Small Possibilities

A mindful guide to reflecting on your 2024 spending, building better financial habits, and starting 2025 with clarity and intention.

As the year comes to a close, many of us are left wondering: Where did all my money go? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you think about expenses, surprise bills, or the splurges that added up over time. But rather than dwelling on what didn’t go as planned, this is the perfect time to reflect, reset, and give yourself the grace to start fresh.

For me, financial self-care has become a cornerstone of my mindful living journey. It’s not just about balancing numbers on a spreadsheet—it’s about aligning my spending with my values and creating space for what truly matters. When I started taking small, intentional steps with my finances, I realized that the same philosophy I apply to my daily life works here too: progress, not perfection.

If you’re ready to get your budget in shape for 2025, let’s do this together. In this post, I’ll walk you through simple steps to reflect on your 2024 spending, identify areas for improvement, and build a budget that works for your life. Whether you’re dreaming of starting a new hobby, saving for a trip, or just gaining more control over your finances, these tips will help you get there. Don’t forget to reach out on Instagram, Threads, or Facebook to share your journey! You can also find more inspiration on Pinterest, explore my Benable recommendations for helpful tools, and sign up for my newsletter to stay connected (added bonus sign up now and get a free self care checklist and mindful journal printable!).

1. Reflect on Your 2024 Spending

The first step in financial self-care is understanding where your money went this year. Reflection isn’t about judging yourself—it’s about getting curious and learning from your habits.

Review Your Year in Spending

Take a moment to go through your bank and credit card statements for the year. Look for patterns:

• What were your top three spending categories?

• Which purchases brought you joy, and which ones felt unnecessary?

• Did you stick to your financial goals, or did life throw you a few curveballs?

For me, this reflection helped me realize that while I tend to overspend on coffee shop trips, I also invested in tools and supplies for my crafts that brought me so much joy. Understanding these habits helped me create a plan for balancing treats with priorities.

Quick Tip:

Use a free spending tracker or budgeting app (I personally really love NerdWallet!) to categorize your expenses. Seeing everything laid out visually can make it easier to identify patterns and set goals.

2. Identify Areas to Improve

Once you’ve reflected on your spending, it’s time to think about where you want to make changes. Remember: this isn’t about cutting out everything fun—it’s about being intentional and truly finding your own joy and fulfillment in life.

Find Small, Realistic Adjustments

• Are there any subscriptions you’re no longer using? Cancel them to free up extra cash.

• Did impulse purchases sneak into your budget? Consider creating a “fun money” category to plan for guilt-free treats.

• Are there areas you want to prioritize more, like saving for a vacation or investing in a hobby?

This year, I started setting up automatic transfers into my savings account every payday. At first, it was just $10 a week, but seeing that amount grow reminded me how even small changes can make a big difference.

Resource to Help:

Check out this multi-page budgeting template to map out where your money is going and where you’d like it to go in 2025.

3. Build Your 2025 Budget

A budget doesn’t have to feel restrictive—it’s a tool for building the life you want. Let’s create one that reflects your values and goals for the year ahead.

Steps to Create Your Budget

1. List Your Income: Start with your monthly income or an average if it fluctuates.

2. Track Your Fixed Expenses: Include things like rent, utilities, and loan payments.

3. Allocate for Variable Expenses: Think groceries, hobbies, or self-care items.

4. Set Goals: Plan for savings, debt repayment, or anything you’re working toward in 2025.

For 2025, my budget includes a “dream fund” to help me save for workshops and materials to improve my crafting and content creation. Having this category motivates me to stick to my plan because I know it’s going toward something meaningful.

Budget-Friendly Tools:

I personally use NerdWallet to help with finances tracking it is very easy to use and helps to stay on track.

4. Build Consistent Financial Habits

The key to financial self-care is consistency. Small, regular habits can help you stay on top of your goals without feeling overwhelmed.

Start a Weekly Money Date

Set aside 30 minutes each week to review your spending, pay bills, and adjust your budget as needed. Make it cozy—grab a cup of tea, light a candle, and make it a moment of mindfulness.

Use Cash Envelopes or Limits

For categories like dining out or entertainment, consider using a cash envelope system or setting clear limits in your budget. This can help you stick to your goals without feeling deprived.

This year, I started limiting my “treat yourself” budget to $50 a month. Knowing I had that money set aside made me feel empowered to enjoy it without guilt—and surprisingly, I found myself spending less overall.

5. Make Room for Joy and Self-Care

A budget isn’t just about numbers—it’s about making space for what truly matters. Financial self-care includes investing in your happiness and well-being.

Plan for Self-Care in Your Budget

• Create a “joy fund” for things that make you happy, like new craft supplies, books, or experiences.

• Set aside money for self-care activities, like a monthly massage, a coffee date, or a class you’ve always wanted to take.

For me, adding self-care into my budget helped me prioritize things that truly nourish me. This year, I took a beginner’s crochet class, and it not only sparked a new hobby but also brought me so much peace during stressful times.

Get Started:

Browse these self-care essentials and hobby kits to treat yourself while staying on budget.

Conclusion: Start Fresh in 2025

Financial self-care isn’t about being perfect—it’s about making small, intentional changes that support your goals and values. By reflecting on 2024, identifying areas to improve, and building a budget that aligns with what matters most to you, you can step into 2025 with clarity and confidence.

I’d love to hear how you’re prepping your budget for the new year! Drop a comment below or connect with me on Instagram, Threads, or Facebook to share your journey. Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more tips on mindful living, and follow me on Pinterest and Benable for inspiration and resources to help you along the way. Let’s make 2025 the year of possibilities—together.

Warmly,

Cas Lin

Small Possibilities

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