I like to track and measure things: my stepcount, minutes spent meditating (not enough), the first day I turn the heat on each year… etc. Of course, this also extends to my business. I track my hours with Toggl, the number of meetings I have, revenue, referral sources, etc. Business owners are encouraged to measure these things, there is jargon for them: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
But last month at a conference, I was prompted to think more deeply about other metrics of success. The ones that are more personal and perhaps harder to measure.
To me, success looks like helping people use money to bring more joy into their life regardless of income or net worth. It means getting to have authentic conversations about money where I can actually see clients’ shoulders relax as we navigate stressful topics. It means focusing on quality over quantity and ensuring that my business allows me to travel, explore my passions, spend time with the important people in my life, and rest.
So, to more accurately reflect my own definition of success, I added a few new columns to my weekly KPI spreadsheet:
Days Off
Learnings/Growth Moments
Kick-Ass Conversations
There may not be an objective way to measure a learning moment or a kick-ass conversation, but I know how it feels when a hard conversation goes well or when a client leaves feeling more at ease.
This shift got me thinking about how financial planners typically conduct year-end reviews. We’re naturally drawn towards the numbers: year-over-year net worth increase, investment returns, dollars saved, etc.
Those metrics have a place, but they don’t allow us to reflect on the human side of that story. Your net worth may be up or down, but did your spending bring you joy? Did you make changes that you are proud of? Did you experience a setback that taught you something?
So I created a different kind of year-end financial review that doesn’t actually focus on the numbers at all (available here if you’d like to do it yourself) and I’m sharing my personal reflection below.
Part 1: My “Return on Happiness”
The first part of the review is to identify a few moments or purchases where my money delivered an exceptionally high “return on happiness.” What was the experience and what made it so meaningful?
Designing matching hot pink shirts for my friend Joe’s birthday. It was such a fun surprise that brought us all together in a silly way. The anticipation of the surprise was almost as fun as the actual reveal. I love a good bit.
Flights for a last minute trip to Palm Springs with my sisters. Getting quality time with my sisters when we all have busy schedules is such a treat. I feel so grateful that we not only wanted to be together, but actually made it happen.
Fresh lilacs and lilies. Having fresh lilacs or lilies in my kitchen and getting a whiff everytime I walk past makes me so happy and reminds me to slow down and literally smell the flowers.
Strolling the farmers market with my friend Kendall in Libourne. We bought a fresh baguette, cheese I couldn’t pronounce, and washed it down with cheap wine. It was the simplest thing that felt like a huge adventure in a totally foreign place.
Getting my first spray tan for my website & branding photoshoot. I feel slightly embarrassed at how much I loved that spray tan… but I’m an honest person and I honestly think it gave me more confidence on photoshoot day.
Hanging a huge Fuchia plant on my front porch (which I then killed and my neighbor Haley heroically brought back to life). I think I was more excited about the fact that I successfully used the right drill bit to hang the hook for it.
Renting a ten person Mega Stand Up Paddleboard with my friends on a random Friday in August. While I can’t say I did much paddling, I’ve never laughed so hard.
Getting a Costco Hot Dog & Car Wash after a bad day. It doesn’t always work, but sometimes it just makes me feel better!
Unsurprisingly, many of these joyful purchases are related to community and building connection. It wasn’t the activity or trip itself, but who I got to share it with. I also noticed themes of playfulness, adventure, enthusiasm, and self-care. I’d be remiss not to mention my bi-weekly therapy and gym membership. While the return isn’t quite as immediate as a Costco hot dog, I know they are foundational to my overall sense of wellbeing and happiness.
Perhaps most importantly, 2025 is the year my savings allowed me to launch a business! The purpose, drive, and freedom that Cents of Joy has given me continues to grow and I feel supremely grateful for that.
Part 2: Getting Curious About a Financial Habit
Next I looked at one recurring financial behavior from this year that didn’t feel so good and sought to be curious about it rather than judgemental.
I actually wrote about this in more detail in my post about Plantar Fasciitis, but one habit I noticed this year was an aversion to health care spending. I felt a bit embarrassed (and privileged) that I didn’t anticipate any non-emergency health care spending given my profession. But now I know.
I plan to factor non-emergency health care spending into my 2026 budget and to continue to prioritize health even when it costs me. I know that in the long term, nothing is more important.
Sidenote: 2026 will be an interesting year for me personally as I purchase my health insurance through the exchange (aka the Affordable Care Act). Currently the enhanced premium subsidies hang in the balance for myself and many others. Additionally, Regence BlueShield (a widely accepted carrier in my area) has pulled out of the local market leaving fewer options for next year. Sigh.
Part 3: Choosing A Financial Intention for Next Year
Before setting tangible goals like how much to save or target revenue, it’s important to set an intention. Without this clarity, the goals I set for myself don’t have much meaning beyond the number I want to hit.
Based on what I’ve just reflected on, my financial intention for 2026 is to prioritize community & play.
For me, one of the highest and best uses of my money is as a tool to foster connection & community. Additionally, cultivating experiences that foster moments of adventure and play bring me the most joy. It is through this lens that I’d like to view both larger and smaller financial decisions and goals in 2026.
In practice that looks like:
Asking myself “How can I use my resources to deepen my relationships this month? Or “Does spending money on XYZ foster adventure and play?”
Prioritizing travel to see friends and family, even if it means spending less in other categories.
Investing in my physical and emotional health & wellness so that I can consistently show up for the people I care about as the best version of me.
Intentionally planning and funding small, regular rituals that involve others (e.g., my monthly wine tasting night and Sunday night dinners with my friends).
Playing tennis more regularly and hosting themed parties/game nights!
Practicing gratitude for the incredible humans and “Kick Ass Conversations” I get to have in both my personal and professional life!