5 year plan

I have never really planned anything - I just tend to meander through life dealing with what it throws at me. That's probably why I've never really been hugely successful at anything - the people I see doing really well are those with a vision who are constantly working towards it. Mind you, that doesn't necessarily mean they are any happier than me - sometimes it's nice to see where fate takes you!

You know, we are all different. Some people set a goal and plan to get there. Other people just go with the flow and end up where they end up. You are actually some where between. So am I actually.

No way. Daily life is stressful enough without adding to it. A five year plan sounds like a cage to me. I do set goals, aka things I want to do or get, but they're open ended. If it's something I really want, I will work toward it without a time gridded plan. If it's not what I really want or want enough, it gets put on the back burner. There's nothing wrong with that! I do what I need to do to get to where I want to get and I don't have to spend time, energy and anxiety working on goals I don't really want.

It would be great to have a 5 year plan. But like you, I find it hard to really sit down and think about it. There are just too many unknowns that could happen in the future. So what I did instead was to plot everything (financial) that I have. I have an ongoing spreadsheet that started out in 2005. I update it every start of the month. Instead of looking ahead, I look back at where I am (say, 5 years ago). Then at least I could feel better about myself.

It's important to have a plan, so we can choose a path we'll take. In general, for the next five years, I have some goals. I'll go to college. Make a preparations to make my own business. Write an novel. and some other goals...

I never made a plan for 5 years.. perhaps I should do so too? I think it would cause me a lot of stress if things go different as planned.. with surely will be that way with the bad economics (even the governments don't stick to their 5 year plans or even 1 year plan if it comes to). If I need/want something I do make a plan and go for that goal but it's not about 5 years or so. After I reached what I want I go on to the next step/level. It works for me.

When I tried that it got shot down. I have three debts that I want paid off in the next two years. One year will be better. That is the furthest I have planned.

Not reall, but I am working with my financial adviser, to do some serious money-saving. He just oepned up an office around the corner from my apartment, so that's even better! :)

I really don't do a plan..except for vacations...I am older...I just go with the flow! Most of what I wanted to accomplish in my lifetime I have....now I just go coast along.

No. 5 years is such a long time and anything can happen to change plans. I doubt I have ever had any really long term plans other than saving for something I wanted. These days I just live from day to day. If there is something I want to do I will make plans for it but I have no interest in trying to make my life fit into some sort of plan. I think the people who do this have the ambition to reach a certain level in their career or they just need to have a structure to work in. I prefer to just live for the moment as you never know if there will be a future, let alone what it might be like.

You're not superwoman! Your friend probably lives in a house or flat with modern conveniences at the push of a button and doesn't have to do physical labor, raise the children and take care of guests and animals with minimal help. I can't see where you have much time to sit down and make a plan so don't be feeling that you should be doing more. That said, having a goal to work towards does tend to focus your efforts and make you more productive. My long range plan is just to survive financially. It has been thrown out of kilter when I decided to sell the house and move back to my boys--I can't sell it until I fix the basement leaks, which is happening as I'm typing, and that's going to wipe out my savings. I still have my investments but will have to liquidate some of that small amount to pay moving expenses and pay off some home improvements I made in the past. So my goal right now is to get to Arizona and build up my saving again..I hope to have replaced my savings by this time next year. I also hope to help my youngest son get into a better place mentally and financially during the same time period. I usually plan a year at a time with a long range goal of improving my financial health and guarding my physical health.

Hi GreenMoo! I think everyone needs to make plans for the future. We know this in our heart but fail to admit we really want to do it. Who doesn't want to have a good life when they retire? Who doesn't want to worry about money? We all do, whether we say it or not. I must admit. I do not have a firm plan, but after reading this discussion, I would want to have a solid one too. I'm envious. It's a fallacy to think that planning is for the rich. It's just not true. Planning is for everyone. And the poorer needs to do more planning than the rich actually. Things change. We can plan. We can make provisions but whether we arrive at our destination or not should not be an issue. The important thing is to get started and monitor along the way. To have a five-year plan and to ensure its success, you need to monitor its progress every year at least to see if it's on the right track. For me, I definitely want to get a new home in the next five years. It must happen. We need more space.

I have never planed that far in advance. I used to plan for like maybe a month or two. Now it is just a day by day thing for me. Who knows whats going to happen tomorrow. And besides, anytime I ever planned something, it never worked out for me.

I make a plan for 1 year only...5 years it is so so long and many things can be changed with the time.

Hello! everyone is different and has a different idea of how they should work towards things. I, myself, am similar to you. I don't sit down and map out my life and everything I want to do with it. I more go along with what's happening right now and see what tomorrow brings me. Some people do like to know exactly what they're doing with their life but it's not always going to turn out that way. It's always nice to have something to work towards- but start with something small. You don't have to know what you're doing for the next 20 years. It's a surprise. It's spontaneous. And you'll find out when the time comes :)