Journalist Lee Boyce builds a meaningful pre-40 bucket list while reflecting on life, money, and family from his home in the UK

Ever have one of those moments where you look up, blink, and wonder where the last ten years went? That was me the other day.

Between work, parenting, and navigating life’s everyday chaos, I realized I needed to press pause—and start dreaming again.

So I’m doing just that: putting together a brand-new, grown-up bucket list to chip away at before I turn 40 in May 2027.

I want to give myself enough time to actually do these things—not just jot them down and forget about them.

Why I’m Starting Now

This isn’t my first go at a bucket list. Back when I was 21, I made a list of 30 things I wanted to do before I hit 30.

Some of them were tiny—like treating my mum to afternoon tea at the Ritz (once I was financially stable, of course). Others were big, like buying my first home.

I didn’t hit every goal (still haven’t scored a perfect 180 in darts or visited Japan), but I ticked off the majority, and it gave me something to aim for.

Now that I’m older, married, and raising two little ones, this new list feels more grounded.

I’m breaking it into seven sensible categories: travel, health, experiences, challenges, family, items, and finances.

I thought about doing 40 items, but that felt overwhelming, so I’ll aim for 3 to 5 per category. Realistic, not ridiculous.

A Sneak Peek at What’s on the List

Some items are just pure joy. Like finally taking that trip to Japan (hopefully for my 40th), or road-tripping along the West Coast of the US.

I’ve popped a half marathon under the health section, and I’m planning to spend a slow, relaxed week metal detecting with my dad in the family category.

There’s also a dream to own a vintage Rolex, and I’d love to see my kids walk out onto the pitch as mascots for Southend United.

That one’s going under “experiences,” and yes, I will cry.

The Less Glamorous But Totally Essential Finance Bucket

Here’s where things get practical—and let’s be honest, a bit less exciting.

But without smart financial planning, all that fun stuff? Just dreams.

I’ve broken my financial goals into three parts:

1. Building wealth for my daughters

2. Getting serious about retirement

3. Saving harder for a new home

For the girls, I’m upping my contributions to their stocks and shares ISAs and putting more into Premium Bonds each month.

Even though markets have been wobbly, I’ve got a long-term mindset here—I’m thinking 20 years ahead, not just tomorrow.

Retirement Planning: It’s Not Just for “Old” People

I’ve been consistently putting money into my pension for years now and made sure to diversify away from default funds early on.

But now might be the time to ramp it up. There’s a common rule of thumb that by age 40, you should have twice your household income saved for retirement.

I’m on track, but I’ve got my eye on the age-50 target too—four times the income.

I’m also building an investment account that could potentially cover a £5,000 vacation every year through returns.

Way better than relying on credit cards, which, let’s face it, I leaned on a lot in my mid-20s.

That New House… And the Dreaded Stamp Duty

One biggie on my list? Upgrading to a bigger home.

But the thought of that massive stamp duty bill is a tough pill to swallow.

I’ve decided it’s time to accept it as the price of moving up the ladder, and I’m setting aside savings specifically for that hit—kind of like how we saved for a deposit all those years ago.

What Would You Add to the List?

If you’re in your 40s or 50s, I’d love to hear from you. What did you do—or wish you’d done—before 40? I’m all ears.

Drop me a line at lee.boyce@thisismoney.co.uk.

And One Last Thing… A Ferris Bueller Moment

Honestly, I might even throw in a cheeky day off—no boss, no kids, no responsibilities.

Just me, roaming around London like Ferris Bueller on the loose. (If my boss is reading this, I’m totally kidding. Or am I?)