Everyone has dreams, but sometimes those dreams feel as though they are out of reach, not because of what they are exactly, but because of how much they cost. In a world where money dictates what you can and can’t do, your dreams might have to stay just that – dreams.
Or do they? What if there was a way to live your dreams even on a small budget? Although there might be some compromise involved, the reality is that it might be possible to see your dreams come true after all. Read on to find out what you could do to make this happen.
Buy Second Hand
Have you ever considered that your dream possessions might be closer to you than you think, and instead of being out of reach, you could actually just buy them? You might not be able to buy what you want brand new, but what about second hand items? You might be able to find stylish or exciting treasures that you’ve had your eye on for a while and because they’re pre-owned, you can get them for a much lower price.
Take a Harley Davidson motorbike as an example. While a brand new one might seem impossible because of your small budget, a used Harley Davidson dealer could offer you a lot more choice and be within budget, too. You won’t be getting the latest version of whatever it is you’re interested in, but with some patience and careful searching, you could find something that will be close enough to your dream to count and much less expensive too.
Look in thrift stores, online marketplaces, and garage sales, as these are all excellent places to find second hand bargains that can make your dreams come true.
Do DIY
Living your dreams on a small budget might mean having to do some DIY from time to time, and that’s not a bad thing. You’ll be able to use your creativity to make yourself a home to be proud of, if that’s what you want to spend your money on and where your dreams lie.
Instead of spending a lot of money on expensive furniture and decor, you could try making something yourself in the style that you love or buying something old and tired and putting some work in to make it look great again. Once again, you’ll be spending much less money than you would if you were buying something new (or in the case of antiques, something in mint condition), but if you can make the changes you need to, then it won’t matter at all. As well as all this, you can easily inject some personality into your items and make them totally unique, which will make them even more exciting than they would have been if you bought them new or if someone else had done the work to restore them.
Have Experiences, Not Things
Living your dreams isn’t just about getting more and more material possessions; it’s about making your life more fun and exciting by enjoying experiences and making memories. Sometimes your small budget can get you further than you think when you focus on doing and experiencing rather than buying.
To begin with, explore some local gems that you’ve never seen before. You don’t have to travel far to do this, and you might even be able to walk, saving money on transport. You can visit nearby parks, nature reserves, botanical gardens, or stately homes. You can go on a hike, have a picnic, or just take a nice walk in nature, appreciating the area you live in.
Or why not attend some community events and festivals? These might be free, but they’re sure to be low-cost if there is a charge for them. Festivals cover everything from music to food to crafts and much more, and they can take place at any time of year, so if you want to have an exciting life and live your dreams by making lots of memories, this is definitely one way to do it.
The key is to have a spirit of adventure, and to ensure your dreams are too specific. If you are determined to fly on holiday on a private jet and stay at a five-star resort, your budget might not cover it, and your dream won’t come true. If, however, you’re happy to travel by bus and stay in a campsite, you can get away and do the same fun things anyway – compromise is important if you want to live your dreams but don’t have a big dream budget.
Increase Your Budget
Sometimes your small budget just isn’t going to work when it comes to making your dreams come true, and compromising just won’t be possible. In that case, the only option open to you (apart from giving up on your dreams, which should only ever be a last resort) is to improve and increase your budget.
One thing you could do is to find a job that pays better. This might be hard if you enjoy what you do or you’re already at the ceiling for earnings, but if you can do it, it’s worth looking into. It’s going to really depend on how important your dreams are to you and how much you want to see them become a reality. If you really do love your job and you don’t want to quit, you could operate a side hustle to bring in some extra money. This is not as easy as it sounds, and you’ll need to think carefully before you do it to ensure you have the time and resources, but if you can, it’s a great way to boost your budget and get you the dreams you want in life.
If it’s your debt that’s holding you back, what can you do about that? How much do you pay each month, and would that amount bring your dreams to life if you didn’t have to pay the debt back? If so, this is definitely worth dealing with. Stop paying the minimum amount and pay as much as you can each month, and consolidate as much of your debt as you can when you can – debt is a big burden, and when you’re free of it, you’ll see your dreams come true much more quickly.
