How to Create a Bucket List You’ll Actually Use: Part 2

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Take action and crush your Bucket List

So, you’ve brainstormed and you’ve got the sheets of paper to prove it. You’ve gone through and drilled-down on specific actions or destinations you’d like to reach. You’ve even gone through and color-coded where all these actions and destinations intersect.

If you’re new to this, here’s Part 1 of Create a Bucket List You’ll Actually Use.

So what now?

Now you take action

Do we mean board a flight? Jump on a cruise ship? Not quite, but we’ll get there. But you might consider researching some updated luggage for your trip. These are my favorites!

The first step in this phase of making your Bucket List a realized dream is Prioritizing Your List.

How to prioritize your Bucket List(s)

• First off, Rank Your Destinations. This is where you decide which places are most important to you. Think about how long you’ve been daydreaming about this destination or goal. Think about the unique experience, health benefits or bang each of these items will bring you.
  
• Also, keep in mind whether or not they are actually feasible. For instance, if skydiving is on your list but you realize this wouldn’t be a wise idea given the state of your joints, or your overall health, take that into account.
  
• Set Timeframes. Assign tentative dates or seasons or periods in your life to achieve each goal. For instance, skiing the Alps is going to be best in winter and hiking the Amalfi Coast may be best in the summer/fall months.

Weigh the costs

• Research Expenses. Look up the average costs for flights, accommodations, food, activities, and local transportation for destinations. Research costs of hiring a trainer, taking a course, etc.
  
• Create a Budget Spreadsheet. I am the original spreadsheet-hater, but in some cases, there’s just no substitute. In lieu of an actual Excel spreadsheet, you could opt to make a chart in Word that could accomplish the same thing. Track estimated costs for each trip, event, activity, etc.

Or, you could try entering all your costs/expenses in something like this. Sometimes, a hard copy of your work-in-progress feels real real. And, it may be easier for you to add entries to, as they pop into your mind.

Be realistic about time

• Whether you plan to do this trip, activity, etc., solo or with a partner or spouse, or even a group of friends, you’ll need to take into account everyone’s availability can be vastly different. Some of your friends may be working full-time, on-site jobs, others may be retired, some may work remotely or part-time. You’re going to want to be sure the 21-day trip you’ve planned with others can actually include others, given their timing constraints.
  
• Plan Around Holidays. Anyone who’s worked a full-time job knows the hack of getting 14-days off for the “price” of nine or 10, given weekends and National holidays. Use this hack and be sure to check with travel companions on personal days, holidays, etc., you may be able to incorporate into your overall plan.

Be strategic about saving

• This may seem obvious, but start cutting unnecessary expenses. You’d be surprised at how much you could stash over a six-month period if you funneled your dining out, coffee take-out, or even your clothing expenses into your travel fund, instead. Be unyielding in what’s actually necessary every month to carry-on, no-frills
  
• Break Down Each Trip or Goal. Take the time to create a detailed itinerary for each destination, a holistic expense breakdown of every pursuit or goal. Take it all-the-way down to daily activities and expenses and their associated costs
  
• If you don’t have one, set-up a travel fund. Allocate a portion of your monthly savings specifically for travel. Automating savings has been proven to yield more desirable results. Use it!
  
• If traveling, book in advance. If it’s not travel, start paying attention to discount periods. Certainly, with travel, booking early on both flights and accommodations can save big bucks. It can also provide you with many more options for comfort or specific needs. One big travel shift is it’s become harder than ever to book Business Class or even First Class seats, which tend to fill faster than Economy on many destinations
  
• Sometimes, just having something on your kitchen counter or near your reading chair to serve as a reminder of eliminating rash purchases can help you save. This Travel Fund ‘Suitcase’ serves double-duty: it’s a visual reminder and also a place to stash your spare change or bills

Reward yourself with your Rewards

• Loyalty. It seems as though nearly everything we’re a part of these days has a Loyalty Program, so take advantage! Join airline and hotel loyalty programs to earn points and redeem them for free or discounted travel, well in advance of your Bucket List trip
  
• Credit Card Rewards. Use travel credit cards that offer rewrads points, cashback, or travel perks. Again, beginning this practice well in advance of your big trip will yield you more benefits
  

Flexibility can save the day

• Flexible Dates. Be open to adjusting your travel dates to find better deals. It may make no difference to you whether your 10-day trip begins on a Tuesday or a Saturday, but this different can mean hundreds of dollars to you. Check comparison charts, everywhere you can
  
