Has anyone got a secret PF fantasy? I'll tell you mine... *blush*

I have an interest in photography and absolutely no way to support that kind of an expensive habit long-term. Besides the camera, you need a darkroom and related equipment and chemicals as well as consumable materials like paper, to say nothing of all the different lenses and tripods and enhancements you might like. But my dad was dirt-poor and he did it for years. So what's wrong? He made his own darkroom, saving him jillions in the longrun, on some probably very cheap equipment, and KISS (not the band, the philosophy).

There are some private places one can go to do darkroom development in someone else's crib, but I've checked the rates and they're totally unfeasible. Or you could take a class at a community center or art school and get access to those. I'm learning now, but one day I won't want to be constantly taking classes just to develop my prints. I want to be self-sufficient. And I don't want to or plan to do photography for money, only for personal enjoyment and product.

My apartment, shared by me and my boyfriend, has absolutely no space to support a darkroom. It's barely big enough to hold minimal furniture. So that's out. Maybe one day down the line I'll have a house with a nook that can be made light-tight. But that doesn't do anything for the consumables and lenses. And I'm an apartment dweller by habit and by personal choice, so I'd prefer to stay that way.

My dream: I want to rent a small, marginal (read: cheap) commercial space where I can make a light-tight darkroom with all related equipment. (I'll look into "artist space" or places that give such a discount.) Then, I'll rent out my space to others to use for the same purpose. The idea is not to make a ton of cash but to support my expensive habit. I'd like to break even. And, perhaps also benefit from the peership of others with my hobby.

Do you have a PF dream? A business you want to make, something you want to accomplish with your money? Something you would do "if you had the money" or maybe the guts? Maybe something you've never admitted to anyone?

honeybee

One of my dreams is to make my photography habit self-supporting as well. I've gone digital, so the darkroom isn't an issue, however I do hope to do some black and white film developing in the not-too-distant future. Luckily I think I've still got my developing tank from school in the basement, so I'd just need chemistry and one of those light-tight bag setups for transfering the film from the cansiter to the tank. Oh, and to re-learn how to do the actual development. I'll probably still use a lab for the prints.

I'd like to eventually support myself by freelance writing alone (the "fun" stuff, stories, essays, etc) although I know this is almost impossible to do unless you live an exceedingly stripped down life. My husband would like to do the same with his video work, although that involves a lot more overhead costs (HD equipment, editing consoles/software, etc).

Hint hint, become a billionaire by 30. Fly an Airplane, drive a race car, form a multi billion dollar corporation.

If I had the money, I'd continue doing what I'm doing now except do it all for free and on a larger scale.

When I lived alone, I was working on saving up enough money over 10 years to take two years off: one year to just play and travel, and one year to ponder and prepare for a new career move. Ironically I saved up all that money but then met and moved in with my girlfriend and I ultimately ended up using the money as a downpayment on our house instead. The things we do for love...

I want to own a bookstore. Though one that more like a living room. I would like it to b more of a social gathering place than a cut and dry bookstore. If there was any way to actually make money doing this it would be great but short of selling a lot of books on the internet to support the actual retail bookstore there is no way to compete with borders.

I honestly would enjoy doing this so much that once retirered I would still do it ven if the store was only able to pay its own bills.

I would love to go the way of Steve Gibson. He basically wrote one computer program 16 years ago and has been living off of it ever since. Now every program he writes is free. I would love to simply live life and create some programs when I feel like it, letting everyone enjoy them.

I'm still looking for that first hit program to get me there...

Mine is simple. I'd love to continue doing what I do now, but reduce hours to 20-24 and have a 100% flexible schedule. This little fantasy would involve still having enough money to pay the bills, save for retirement, and travel a little.

Hmmm. I really need to learn to dream big.

My not-so-secret personal finance fantasy is to be a stay at home mom.

I'm 30 and married, no kids yet. I've finally talked my (not-particularly-frugal) husband into NOT waiting until we had a PAID OFF mortgage to have kids... (did I mention that we haven't bought a house yet?)

We just passed the point where I can afford to take all of my FMLA leave (company pays NONE, so it's STD and savings). My current scheme is to go back to work after kid #1, buy a multi-family, have kid #2 and be a work-at-home landlady.

When I was a kid, this didn't seem so inconceivable, but I've been living pretty frugally for the last 12 years, and if I manage it, it certainly won't be through my savings!

(there's forums for those of us waiting to have kids.. some of us are waiting financially, but the 20 year olds who are stay-at-home wives baffle me. And they're *never* the ones waiting for the money to look right....)

Since I'm married with two kids, my personal finance goal would be to make enough money and have a good enough handle on our finances, that my wife would not have to work. She could focus on raising the kids and doing whatever she wanted to do (within reason of course). As a school teacher though she is passionate about her work. She's mentioned a couple times that she'd love to be able to stay home with the kids, but in the same breath she says how much she loves to teach. For me, I want I to make tons of money by making an impact in the companies for which I work. At 27 with a BS in Information Technology I'm just trying to find my way through corporate America!

Your fantasy can probably be reality. The 'probably' is there because I don't know your situation. Twenty seven years ago, my wife took a three month maternity leave that lasted over 18 years. At first, I thought it would be impossible, what with student loans, a mortgage, an infant, college loan, etc. It can be done, and it's not as difficult as one would expect. Subtract all the "work" expenses of the stay-at-home parent. Subtract any/all of they day-care expenses of the child(ren). Add the tax benefits of going from __ class to poverty If one of the partners (I'm busting my butt to be PC here, since I'm a new guy... ) Anyway, if one or both or all five are good at fixing things and haggling and finding great bargains, then life can be amazingly good. Not always as pleasant as those pushing their products on us would like us to believe, but by far more rewarding. And also see, that I said 'life' not existence.

Looking back, agreeing to that 'extended' maternity leaves was probably one of the best moves I made in my life. I'm trying to do the same thing again, under entirely different circumstances. Downsize all the crap and up size all that really matters, most of which cost zero dollars.

I'd like to be able to keep doing what I'm doing and upgrade to a 4BR house, instead of requiring my kids to go to before and after school care when they get to school age.

Of course, if the housing market drops or even plateaus, this would be okay in the present.

Money doesnt buy happiness

--
My goals are simple. Be effectively retired at 45. Own a yacht. Work for the public good. Teach. Publish a book.

I'm well on my way to my goals. I'm on track to be effectively retired at 45. My investment income would be more than enough to sustain me till I was 100 years old. I figure that's good. I have a yacht fund that's 5 figures right now. I currently work for the public good, but I could and will do more. I'm starting back on my PhD (about halfway done).

Since this is FANTASY rather than GOALS...

I want to see the Earth from space. I don't want to live there, just see and be weightless for say a whole day. Including time to sleep. I want to feel what it's like to nap. Maybe have a space walk.

I'd like to have enough money to fund the free enterprise use of space things like trips to Mars and all kinds of research on what's "out there."

With Virgin Galactic, maybe it's not so much of a fantasy after all...

oi