A New Year, A New Financial Mindset

A New Year, A New Financial Mindset: My Journey to Financial Wellness

Happy New Year! Part of me believes that one day, when I turn the page to the next year, I will be a new person. Fortunately, I know that you can become a new person at any time. However, I tend to start my goals and routines before the new year because I want to walk into the new calendar already filled with new hope, potential, and possibility. For me, this year is not about setting plans that I am unable to fulfill; instead, it is about developing a healthy financial mindset that aligns with my goals and values. Grab a tea and let’s talk about how I am going to achieve financial wellness in 2025 and how you can join me by being part of this process.

Reflecting on the Past Year

Before diving into what’s next, I spent time analyzing various events while reflecting on the financial lessons that really shaped my life during the 2024 period. There were wins, like finally sticking to a realistic budget, and challenges, like unexpected deaths, emergencies, and medical expenses that completely derailed my savings plan. Luckily, if there’s one thing I’ve learned to hold true, while on a financial wellness journey, it isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress.

One practice that really worked for me was recording daily my financial transactions via Mint.com (now CreditKarma) and having a backup spreadsheet. Every week, I would log and review my spending habits, evaluate events that may have triggered me emotionally, and made a point to celebrate the small wins (still working on this one). When I recorded my emotional spending, I engaged in positive self-talk and journaled anything worth noting. In retrospect, I’m happy I trained myself to think more positively about money and my ability to manage it. It is a habit which I am adopting for closing the previous year and pushing into the new year.

Setting Financial Intentions

This year, I’m focused on three financial intentions:

1. Prioritizing My Emotional Relationship with Money Money is more than numbers on a screen; it’s deeply tied to emotions. Last year, I realized how much anxiety I carried when it came to unexpected expenses. So, I’ve decided to establish a stronger foundation for my emergency fund (it's commonly suggested for 3 to 6 months of total expenses in savings, I am going for 7 haha!) not just for financial stability, but for peace of mind.

2. Invest in Education One of my goals is to better understand the psychology of money. I’m encouraging myself to sign up for financial therapy workshops this spring and fall to deepen my knowledge. If you’re interested, consider researching local colleges, associations, or online courses to expand your financial toolkit.

3. Practice Gratitude: We often tend to look at the things or opportunities we don’t have, but this year I’m flipping the script. Each month, I will list down five things I am thankful for that money made possible – whether it is food, an investment, or a relaxing pedicure.

How You Can Start Your Financial Journey

Here are three small steps you can take to start your new year with a fresh financial mindset:

1. Create a Vision Board: Imagine what financial freedom looks like for you. Is it a debt-free life? A vacation fund? Use images and affirmations to keep yourself motivated. Check out Canva for free vision board templates.

2. Start Clean and Review Your Numbers: Start the year by analyzing your budget, your credit report and your saving objectives. It sets the tone by indicating where you stand and knowing where you stand is the first step toward progress.

3. Find Your Community: Surrounding yourself with like-minded people makes a world of difference, trust me on this one. Join a financial accountability group, find a Certified Financial Therapist (CFT-i) on the Financial Therapy Association website, or follow financial therapy advocates online to stay inspired. Feel free to stop by the facebook page and join others on their financial wellness journey.

As we kick off this year, I’m excited to see where this journey takes us. You know it will be worth it in the end, we just have to be patient and always see our end goal! I’d love to hear what you all have set for your 2025 goals, comment below or via share them on facebook. The only other thing to do is to grab your best pair of shoes, or heels (if you’re a heel girlie like me) and let’s embrace financial wellness together, one baby step at a time. Happy New Year!