In my last edition, I wrote about a 28-year-old who is using nearly $40,000 in savings to travel around the U.S. and cheer on England in the World Cup.
Since then, we also published an article about another fan who is traveling around to seven European countries to attend watch parties with locals for an authentic experience.
Below you'll find some slightly edited comments from readers about blowing the budget for travel and mini-retirements:
On June 7, I was watching videos on YouTube by the Canadian early music ensemble Constantinople. On a whim, I looked up their concert tour for 2026 — pretty sure that a Canadian group with an Iranian leader wasn't going to be giving any performances in the U.S. To my surprise, Constantinople was giving a concert in Turkey’s Grand Bazaar on June 21. My 80th birthday was June 25.
I told my wife about my crazy plan, and she said, "Do it!" I flew to Istanbul for the June 21 concert, and many other activities including a day-long boat trip to the Prince's Islands, a three-hour workshop on Ebru (Turkish paper marbling) and a food tour.
The Constantinople concert was a peak life experience, and the whole trip was wonderful. Total cost — including airfare, hotel for seven nights, meals, several excursions and gifts for friends and family — was just over $3,500.
This was perhaps the most impulsive thing I have done, and I don't regret a penny spent. At the age of 80, I don't know how long I will be able physically or mentally to do things like this, but depleting my retirement savings is among the least of my concerns. I can't take the money with me, so why not broaden my life experiences while I am able to do so?
Selden Deemer, Dahlonega, Georgia
