The Little Coasters That Hold Big Dreams

The other day, Warren came back from a round of golf and shared a story with me that really made me stop and think.

He’d been playing with a guy who told him about an unusual tradition he has whenever he travels.

Every time he visits a place he really enjoys, whether it’s a golf course, a café, a restaurant or a local bar, he takes home a coaster.

Not a pricey souvenir or something elaborate. Just a simple coaster.

Back at home, he displays them prominently in his office and around the house. Over the years, he’s built quite a collection.

As Warren listened, he asked him why.

The answer was wonderfully simple.

“Every coaster reminds me of a great holiday or experience I’ve had. But it also reminds me that I’ve got another adventure waiting for me.”

When Warren told me this story, I immediately thought there was something quite powerful behind such a simple idea.

These little keepsakes weren’t just souvenirs. They were reminders of happy memories, but they were also motivating him to keep planning, saving and looking forward to the next experience.

He’s essentially created a visual roadmap of where he’s been and where he still wants to go.

And it got me thinking about how many of us have similar reminders sitting around our homes without fully appreciating the role they play in our lives.

More than just a souvenir

Many people keep mementos from their travels.

A fridge magnet from Tasmania.

A wine cork from a special anniversary dinner.

A shell collected during a beach holiday.

A photograph from a family trip overseas.

On the surface they seem insignificant, but often they’re attached to some of our most meaningful memories.

Research suggests that reflecting on positive life experiences can contribute to wellbeing, reinforce positive emotions and strengthen our sense of identity. Those small reminders help transport us back to moments that mattered.

The postcard box

Warren’s story reminded me of a client I met several years ago.

As we talked about her retirement plans, she pulled out a large box filled with postcards collected over decades of travel with her late husband.

As she sorted through them, she smiled and said:

“I realised I wasn’t saving all those years just for the numbers in my bank account. I was saving for the memories.”

That conversation completely shifted our discussion.

Suddenly, the focus wasn’t investment balances or superannuation statements.

It was about experiences she still wanted to have, places she hoped to revisit and new memories she wanted to create with her grandchildren.

Australians continue to prioritise experiences

This focus on experiences isn’t unique.

Recent Australian research found that 46% of Australians have saving for a holiday as one of their top financial priorities, ahead of many traditional financial goals. The same research found Australians spend an average of eight months saving for a holiday.

At the same time, Roy Morgan research shows 57% of Australians plan to take a domestic holiday in the next 12 months, despite ongoing cost of living pressures.

That tells us something important about consumer sentiment.

Even when people are feeling the pinch financially, they’re still prioritising experiences and memories. Travel remains one of the things Australians are most willing to plan, save and work towards.

The golf marker on the shelf

I was also reminded of another client who keeps a golf marker displayed in his office.

To most people, it doesn’t look like anything special.

But that marker came from a bucket-list round of golf at Barnbougle that he played with a mate.

Every time he sees it, he’s reminded of that experience.

As he once told me:

“That golf marker reminds me exactly why I worked so hard for all those years.”

I think that’s such a powerful perspective.

Because financial planning isn’t really about accumulating money.

It’s about what money allows you to do.

It’s the overseas holiday you’ve always dreamed about.

The family gathering that brings everyone together.

The special experiences that become stories you’ll tell for decades.

Creating reminders for the future

What I particularly loved about the coaster story Warren shared is that it wasn’t just about remembering the past.

Those coasters were motivating future action.

Every time their owner sees them, he’s reminded that another adventure is waiting. Another goal is worth saving for. Another experience is worth planning.

Whether it’s coasters, golf markers, photographs, postcards, ticket stubs or something entirely unique, visual reminders can help turn a future goal into something tangible.

And when goals become tangible, they often become achievable.

What’s Next

At JBS Financial Strategists, we believe the best financial plans start with understanding what’s truly important to you.

The numbers matter, of course. But the real purpose of financial planning is helping you create a life rich with experiences, opportunities and memories.

So next time you walk past a keepsake from a favourite holiday, pause for a moment.

Think about the story it tells.

Then ask yourself: what story would you like to create next?

If you’d like help building a financial plan that supports your future adventures, we’d love to have a chat. Sometimes the best goals start with something as simple as a coaster and a dream of where you’d like to go next.