today’s world far too many people focus on money first and forget about most of the other things, including their health. Health is like the oxygen in the air. You only know it is no longer there when you miss it. And then it may be too late.
Count your blessings and take care of your health and loved ones and you should go a long way. Save some money from a young age for later, be it for your hobby or projects. Keep your curiosity strong and go with the flow of change. It is hard to swim against the current. To stay healthy, active and social is the key to a happy 100-year life.
