I don’t know about you all, but I occasionally get tired of thinking about serious stuff - how to increase my income, how to live frugally, how to shop smartly, whether I am saving enough, whether I am spending too much, blah blah…
And then, there are days when my mind just wouldn’t process anymore information about net worth, debt, retirement, and other such financial topics. Generally, when this happens, I turn off the calculator in my brain and indulge in some wishful thoughts. It’s not productive in the conventional sense, but it’s sure refreshing. 
Here are a few of my money fantasies. Some of them are things I wish happened (or will happen) to me, some are things I would do/buy if money was not a constraint, and some are just… er .. silly.
- I often fantasize about winning a *huge* lottery: Hearing about lottery winners on TV/internet provides the spark for such thoughts. Although, I keep revisiting this fantasy when I am tired of thinking/reading about serious financial stuff - this particular thought does throw me back into the numbers. I have often
spentwasted time thinking about how I will invest/spend $200 million - and how I (and several succeeding generations of my family) will live “happily ever after” in the interest/dividend income that I earn on that kind of money. Money thoughts - but these are more entertaining than stressful.
- I would like to get an awesome motorcycle: Actually, I would like to be rich enough to buy *many* awesome motorcycles. For some unknown reason, I have a special attraction towards these things. Whenever, time permits, I often find myself browsing motorcycle websites - looking for “mean” machines. Earlier (when I was single) I used to be fascinated by the sports versions, but now-a-days I feel drawn towards cruiser styles. Here is one that I have my eye on (Yamaha Stratoliner - $16,580):
Perhaps, many years down the line, I might really get this one; but, for now, it’s just a fantasy. Strangely enough, I don’t have similar grand thoughts about what car I drive - I just don’t care. I would be perfectly happy with a Toyota/Honda even if I had insane amounts of money.
- I would like to go on a space flight: Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic is selling tickets at $200,000 per head for a space flight and I would like to have one before I become too old to travel. For the two of us (me and my wife), $400,000 is a very long way to go - and by the time we reach that goal, there will be kids and then we would be probably looking at $800,000 (have pity on me and excuse the inflation). In fact, to extend this thought further, I would like to create my own space travel company, so that I won’t have to wait in line to travel into nothingness.
- I would like to have a few personal cooks: This thought often crosses our minds when we are back from particularly tiring days at school. There are very few pleasures in the world that are greater than getting freshly prepared, made to order, delicious food on your plate - without you having to cook it. On similar lines, I would love to have help with stuff like cleaning vessels, doing laundry, cleaning our house, etc. From a holistic point of view, all these things are eating valuable time away from the stuff I really would like to do.
I would like to visit *all* the exotic places around the world: Here are two places that are on top of my list - 1. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (I want to go there before the glacier there melts - which is probably within the next 20 years), and 2. Iguassu Falls in Brazil. Being tourists is an expensive proposition for us (I really hate to think about money when we go on a vacation or something) - so having a *lot* of money is critical to my tourism fantasies.
Apart from these, there are other minor money wishes that I harbor (or used to harbor):
- When I was a kid, I read a lot of Disney comics. A particular money fantasy in those days was to have as much money as Uncle Scrooge - which meant having a room full of gold coins and bank notes.
- Be wealthy enough to travel First Class on international flights. I don’t care about the status here - I just care about being able to sleep peacefully without cramping my legs.
- Be rich enough to blog without worrying about the money part. I enjoy blogging and hate it when it gets tied to my monetary temptations (which I often fail to resist). *cough* advertisements *cough*.
- Have enough money to give my wife whatever she asks for (this is included for *strategic* reasons
).
From some the things I wish for, I think I am realizing that I probably just want to be a lazy bum if money wasn’t a constraint. Oh well!
Interestingly, there are things I will probably never wish for even if I had all the money in the world. These include: expensive clothes/shoes/watches, *big* house (or mansion), private jet, yacht, Hummer-like car, diamonds, gold, eating out in restaurants, etc - but I can understand that there must be a lot of people who wish for these things.
What are your financial fantasies? What things would you wish for if money was not a constraint? … and please don’t give us Miss America answers.
Want more inspiration? Check this out - scroll down to the dialogue between Lawrence and Peter Gibbons, starting with “What would you do if you had a million dollars?“
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I loved Scrooge’s gold coin pile too! I used to want one, except when I got older and realized how dirty, smelly, and painful it would be to write around in all that coinage.
Anyway, current financial fantasies include
1) being able to shop freely in the clothing stores (or nicer sections of department stores) that I like,
2) being able to shop freely at Central Market/Whole foods and to eat at whatever restaurant I choose however often I like,
3) being able to “work” for myself blogging, managing/growing my real estate empire, writing books, and starting a foundation.
