Like a company during recession, I did not hit my financial targets last year. I aimed to save at least 30% of my annual income but fell substantially short. Did it bother me? Obviously yes, since I am blogging about it. Could I have done more? Sure, I could have penny-pinched here and there, but that would have been at the expense of personal convenience and peace of mind. I would rather spend more money than overthink, argue with someone, or go through unnecessary steps. My priorities shifted.
After pandemic, it felt like I had to make up for lost opportunities and appreciate the things that [I realized] I took for granted -- like checking items off my bucket list, catching up with friends and family, and pursuing personal advocacies. I doubled down on traveling, networking, seeking new experiences, and in general, putting myself out there. These activities require spending money. If not money, time, which, as the famous aphorism goes, is also money. I was revenge spending.
When I reflected on the year that was, I realized that I had taken for granted the opportunity to grow the money I had spent. While I did not regret traveling to Mongolia or moving to a new home, there were times when I had spent more than I should, simply because I can. While that is a great feeling and a privileged flex, it can also turn into a dangerous precedent (e.g., friends might think that I will always foot the bill), a hedonistic habit (e.g., I may never want to book anything lower than a 4-star hotel), or a lifestyle that I will have to maintain (e.g., branding myself as an art connoisseur).
This year is all about tightening my belt without sacrificing my simple joys. Perhaps shifting my priorities again -- saving over spending, creating over consuming, simplicity over indulgence -- and reminding myself that I can give and do more if I have more.
