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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have a 10 year plan?

38 replies

HCantThinkOfAUsername · 31/03/2017 22:35

Had my children so far so;
want to do college a year,
go to uni (nursing)
then maybe have another child or two

Somewhere along the line I will drive and lose weight.

Am I being too ambitious? My family think I'm mad but it's making me even more determined.

Anyone else plan like this? Grin🙈----

OP posts:
Orangebird69 · 31/03/2017 22:38

You need to prioritise. I'd learn to drive first.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 31/03/2017 22:38

I have an 11 year plan to pay off the mortgage with minimum amounts for each month all recorded on a spreadsheet.

You sound quite normal to me WinkGrin

Original poster
HCantThinkOfAUsername · 31/03/2017 22:41

I can't drive yet due to medical condition and medication, I was learning etc but not allowed to currently but hoping that'll change :)

Oh gosh I should add mortgage into that somewhere haha!

OP posts:
ChasedByBees · 31/03/2017 23:10

On lots of management training we were told to build a 10 year plan and to think of the next but one job rather than the next, so this seems normal to me.

LeopardShoes · 31/03/2017 23:11

What age are you?

Original poster
HCantThinkOfAUsername · 01/04/2017 00:15

25

OP posts:
badhotfanny · 01/04/2017 00:19

My best friend and I often talk about this. We generally each have a five-year plan. It's v flexible and we have v much frosted along the way, but it works for us and we reach goals and set new ones as we go. I recommend it.

badhotfanny · 01/04/2017 00:20

Frosted? Deviated!

Original poster
HCantThinkOfAUsername · 01/04/2017 00:37

bad I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking about it, it's good you & your best friend do it. I don't feel as silly now 😳

OP posts:
BackforGood · 01/04/2017 00:52

Well, YANBU - if it makes you determined, then it is a good thing for you. Doesn't suit everyone though.
There are lots of things in life that come at you unexpectedly. I'm more of the 'appreciating the good things in my life now' kind of a person. Smile

GoldenHoops · 01/04/2017 01:18

We do 5 year plans, works well for us.

Original poster
HCantThinkOfAUsername · 01/04/2017 08:05

Oh yes life does throw curveballs, original plan was uni at 18 but things changed so I'm at a now or never point.

OP posts:
eyespydreams · 01/04/2017 08:29

Definitely plan. Don't let it suck the joy out of your life, but I often feel like unless you're born into stratospheric wealth and can do what you want on a whim, then you have to plan to be able to do all the things that you want. Currently starting 40-45 yr plan! Time flipping flies!

eyespydreams · 01/04/2017 08:35

Yes but at least when life throws you curveballs, the old plan will have distilled what your priorities are, therefore you'll be able to say 'yes, uni was always important to me, so I factor it into the new plan' . Good for you, I hope you get everything you want Flowers (turning into tearful old gimmer, passes baton to bright eyed young planners).

Also when I was in a ditch emotionally recently (goals feeling farrrrr away), friend recommended the book Lucky Bitch - some of it I don't agree with (specifically she suggested that an aunt got sick because she was so negative, I hate that kind of chat) but the rest was a masterclass in planning your life to get the success you want. Kicked me right up the arse again.

littlemissM92 · 01/04/2017 08:38

Not silly at all it's a good idea

I had a 5 year plan and none of its happened though so be prepared for that. (Things that arnt completely in my control I.e babies)

cheminotte · 01/04/2017 08:48

Yanbu at all. I would put healthier eating and more exercise (quantified so eg - walk 10,000 steps on at least 3 days per weekend eat 5 a day at least 5 days per week) on there as this will help you towards weight loss.
But definitely good to have a plan, otherwise the years will just drift past. I recommend 'Success for Dummies'.

SootSprite · 01/04/2017 08:50

We have a seven year plan, it's counting down to when dh can (fingers crossed) retire. I think plans are good as they give you goals, but you need to be flexible with them as well.

teacher54321 · 01/04/2017 08:57

We've always joked about having 5 year plans (been together 15 years this year) wish we'd written some of them down so we could see how far we've deviated! They've never been for specific things, more that 'this is where we'd like to be in x number of years'.

Carolinesbeanies · 01/04/2017 09:12

Absolutely have a plan! Good for you OP and everyone should have one.

Without one, you may find you drift to your 50s and suddenly wondered where did that time go.

It can be flexible and change with the years, but ticking off 20% on your lifes goals is way better than 0% of 0.

Also, I have always kept a 'big numbers' s/sheet. (Well its a piece of paper with two columns!) Mortgage, finance, savings, etc. What started out as all big red numbers, changed to ISAs and some nice green numbers slowly building up on the other side by my late 30s. Having a high level view I found, really motivated me adding to the green side.

I do think if you lose track of the big numbers, every month simply becomes a 'met all my bills thats enough' scenario.

Its amazing how £10 a week put away, turns to £100 a week 5 or 10 years later.

ForalltheSaints · 01/04/2017 09:20

Yes a sensible idea. You should also have some form of plan B. The other thing you should plan for, which hopefully is a lot longer in the future, is to make a will.

Banananana · 01/04/2017 09:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Singlelady · 01/04/2017 10:04

Hi Op
I have a very loose 10 year plan which is:
Graduate (next July)
Do a masters
Established my career
Get a mortgage
Find a partner
Get married
Have at least first child
And lose weight

I'm 22 btw Smile Some of these things are kinda out of my control (e.g. Might not find mr right, babies) so it's kinda more if a wish list but it gives me some direction.

But in short no you aren't BU Smile and in my opinion are being very sensible.

ragz134 · 01/04/2017 10:20

YANBU at all. I do this, long term plans. Am the only one in my family to do so but am also the most successful at achieving what I want. I got pregnant unplanned at 20 then again at 21, got married at 23 and another baby at 24. Started planning properly at about 26.
Plan was to go into nursing. I had no job experience and no qualifications other than 4 GCSEs. I got a job in a local care home and did an OU course, planned to use the experience to get into the NHS and the course to get into uni.
5 years later and I am studying nursing at uni. Plan worked!
New plan is saving for a house, moving to another, cheaper, part of the country when I qualify.
If you don't have goals how can you get anywhere?

SillySongsWithLarry · 01/04/2017 10:28

Plans are great. I'm just about to turn 30 so have a ten year plan to take me to 40 too. Pay off the mortgage, get professional qualifications, see the world, do up the whole house, learn to drive. It's exciting to tick the goals off as they are achieved.

ZilphasHatpin · 01/04/2017 10:33

I used to have a plan, not sure where it all went wrong, or even what it was but I know I had one.

I could do another one but I don't know what I would put on it other than keep working. Would like to meet someone and get married but I've been trying that for 7ish years now and no joy so I'm certainly not going to write it down as a permanent reminder that it's not happening Grin

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