Well, here we have it – the end of another year. As the Sun sets on 2025, a new, exciting year awaits and I reminisce on the year as it comes to an end. 2025 was an amazing year for me – it was the first year since I quit my full-time job and started part-time contract work. It’s been a year full of Life – concentrating on things outside of employment where success can’t be measured by the size of my pay check. Without a doubt, 2025 has been the best year of my life.
I quit my job!
I may not have made this clear (it’s not something I like to shout about), but I quit my full-time job in January 2025. Since then, I’ve switched to part-time contract work. The hourly wage is higher and I’m left with significantly more free time. But what about money, I hear you ask? My income isn’t as high as in previous years, that’s true, but since moving in with my partner this year, individual expenses have decreased, and I’ve made a contrived effort to exercise my frugality muscle and consciously spend less. The result is that I’ve still been able to save money from my job, while having so much free time to work hard on my life outside of the office.
Frugal spending
I’ve actually enjoyed consciously trying to spend less. It turns spending money into an interesting psychological game rather than a mundane exercise. I actively think before each purchase whether it will add value to my life, and if I really want it. I will often wait some time before buying something – this gives me time to work out whether it’s a sensible decision. If not, I’ve got time to back out.
In the supermarket, I tend to buy the best value product by weight (with some consideration to quality – I might not buy the cheapest own-brand version but perhaps the second cheapest). Recently, I’ve become strangely excited by switching loyalty card schemes from Sainsbury’s Nectar to Tesco Clubcard points. These are worth 2x as much as Nectar in-store, and 4x as much if spent with Tesco’s partners. So, we plan to use the points eventually to pay for an all-inclusive holiday with Easyjet. However, this may take some time – I calculate 3-4 years at current spending rates! Perhaps something I’ll update you on in future blogs, but at least it’s keeping me excited in the meantime.
Financial streamlining
Since moving in together, my partner and I opened a joint current account with Monzo, where we pay our shared expenses from. Monzo also give us fee-free international payments in any currency, which is great for going on holiday.
I’ve used Plum to manage my emergency fund since 2023, and they provide one of the highest interest rates on the UK market – currently 3.2%. This is enough to buy a coffee out every month, so I’ll take it!
The remainder of my money is happily invested in the global stock market with Vanguard. They are (by far) the best investment provider available to the average person. With global stocks up ~13% in 2025, I’m a happy man!
Save money by running your personal finances like a business
Make consistent investing the #1 priority with your money
Investing in the stock market and building wealth
Focusing on Life
There’s more to life than work. I’ve always been a work-focussed person, but I’ve come to realise that I don’t want to spend my life working in an office and generating profits for someone else. What is ‘work’ anyway? Most people just assume it’s the career you follow, but that’s not true. Work can be anything constructive you do with your time, and that’s a far broader scope than just your day job.
For me, ‘work’ includes developing this website, house work, and DIY needing done around the house ((this is especially rewarding, as I’ve learnt new skills this year like leaning how to fix a leaking sink and toilet that I would have probably outsourced to a plumber in the past). Not only have I learnt new skills doing this, but I estimate I’ve saved ~£300!). The difference is that I’m not working to advance my career – I’m working to advance my life. This is somewhat analogous to a video game character you may spend hours upgrading with the best equipment and the best perks. But what about you – the one sitting your lazy ass on the sofa? I want to upgrade my own physical and mental health as much as possible – I want to be the best version of myself.
Focussing on fitness
So, I spent a significant amount of time in 2025 at the gym, running and cycling. I wish I’d kept a tally of how many occasions I went to the gym, but I estimate it to be about 120. There were two lengthy periods: May/June and September – November where I barely went at all due to injury (sprained ankle in May/June) and poor health (two bouts of severe tonsillitis in the autumn). In hindsight, I realise these are not excuses to take such a long break from exercise, and in the future I will be less lenient on myself. At least in the autumn I got back seriously into running: I’ve run 515km this year, and I estimate I’ve cycled ~500km too. The gym is primarily for weight training, a key factor in developing a strong and resilient body.
