Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, and one of the simple facts of life is that it does, one day, come to an end. It might be of natural causes, living out the final moments asleep in our beds, or in a tragic accident that no one saw coming. Even those diagnosed with a terminal illness and people who know they do not have a long life expectancy can, at best, have only a good idea of when their time will come. As such, every moment is a gift, and worth living to the full.
But terminal illness or not, bucket lists have become extremely popular in recent years. By creating an itinerary of things to do before one passes away, people have had the pleasure of experiencing all that they want to in life. The best way to live your life is by living to the fullest, and bucket lists have seen terminally ill patients get to meet their favorite celebrities, retirees go bungie-jumping and people who never thought they could achieve their dreams, do exactly that.
It doesn’t truly matter what your life expectancy is, there are things that must be taken care of before one passes away. As a result, it might be an idea to add them to your bucket list to ensure that they are definitely done, before your time runs out. So with that said, here are three things that you should add to your bucket list.
Viatical Settlement
It may seem strange that this option should appear on a bucket list—something which is traditionally known for being quirky and novel. But it’s a logical suggestion to get ones affairs in order, before becoming too incapacitated, or simply unable, to do so.
Unlike a Final Will and Testament, which is intended to distribute all of your belongings to beneficiaries in the event of your passing, a Viatical Settlement is almost like a transfer and sale of a life insurance policy. Also unlike a Will, a viatical settlement policyholder is still alive when the insurance policy is in play.
Viatical settlements work in the following way. If a policyholder is diagnosed with a life-treatening chronic illness, or has the misfortune of a terminal illness, then they can sell their existing life insurance policy at the policy’s cash surrender value to a third party. This will be less than the policy’s face value, but will be in a cash payment payout upfront (as a viatical settlement). The policy’s cash value can then be applied to treatment of the ill person, ensuring that they have a great quality of life and care in their final days. The third party then takes over the life insurance policy, continuing to pay the monthly premiums of it, but can still cash in on the insurance policy when the original policyholder passes away. The new life insurance policyholder receives the policy’s face value in full.
It might seem counter-productive to sell a life insurance policy for a payout that’s less than the policy’s face value, but the policy’s cash value might mean a lot more at the time, or simply go further in the final days. Plus, with a viatical settlement already paid out, the third party is ultimately making a profit. As a loved one, your beneficiary might not be interested in this, but as a life insurance policyholder it’s akin to leaving behind more than originally intended. By receiving the cash value earlier via a viatical settlement, a policy owner can have peace of mind that care will be paid for.
The viatical settlement industry has taken a bit of a beating recently, as it is more susceptible to fraud, and policyholders are taking more of a risk with such a life insurance policy. Should the viatical company or settlement provider go bust, then the full cash value of the policy goes with it. Conversely, a viatical settlement example saw a policyholder sell his life insurance for an undisclosed cash value after being diagnosed as HIV+, only to find that medical breakthroughs ensured he got better and was able to use the viatical settlement money to build a new business.
Insurance providers and Viatical companies such as the American Life Fund are making it a top priority to bring these types of life insurance policies back to the forefront, and turn around any negative feelings about them. Ultimately, if you are a policyholder of a life insurance policy, but feel that you would want to check out what these additional premiums can do for you, then it’s worth talking to a settlement provider like the American Life Fund, and getting the full details of how the purchase of a Viatical Settlement might be a great option for you.
In this current climate where a pandemic has forced us all to think about how our health can easily take a turn, and rob us of the activities of daily living that we take for granted, it may not be a bad idea to have a back-up plan, and become a viatical settlement policyholder, just in case.
Alternatively, and perhaps even more relevantly, the earlier payout of the viatical settlement’s cash value can go towards the purchase of something else that is on your bucket list.
Spending Time on the Open Road
On a slightly more traditional note, the next entry for your bucket list is to simply spend time enjoying the country. Consider purchasing or renting a Recreational Vehicle, or RV, and taking it on a tour of the United States. There are a variety to choose from online, it’s simply a case of selecting the features that you want your RV to have, and the best option will appear. Plus, if buying an RV isn’t an option, then there are week, fortnight or month leases available, meaning that you have more time to enjoy the sights and sounds that the open road provide.
If you feel like you will be hampered by any illness or disability, then you can rig your RV with a range of easy access facilities or medical provisions that are intended to help you stay comfortable. As a tip, if you currently undergoing treatment for any chronic illness or condition, or travelling with someone else who is, then contact your doctor before setting off and obtain a copy of your medical records. Although this seems like an unusual idea, if you are travelling from one attraction to another and need medical assistance from a hospital or clinic, then it will save the doctors and nurses a lot of time and difficulty to have your records right away, instead of searching through the systems, and they can assist you sooner.
For those who purchase or already own a camper or recreational vehicle, then you might be having a little trouble finding an RV storage option. There are a range of storage units available across the U.S that will fit your recreational vehicle, whether that be a camper van, or a larger motorhome. The best rv storage units are those that not only provide affordability for your storage space, but have the facilities to ensure it is a safe place to store your camper. For that, it’s best to get the type of storage that has 24-hour video surveillance as part of it’s rental costs. Other amenities that are often beneficial for recreational vehicle storage is the option for indoor storage, which are often to protect from leaks or mold, although outdoor RV storage has been growing in popularity too. Potential long-term storage renters and tenants should look at the U.S Self Storage website (usselfstorage.com) to get a better view of the RV storage facilities that are near you.
RVs or motorhomes are becoming a more useful option for travelling in the current Coronavirus pandemic, especially as travel options become much more limited.
Boat Hire in Vilamoura
If you are not familiar with Vilamoura, then you have been missing out! Vilamoura, which merges with the town of Quarteira, is a coastal resort in the southern part of the Algarve, in Portugal. Vilamoura is renouned for it’s historic culture, museums, casino, and the huge Vilamoura Marina, from which tourists rent boats and sailing vessels all year round, to explore the gorgeous coastline and beaches that only the Algarve offers. This is why a boat hire in Vilamoura is absolutely something you shouldn’t miss out on.
Vilamoura Marina is also the host of Azure Luxury Charters, a boat charter company that commissions tours of the Algarve coast. These yacht rentals come with a crew of a Captain and a Steward, as well as a multitude of extras, including alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, snacks and local foods. All of your wants are catered for, so you can simply sit back and bask in the Vilamoura sunshine. They also have a tendency to sell out quickly so it’s worth trying to get a reservation as soon as possible, especially considering tourism has been reintroduced to Vilamoura after the COVID-19 outbreak.
It’s not up to us to dictate how a person lives their life, but adding a yacht trip touring the coast of Vilamoura is certainly not to be missed off anyone’s bucket list!