4) owning a beautiful townhome/home in a desired area of my city complete with a spa-like bath, spacious patio/balcony, resort-style pool and gym, and state-of-the-art appliances,
5) being able to afford (and have the time for) yoga/pilates classes and monthly spa/salon services, and
6) being able to travel to and spend significant amounts of time in other cultures/locales around the world.
I really have only one fantasy: early retirement. And it’s (probably) going to happen, too, though not as early as I’d like.
When I think if things I’d like if I had huge piles of money, those would be:
1) Land. Beautiful land with nice hiking trails everywhere, lots of trees, and maybe a stream or pond.
2) Mansion or castle with gardeners and maids and I can invite people to stay with me when they’re visiting or when they’re having money troubles. (I don’t really want the hassles of a thing like this, though. Probably a normal house with a mother-in-law apartment plus gardeners would be good enough.)
3) Land in town which I would turn into a public park with a big ballroom dance floor which I can rent out affordably and with at least one “soccer” field which would mostly be used for ultimate frisbee and with some cool hiking trails (and maybe separate biking, jogging, skating, etc. trails).
4) Gigantic presents for people in my family, like a college education for my brother and a house that’s not falling down and with a huge kitchen for my parents.
5) Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang. Or a Batmobile. Ones that really work, not just ones that look right. (Otherwise, I’m sticking with affordable reliable vehicles.)
6) Speaking of fantasy stuff that doesn’t exist–electronics that don’t crash, erase themselves, break, etc.
hmm… well, I’d pay off the mortgages and debts of all my family and friends (and get them on spending and investment plans), then I’d pretty much disappear for a few years travelling around the world in style.
and so forth.
1) Ability to travel first-class and stay at the best hotels.
2) Best theater tickets.
3) A mansion here in Westchester county (in Bedford or in Chappaqua) with the bath that looks almost like a pool with columns all around as seen on some TV commercials, maids and cooks and lots of land and a gardener. A summer house in Adirondacks.
4) An apartment in Manhattan on Central Park West so that I can stay there after going to the theaters.
5) I do like jewelry and clothes, so getting stuff I really like without paying any attention to how much it cost would be nice. A nice diamond necklace with really long earrings. Got to get over my fear to be seen around in it though.
6) Working entirely because I like it not because I have to.
Travelling business class is certainly worth it. Especially if you are tall.
I would like to never have another financial worry ever again. A nice house not a castle. A nice reliable car not a Ferrari. We got in debt very badly several years ago and the book that helped us get our lives back is called “How to Get Out of Debt” and it would be great to NEVER be in debt ever again.
I have the winning-the-lottery fantasy too, but I find it to be a good exercise in figuring out what my priorities and wants are. No Hummer for me either, but I’d love a state of the art kitchen!
My big financial fantasy is to have enough money to buy an expensive Garbage Truck so I can throw away a closet full of shoes owned by my wife.
I would love to call in “rich” to work by winning the lottery!
My other fantasies include a nice home on acreage, traveling, and early retirement.
I’m living the motorcycle fantasy. Just cut it down to 2 bikes in preparation for a move and can’t wait to get my next 2. Bought one lightly used bike and one less expensive new supermoto bike. Can’t imagine life without them. Cheap, vaguely economical, and so much fun. Wouldn’t have one as an only vehicle anymore but out of all the money I’ve spent on stuff I don’t regret any money I spent on bikes. It’s my “thing” and more than I’m willing to go cheap on other things so I can indulge it. I’m planning to get a new (to me) one every couple of years from different styles and as soon as I get up to 4 (maybe 5) I’m stopping…..next bike will be a newer Triumph Bonneville
currently have a 1999 zx6r and 2005 drz400sm
I know for a fact what too many women fantasize about when it comes to money. Prince Charming.
I’m sure many women will wildly protest: “No not me!”
But here’s the thing, Prince Charming doesn’t need to be a man. PC could be anything you think will save you. The lottery is a popular one.
Even though you mention the lottery, I commend you for having a financial blog and inspiring others.
Barbara Stanny, author: “Prince Charming Isn’t Coming: How Women Get Smart About Money.”
http://www.barbarastanny.com
Before people start having ideas, I think I need to clarify this, just in case: I am not a woman.
I tried to make that very clear in the post:
No worries…I knew you were a man…and your wife’s “Prince”…lucky woman!!!
Barbara Stanny
http://www.barbarastanny.com
I’ve always wanted to have my own personal home arcade complete with Ms. Pac-Man, Street Fighter II, AfterBurner II, Outrun, Contra, and a Neo Geo standup. Toss in a jukebox and a bar that I would tend myself, and that would be the ultimate playroom.
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