I bought an Apple Watch Series 7 in early July (used for £150), and I’ve been using this to rigorously track my workouts and VO2 max ever since. My current VO2 max is ~57, but I aim to get this above 60 in 2026, while I also have goals to set new 5k, 10k and half marathon records. At 31, this is now the fittest and strongest I’ve ever been in my life. I feel great. I feel energised to live life to the max, and to use my free time as efficiently as possible.
Reading and spirituality
I read 18 books in 2025, and have got into a good habit of reading before bed each night. I’d like to read even more in 2026, including a few financial and self-development books I’ve got on my radar. Recently, I’ve been reading the Children’s Bible I was given on my first birthday. I’d never given Christianity (or any religion) much thought before this year – but since I’ve had the luxury of time, I’ve devoted some of it to answering the big questions, including who we are and how we came to be. These are profound questions that very few of us dedicate time towards. Religion is not the topic of this blog, but let’s just say that this year has been good for my own spirituality and inner beliefs. 🙂
Slow Down and Save
It took a long time to get here, but by the end of September, I finally wrote the first blog post on this website. I’ve learnt a whole lot about website design and ownership this year, including a long detour with a Wix partnership (for about 6 months). But I eventually saw the light and moved towards a WordPress platform, which this website is now built on. I really enjoy writing blog posts and website design. I find it theraputic. And it’s a good job too, as I plan on spending a lot more time developing this website over the coming months. It’s going to be slow and steady progress – I don’t want to burn myself out but rather consistently iterate and improve.
I’m hopeful that this blog/ website will attract more visitors, and is something that people genuinely find helpful. My goal is simply to consistently produce high quality content and hopefully (eventually) people will come.
Holidays
Turkey
I went on 4 major holidays in 2025, along with one long-weekend break. I travelled to Bodrum, Turkey over Easter, for a 5-night all-inclusive package holiday with my partner. It was great. The weather was lovely sunny most days but not too hot, and because it was before the peak tourist season, it was fairly quiet and prices for activities were discounted. The only downside was the hotel we stayed in – it was advertised as a 5 star hotel, but it definitely wasn’t – 3 star at best.
Center Parcs
In early May, I took a 4-night vacation with some friends at Centre Parcs in Nottinghamshire, UK. This ‘staycation’ was outside of the school holidays, so prices were remarkebly lower, plus the whole resort was not full of screaming kids running about. The weather was relatively cold for the time of year but at least it didn’t rain!
South-west England
In late June/ early July, my sister and I went on a week-long holiday to the south-west of England. We spent 4 days in and around Lyme Regis in Dorset, and then 3 days in Dartmoor National Park. We got very lucky with the weather, as it was sunny and very warm most days. I know I talk about it a lot, but when holidaying in the UK, the weather can be a deal-breaker! Many relaxing hours were spent on the beaches, walking and looking for fossils.
Zimbabwe
The big trip came in November, when my partner and I travelled to Zimbabwe (her home country). I met her family, who were scattered around the capital city, Harare, and in adjacent rural areas of northern Zimbabwe. It’s an absolutely stunning country, and provided a much-needed break from the dismal UK autumn. We spent three days in the beautiful Nyanga National Park (in the east of the country, near the Mozambique border), where we got engaged! We also went to the beautiful caves at Chinhoyi, and by driving around the country, I got to experience what proper Zimbabwe, away from the tourist attractions, is like.
So there we have it – my year in review. My first year focussing on the things that bring me joy. Time is limited for us all, and I intend to use it as efficiently and as intentionally as possible in 2026. May 2026 be filled with good health, interesting work and continues self-development into the best version of myself. And I wish the same to you too. 🙂
Here are some of my favourite posts from 2025:
How to slow down your life by buying less
Why you need to embrace discomfort
Live a simple life and save a ton of money
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