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50 things Brits think they should do before turning 50


By Kirsty Brown

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A nationwide study has revealed the 50 most important things Britons think that they should achieve before hitting 50, with being in a loving marriage top of the list.

Of the over fifties surveyed, 21 percent said owning the house of their dreams was a number one goal, while 15 percent said that by fifty one should be a proficient gardener.

Almost a quarter felt that finally being happy with their body was a must, while a sensible 28 percent said having a retirement plan in place was vital.

A whimsical one in twenty feel every 50-year-old should have been to a festival while a hedonistic four percent claimed visiting the coffee shops of Amsterdam to try cannabis legally was a life achievement.

Owning a sports car, seeing the Northern Lights and having been skinny dipping at least once also made the final list.

Relationships are also important as having children, grandchildren and reconnecting with old friends all made the list.

Travel was also important, with experiencing a luxury holiday of a lifetime, visiting Niagara Falls, driving across America on Route 66 and going on a safari also making the cut.

A staggering 70 percent of the over-50s polled said they were delighted to reach the half-century mark, and the same number claim that “life begins at 50”.

The study, conducted by Raisin UK Savings, also revealed that four out of five of those polled admitted their priorities have changed since they turned 50.

The study found that the main thing that holds over 50s Brits back from living their best lives is cash, with 45 percent saying not having enough money stops them doing all they want.

Here is the full findings of the study:

50 things everyone should achieve before turning 50 are

  1. Have a happy marriage.
  2. Have a retirement plan in place.
  3. Learn how to say “no”.
  4. Have two holidays a year.
  5. To have had children.
  6. Feel happy with your body.
  7. Have been on a luxury holiday of a lifetime.
  8. Own the house of your dreams.
  9. See the Northern Lights.
  10. Welcome your first grandchild into the world.
  11. Pay off your loans / be debt free.
  12. Have a driveway.
  13. Have enough spare cash to treat yourself.
  14. Have savings in the bank.
  15. Get back in touch in touch with an old friend.
  16. Be a proficient gardener.
  17. See your child get married.
  18. Learn to get by in another language.
  19. Enjoy your own company.
  20. Have made time for reading.
  21. Make a million pounds.
  22. Visit Niagara Falls.
  23. Forgive someone who upset you.
  24. Watch the sunrise on a deserted beach.
  25. Live abroad for a year.
  26. Fly first class.
  27. Swim with dolphins.
  28. Own your own company.
  29. Be in your dream career.
  30. Own a sports car.
  31. Drive across America on Route 66.
  32. Go on a safari.
  33. Learn to play an instrument.
  34. Walk along the Great Wall of China.
  35. Volunteer for a charity.
  36. Own at least an acre of land.
  37. Pen a novel.
  38. Walk my daughter down the aisle.
  39. Have stayed up until dawn.
  40. Throw a big 50th birthday bash.
  41. Have a walk-in wardrobe.
  42. Have tasted wine on a vineyard.
  43. Go to a festival.
  44. Go skinny dipping.
  45. Meet up with an ex-partner.
  46. Eat at a Michelin star restaurant.
  47. Own a four-wheel-drive.
  48. Have done something that scares you.
  49. Write a love letter to someone.
  50. Smoke Cannabis legally in Amsterdam.

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