No Regrets, Just Lessons: A Lighthearted Review Of The Year

As the year winds down, time to hit pause, reflect and gear up for a fresh start. What were the big moments of your year? Hopefully more hits than misses. The good news is that a brand new year is coming up where you can right the wrongs and misadventures. Here’s a lighthearted way to review and renew key areas of life before flipping the calendar.

1. Finances: Counting Coins or Cappuccinos

• Review:  Do you know where most of your money went this year? Did you invest wisely or did half your budget vanish into a “latte black hole” or other seemingly harmless indulgences? According to a recent survey, the average person spends $92 a month on coffee alone—that’s over $1,100 annually! 

If you’d invested  that  $92 monthly via Dollar Cost Averaging  into an  S&P 500 index fund, the amount would have  increased as the S&P 500 is up more  than  30% this year!

• Renew: Set new financial goals and habits. Could next year’s coffee money seed or turbo-charge your retirement funds? Automate savings to “pay yourself first.” Bonus points if you cut subscriptions for services hardly used.

• Fun Tip: Why not create a “guilt-free fun fund” by apportioning 10-15% of the money saved for a feel-good expenditure like a weekend getaway? This way, you feel motivated to continue cracking at your financial goals.

2. Budget: Crossed The Red Line?

• Review: Revisit your retirement budget. Are you sticking to your spending plan or did your golfing go horribly ‘out-of-bounds’, jacking up your expenses? According to a 2023 study, retirees underestimate healthcare costs by an average of $7,000 annually. Are your savings prepared for surprises?

• Renew: Re-consider your spending, find ways to up your retirement income or explore ways to stretch the dollars like walking the fairways vs using a buggy.

• Fun Tip: Golf counts as exercise only if you walk the course. Sorry, golf cart enthusiasts. The other plus is that you save when you walk the course. 

3. Health: The Year of “Oops, I’ll Start Monday”

• Review: What about fitness? Did your gym visits peak in February, fizzling out thereafter? Studies show 50% of people abandon their New Year’s fitness resolutions by February…pfff. People older than 65 who exercise regularly reduce chronic disease risk by 25%, how’s that for prevention motivation?

• Renew: Start small. Try new, low-impact activities like chair yoga which is all the rage nowadays or adopt a dog and walk it twice a day. My parents walk up to 3 times daily thanks to Bobo, their CEO (Chief Entertainment Officer)!

• Fun Tip: Dunk $10 into the piggy bank whenever you say “I’ll start Monday”. This way, your penalty fund can at least go towards a good cause like boosting your retirement savings or that Sonos speaker.

4. Hobbies: New Skills New You

• Review: Did you finally pick up that guitar or finish the scrapbook you started in 2017? Procrastination is something we’re all familiar with.

• Renew: Sign up with a friend to learn something new or perfect a skill. Whether it’s painting or learning a new language, make 2025 the year of doing. Together, you will motivate each other. 

• Fun Tip: Challenge yourself to do something totally different than your usual repertoire. This will expand your horizon, put you in a different mix of people and gives refreshing new perspectives.

5. Relationships: Connect for Emotional Highs

• Review: Take stock of your personal connections. Are you spending enough time with those you care or is your cat still your best confidant? 

• Renew: Re-ignite friendships, host coffee dates, organise game nights or start a book club to reap emotional highs. If organising is not your cuppa, sign up for that cycling class that will get you off your butt and make sporting connections. Staying social reduces risk of depression by up to 30%.

• Fun Tip: Challenge yourself to make 1 new friend a month, it’s harder than you think. By end 2025 you would have grown your network…and who knows, maybe even meet a new BFF. 

6. Home: Declutter Your Space (and Mind)

• Review: Did you use that air fryer or juicer at all? Or has it become a countertop decoration?

• Renew: Organise, sell or giveaway. Clutter increases stress and decreases productivity. Ditch that junk drawer and make space for only what “sparks joy.” If you’re retired, clearing physical possession actually makes for smart estate planning strategy.

• Fun Tip: Plan a “vintage heirlooms” party and invite friends and relatives to come choose what they like from your collection. This way, your treasures go to a good forever home, sparking joy for someone dear. Who knows, you may even get to “borrow” should you need it one day lol. All the pluses, none of the minuses 🙂

7. Technology: Do You Really Need 2,306 Photos of Your Pet?

• Review: Audit your digital life. How many apps are draining your battery and focus? Is your phone storage weeping from 200GB of memes?

• Renew: Delete unused apps, unsubscribe from spam and back up important files. Clear screen time goals before your devices start mocking you with weekly reports.

• Fun Tip: Rename your Wi-Fi network to “Free Me Up” as a reminder.

8. Bucket List: Dream Big

• Review: What dreams did you check off this year? Learn to play the piano, hiked to base camp at Mount Everest or went on your maiden Caribbean cruise?

• Renew: Add new adventures for next year. If skydiving feels too extreme, start small— like enrolling in furniture restoration course or learn Korean to enjoy the K-dramas without reading subtitles. Plan trips for next year to enjoy early-bird discounts. Kid-you-not: our holiday rental apartment in Marbella already has bookings up to Oct 2025!

• Fun Tip: Why not start checking off your bucket list instead of waiting until retirement? Saving the best for last does not make sense if you can afford to enjoy earlier and start to earn memory dividends.

9. Giving Back: Did You Pay It Forward?

• Review: Did you contribute to your community at work, within your neighbourhood or with family? It is proven that giving boosts happiness.

• Renew: Volunteer, donate or mentor young professionals. If retired, you have a lifetime of experience to share. Even small acts can have big effect: pet-sitting for a friend on urgent work assignment or cooking dinner for a sick neighbour.

• Fun Tip: Give someone something unexpected that they truly need. Include a meaningful message (anonymous if you wish) and ask that they pay it forward. How appropriate at this year-end joy-giving period.

10. No Regrets

Life’s too short for perfection or regrets. It’s more positive to make every (mis)step a learning experience. Toast to your victories and achievements, but don’t forget to laugh and learn from your mishaps. After all, every success and failure gives life meaning and texture, making it uniquely yours. 

Go ahead to plan for more adventures in the New Year. Don’t worry if some may not come through. Simply because you get to start afresh the year after. Review, renew and repeat… and become a better self!

To a fulfilling and fun new year! 🥂

Savvy Maverick

 

(Main image: Savvy Maverick)

 

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are drawn from personal experiences and do not constitute financial advice in any way. Nothing published here nor should any data or content be relied upon for investment activities. Please do your own due diligence before making any financial decisions. Data and information cited from sources will not be updated after publication.