We don't have kids and do fine for ourselves but.... the big but... we know we want to have the time and money to do things to our own home as well as travel a bit before we kick the bucket.

It's difficult to put properties into these buckets because many older properties have amenities and command higher rents/higher prices, but this gives one an idea for comparison.

At move in, all of my tenants receive a new sink and toilet plunger, snow shovels (usually still there from the last tenant), a sealing bucket from Home Depot that is full of snow salt (they get one free bag from me each year), and each stove has an oven liner to help keep the oven cleaner.

A drop in the bucket of the US economy. 

Converting and submetering the heat is my biggest bucket list item, which should free up cash for other things.

Installed a dehumidifier in the basement with several damprid buckets in the basement(hidden of course) and air fresheners in every bathroom.

Here I'm feeling nice today, and I'm gonna give a newbie from out of state an easy win.https://www.realtor.com/reales...I mean its not sexy, but thats an easy win on the low-end of the scale, and a couple buckets of paint.People who are local know the play...but like all investments proceed at your own risk.

In my companies stock account I do see all the different buckets of prices I purchased the stock at. 

You mean the bucket it comes in is 30-gallon?

U need money to transact in RE.. other wise become an Agent or a lender and make fee's to build up your money bucket.