Dream a Big Dream
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Setting goals and dreaming big dreams can be just the right motivation to help you save money and accomplish great things.
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This is my bedside table. Most are books that I’ve read before. A few I’m still finishing off for the first time. Most of them are books that I’m revisiting.
See a theme?
In 1994 we spent our honeymoon (and my 22nd birthday) in France, less than a year after I came home from living a year in Bordeaux. Having spent two consecutive birthdays in France, I was hopeful — and naive — that it would become a yearly tradition.
We haven’t been back in eighteen years!
Life happened. Babies, and houses, and debts. Life.
Dreaming a Big Dream
Over the last month or two, however, hubs and I have decided to dream a big dream: to take our family of eight to France for our 20th wedding anniversary. Our hope is to spend a minimum of four weeks in France in 2014.
- Ambitious? Yes. It will cost a very pretty penny.
- A little bit crazy? Yes. Six children on a European vacation is like the Griswolds on steroids.
- Impossible? Never say die.
We realized that while it will take some time to save up the cash (yes, we’re going to pay cash) and brush up on my language skills, research and plan, it will be a wonderful experience for our kids who will be 16, 13, 11, 9, 7, and 5. The kids will all be young enough to still be at home, old enough to not need a potty every hour.
Plus, we’re just itching to go back.
We also know that saving and economizing is easier — and more fulfilling — if you have a goal in mind.
To save just for the sake of saving ends up feeling rather empty and boring after a time. It’s harder to keep at it if it’s just a few more dollars in the bank. But, if you have something to work for, you have motivation.
So, we’re adding a little fun to our future, we’re planning a HUGE family memory, and we’re adding fuel to the fire of our frugality.
Certainly, it’s a plan to spend money, but it’s also an impetus to save, which is always a good thing.
Today’s Frugal Friday!
Time to swap ideas and inspiration for saving money.
How do YOU save money?
Please remember to follow the Frugal Friday Guidelines or be deleted.
- Post a money saving idea and explain how it is helpful in your post.
- No giveaways or deals posts.
- Recipes are allowed, but you must explain how it saves people money.
- Please include a link back to Life as MOM.
That is SO exciting! What a great motivation for frugality.
Thank you for hosting again! I hope you enjoy your trip to France…I hate flying, so I don’t see myself taking that trip. LOL
I’ve linked up two this week:
1. Mother’s Day Handprint Tiles – a cute and cheap homemade gift (about $1.80 each)
2. Is 90 Days Same as Cash REALLY The Same as Cash?? We think not.
Great dream! We spent a week in Paris the year before our first child was born, and I plan on taking them on some sort of international vacation once they get a little older.
I’m sharing a frugal and delicious breakfast for the kids today!
While my dream is not as lofty as a trip to Paris (Way to go!), I’ve got my eyes on Disneyland within the next 2 years.
Neither my husband or I have ever been and I want our son to experience when he is somewhat little (he’s almost 6 now).
All my spare change, Ebates checks, and money from recycling soda cans goes into my piggy. He’s quite heavy and my goal is to pay for our trip in cash.
A trip to Paris sounds amazing. My husband and I also took an extended trip to Europe before our debt and life got out of control! Every tip, trick, and piece of advice for an affordable trip back with a family will be greatly appreciated. I would love to go back! Florence is my belonging place. 🙂
This is an awesome goal…strangely enough so is ours…I grew up in a country called Malawi in Africa and have not been back in years. A lot has changed since I was last there with my folks…My folks who still live there have requested us that within a year we are to make our first visit to Malawi as a family(my hubby n 3 year old have not been there at all)…we will be working on it this goal this year…in spite of all the health risks and safety issues, some places such as my memories of growing up in this country have to be passed on…depends on how important it is to you and the next generation I think…
We’ve talked about Paris or Florence or Hawaii for our wedding anniversary, but when it comes down to it, it just didn’t feel right. So, instend we saved and purchased packrafts so that we can backpack and river/sea raft together.
What a fantastic Frual Friday post. Isn’t this what saving money is all about? We all have dreams we’re trying to accomplish by being wise with money – becoming debt-free, buying a home, overseas travel ( with 8 people?!?!). Thanks for the reminder that after you get your bases covered, the dreams can get super fun!
BTW, my husband’s family did the same thing – saved up their cash and brought 5 of their 7 kids (the ones that were still kids or could get off work) to Israel and Greece (and a few other stops) for 6 weeks. It really did shape the younger kids’ lives. It was an unreal adventure hauling all those people around the world, but they *loved* it.
I agree with how it all works out with family, children, etc… but… you still have to feed your soul and true self. I spent my senior year in Luxembourg – and due to Europe withdrawals (I think it should be classified as a disease) – we went there in ’07 without the kids – but took the kids in late ’07 to Germany and will be taking them to Italy this summer (Rome, Florence, Venice) b/c it simply feeds my soul and gives sooooo much exposure to them as knowing they are a global person and giving them a huge educational experience to the world…. don ‘t delay – show them the world!
LOL@ Griswolds on steroids! I nearly spit out my coffee on my screen!
I think this is an absolutely fantastic goal. So many of us don’t experience much outside our home states. A wonderful initiative as MOM to allow your children to experience another culture in their childhood – imagine the possibilities this trip could have on shaping their lives!