You're entitled to your opinion Heather, but I'm sorry, I disagree. "I can't afford it" is one of the greatest lies perpetuated by the Western system. If you live in the UK, you're already probably somewhere like in the richest 10 or 20% in the world, irrespective of your income. Everything is possible. It's just a matter of priorities. I would like to think, that even if you feel there's nothing out there that would change them, that being given a year to life would.

You're right. The problem is I can't afford it.

I am someone who refuses to go into debt to get something. If I can't buy it with the ready cash, I won't have it. Simple.

Of course, if I had a year to live, I could max out the credit card and just live the life of Riley without caring about paying it back. But someone else may have to pick up the pieces when I'm gone, and that would weigh on my conscience.

I wish I was as carefree about money as I'd like to be. I'd have a new car, nice house, lavish holidays - and a massive pile of debt to worry about.

Well I'm going to be rich when I die as my work has insurance and I also have the mortgage so I'll be OK for money but I won't be alive obviously lol.

If I had a year left I would spend it with friends and family and seeing a bit of the world if I was fit enough to do so.

I'm not talking about debt Heather. I have none. And I live on a tropical island. I chose to prioritise my happiness and do something outside of the box. But I'm not the be all and end all. If you sold your camera, what would that net you? If you lived in a caravan, how much money would that free up? If you sold your car? etc? etc?

Everybody has things they could change and EVERYTHING is a choice. It's just that every choice has consequences and not everybody is prepared to make sacrifices to do what they really want to.

I had a whole post thought through in my head, but after a computer-related distraction, it's gone. After reflection, it didn't make a lot of sense anyway.

My retirement plan is to sell up, buy a decent camper van and small car, and travel the British Isles with my camera. If I was told tomorrow I had a year to live, I couldn't actually do any of that, because the house I would want to sell isn't mine yet.

What I'm trying to say is I have made long term plans which wouldn't work if I decided to enact them now. Nothing I own would net anything like the money I'd need to achieve my goal, and I'd be worried that doing the Last Great Road Trip on the cheap would spoil it. My conscience gets in the way. I worry about how my actions affect others. I have family, but no dependants, but how would I make sure they're aren't unduly inconvenienced by me croaking in a lay-by in the Lake District, leaving a massive debt to be cleared?

I worry too much. I ought to just take life by the throat and get mauled by it before it's too late.

Possibly clarity can only come when one has attained wealth !!

como está? dónde vives? tu padre lacoss?

Agreed. Except I don't agree with the smiley. Long term plans are something I don't entertain for precisely this reason. If you have children to consider, I'm told that changes things. Although, I can't imagine it myself so I don't attempt to speak to that situation.

Life is too short and saying "I can't afford it" is a cop-out IMO.

A year to live?

I'd cackle manically and probably experiment with all the wacky drugs I now consider too dangerous.

Then I'd cackle some more, sell everything and use the proceeds to kit out a hollow volcano or disused missile silo as a control centre for a vast army of Japanese school-girl ninja warriors.

Then I'd change the world, or die trying.

I wonder how many Gogo Yubari clones I could actually afford... I probably need one of those there life insurance policies that pay out early in situations like these.

On a more sombre note, my large jar of Marmite is nearly empty after two or three years in the cupboard.

I'd buy a smaller jar to replace it.

In that case I'd sort out my finances for my family once I'd died, then I'd spend quality time with them and my friends.