• Alternative Destinations. Yes, you’ve just spent hours creating your Bucket List(s) and you don’t want to visit the California Coast instead of the Amalfi Coast. But taking the time to realize flying into Rome, rather than Naples, may save you hundreds of dollars on flights. Also, if you’ve never spent time in Rome, flying into that city and spending a night on either end of your trip might just satisfy a couple of your Bucket List entries

Keep tabs on your progress

• Regularly update your spreadsheet with actual costs, savings, progress, and any changes in plans. This will serve two purposes: It will keep you on-track with real numbers and timeframes. It will also keep you actively involved in the goal at hand. This will help build excitement, which in-turn keeps the planning going
  
• Celebrate milestones. Chronicle each milestone and trip or activity. Be sure to update your spreadsheet with actual costs once you’re back, or even as you continue planning. Sometimes, realizing flights are twice as expensive to your choice destination as another on your list may help you reprioritize the timing of your trips

The dreaded unexpected expenses

We’ve all embarked upon an adventure, pursuit, or hobby to suddenly realize we’re in way over our heads. Maybe the activity itself didn’t sound expensive, but by the time we’ve purchased all the relevant gear we’ve tripled our expected outlay. Or, maybe we’ve realized that semi-reasonable hobby that required a lot of gear also required travel to do. You can’t climb a mountain in North Dakota.

Even the best laid out hobby or pursuit can take us by surprise. Here are some things to consider before getting in too deeply.

• Local Transport. The costs associated with buses, trains, taxis, and rideshares to get around at our destination or to get to our destination
  
• Parking Fees. Hotels, attractions, even city parking can be cripplingly expensive if you’re not prepared for it
  
• Rental Cars. Include any add-on insurance, fuel, and tolls
  
• How to Budget. Do your research on local transport costs and consider buying passes or using apps to compare prices. Plan to allocate an extra 15-20% of your transportation budget for expenses like these
  
• Food and Drink. Outside of normal meals, plan for snacks, drinks, and impromptu meals, including bottled water when there is no access to drinking fountains
  
• How to Budget. Estimate daily food costs based on your destination and add a cushion of 20-30% for impromptu drinking/dining experiences or unexpected cravings

Everything has a fee these days

• Entry Fees. Certainly Disneyland and DisneyWorld are notorious for their cost of admission. Worth it? Probably, but not for the faint-at-heart. Some European cities are now charging day-fees, in an effort to cut down on over-tourism
  
• Guided Tours. I still remember the time, years ago, when we took our kids to a zoo in a nearby town, having no idea they would offer camel rides. This couldn’t be passed up and was well worth the cost, but still . . .
  
• How to Budget. Research as best you can the stated admission costs. Then, add an extra 10-15% to your budget for unplanned activities or charges

Tipping and gratuities

• Services. It seems tip jars are everywhere these days. Be prepared for this, in addition to the expected restaurant, hotel, tour, and transport tips you may be accustomed to
  
• How to Budget. Research local tipping customs – they vary widely. But then be prepared to set aside cash specifically for tips. Allocate 10-20% of your daily budget to this

If traveling abroad, be prepared for this

• Currency Exchange Fees. Be prepared for fees for exchanging money or using ATMs abroad
  
• How to Budget. Use a travel-friendly credit card with no foreign transaction fees, and exchange some money in advance, to avoid high fees

Souvenirs and impromptu shopping

• Gifts. You may say you’re acquiring nothing. But go to a foreign market or street fair and you may just change your mind. Also, remember you may like to bring family/friends small gifts from your trip
  
• How to Budget. The best way to tackle this inevitability is to set a strict budget for these discretionary expenses. Plan on some spontaneous purchases. You know they’ll happen!

The inevitable delay or change of plans

• Accommodations. Plan for extra night(s) of lodging due to flight delays or cancellations
• Rebooking Fees. Plan on these in some destinations for flights, trains, or other transport
• How to Budget. Plan on having a contingency fund for emergencies. Allocate an extra 5-10% of your budget for unforeseen expenses such as these

Your bucket list in action

You’ve listed, you’ve cross-referenced, you’ve categorized, you’ve saved, you’ve scheduled . . . It may seem as though your Bucket List destinations, whether they’re geographic, physical, or metaphysical, are out-of-reach. But rest assured, very few things are truly out-of-reach, with the proper planning. So get out there and create a life you love!

Last update on 2025-10-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API