How a Financial Reset is a Love Letter to Your Future Self

Ending the Year with Clarity and Confidence

Dec 04, 2024

I have a love/hate relationship with New Year’s.

We transition from wishing we were old enough to go out and have fun to finally reaching that age and setting our expectations way too high, and then to growing older and preferring a cozy night in and a good night's sleep.

Or is that just me? 😉

After a few freezing New Year’s Eve nights in Lake Tahoe, anxiously waiting for midnight to come or hunting all over Union Square in San Francisco for a bathroom, it didn’t take long for me to realize “going out” on New Year’s Eve was overrated (at least for me).

But then again, I tend to prefer nights in with friends where we can relax a bit and engage in games or deep conversation.

When my kids were old enough, we’d spend the evening creating vision boards and thinking about what we wanted the New Year to bring (yes, I was that Mom).

The end of the year isn't just about holiday sparkle and champagne toasts. It can be a sacred moment of reflection, especially for those of us who've collected more wisdom than we care to admit.

I’ve shifted from creating goals to having intentions.

Setting intentions allows for more fluidity and flexibility - if I’ve learned anything at this stage in life, it’s that life is full of surprises and challenges. The more flexible I can be, the smoother things seem to go.

A financial reset is one of those things you can do for yourself at the end of the year.

This is your invitation to do a gentle financial reset, not as a chore but as an act of radical self-love.

Most of us understand that money isn’t just about numbers. It’s a story we tell ourselves, a map of our values, dreams, and quiet rebellions.

Reflection - The Year in Financial Snapshots

This is the perfect time for what I call “creating a moment.”

Get a glass of your favorite beverage (alcoholic or not, it doesn’t matter as long as you enjoy it), grab your journal and favorite pen (or colored pens in my case), and write about this year’s fi’s fi’s fi’s financial journey. Start with your wins:

Opened a high-yield savings account and stuck with your plans?
Paid off debt?
Added an additional stream of income?

It’s all progress and should all be acknowledged.

Next, look at your challenges:

Did you miss your savings target?
Increased debt?
Got laid off?
Had to get a new car?

None of these things is a failure. Some things we control, other things we don’t. Acknowledge it all and think about how you handled each situation. And if you’re here doing the reflection, you know you’re on the right path.

Regroup - Your Financial Landscape

Open your favorite spreadsheet tool, or keep going in your journal (I must admit, I love pen & paper first, then go into my online tools). Take a snapshot of where you are right now. No judgments allowed - just the facts.

Current savings? Check.
Debts? Noted.
Monthly cashflow? Mapped.
Investments? On target.

This isn't about perfection. It's about clarity. And clarity, my friend, is the first step to freedom.

Realigning Goals (or Intentions 😉) That Light You Up

What do you truly want? Not what Instagram tells you, not what your well-meaning cousin suggests. I'm talking about goals that make your heart do a little dance.

Short-term dreams might look like:

Wiping out credit card debt
Building an emergency fund that gives you peace of mind
Starting that side hustle that's been whispering to you (you are never too old!)

Long-term visions? Maybe it's:

Retirement that looks like an adventure, not a constraint
Travel that feeds your spirit
Investments that align with your deepest values

Simplifying Becomes a Financial Self-Care Ritual

I had never thought about this before, but managing money can be a form of meditation. Automate where you can. Set up those transfers and schedule those bill payments. Give yourself the gift of financial peace.

Start small. Even $20 automatically transferred to savings is an act of self-love. You're telling future you, "I've got your back."

Decide on a weekly or bi-weekly “money date.”

Make this time non-negotiable… and a judgment-free zone.

Creating Your Money Ritual(s)

Sometimes rituals feel sacred, and other times they feel silly - yes, even when it’s something I do alone. Find what works best for you - it can be as simple as taking yourself to a quaint coffee shop for your money date. The only requirement is that it feels like something you’re doing to support YOU.

Bonus tip: find a friend who wants to do this with you or as an accountability partner. Accountability works for me, and I have a few trusted people with whom I do this.

Cue Elsa & Financial Decluttering, “Let it Go!”

Warning: you might cringe when you see things you’ve been paying for but don’t use.

Start with subscriptions and spending habits.

Sometimes, we don’t even realize a service we use has increased its monthly subscription year after year. You might be able to find an alternative that’s a one-off purchase or an annual fee that’s less than the monthly option.

The same is true of your ‘stuff.’

Donate, toss, and sell what you don’t need.

Facebook Marketplace is a great place to list things, or if you’re feeling adventurous, try the new app, Whatnot, where you can sell things “live.”

This isn't deprivation. This is creating space for what truly matters.

A Love Note to Your Future Self

Document this journey. Not as a rigid plan but as a love letter. What worked? What surprised you? What made you laugh?

When next December arrives, you'll have a roadmap crafted with intention, wisdom, and a whole lot of grace.

Remember: This isn't about financial perfection. It's about progress. It's about honoring the incredible, resilient woman you are.

Your financial reset is a radical act of self-love. Embrace it.

Cheers to you, to growth, to possibility.

Women You Should Know

Helen Magill White - the first woman to earn a PhD in the United States

Helen Magill White, born in 1853, was the first woman in the U.S. to earn a PhD. Raised by Quaker parents who valued equal education, she attended Boston Public Latin School as its only female student, graduated from Swarthmore College in 1873, and earned her PhD in Greek at Boston University in 1877. White later taught at Evelyn College, Princeton's women's college, and helped establish Howard Collegiate Institute in Massachusetts.

Gifts for the girls in your life 👧

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A Few of My Favorite Things 🎶

My favorite version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is Judy Garland from Meet Me in St. Louis.

It’s hard to beat a long soak in a tub (I am a bath girl, through and through). I love these Butterball bath bombs from Lush!

There's nothing like a little dark, Irish humor with “Bad Sisters” on Apple TV: the five Garvey sisters and the suspicious death of one of their husbands.

As someone who saw “Wicked” live in San Francisco three times, I’m happy to say I was not disappointed in the movie! SO good! Even though we have to wait until next November for part 2! This is one of my favorite songs… ever.

Some days, this is true 😂

With Thanksgiving so late this year, it’s hard to believe Christmas is only a few weeks away.

I enjoy all the little things… watching holiday movies, listening to Christmas music, and having cozy nights.

And as soon as the holidays are over, I’ll probably be ready for Spring 🤣.

Have a wonderful day,
Kim