Merry Christmas + 2020 Review
Merry Christmas! I’m officially on break as of today—YAY! After staying home for Thanksgiving, I’m looking forward to spending time with family this week, and I hope you’re able to (safely) do the same. Before we close the books on 2020, I thought I would share a little reflection on the * unprecedented * year it’s been. Despite the challenges, there have been some bright spots—the biggest being a new perspective on … everything, from what I value in the workplace to how much I’m willing to spend on moisturizer.
Huge disclaimer before I share the positives from my year: it has not all been good. Chris’s stepdad passed away in March, there have been fewer visits to see my dad (who lives in a senior community and really depends on those visits), temporary pay cuts, cancelled events (I had Kenny Chesney tickets for May!), isolation, anxiety and probably too much wine! But I’d rather dedicate this post to the good than the bad. Further, I fully acknowledge that my ability to have anything good come out of this year is a blessing and privilege. I know that so many Americans are facing homelessness and evictions due to the pandemic, have lost family members to Covid or are facing systemic racial injustices that affect their entire lives, beyond this one “bad year.” I’m incredibly grateful for what I have, and 2020 has only made that feeling stronger.
So, here we go! These were the bright spots in my 2020:
Honeymoon! After getting married in June 2019, we delayed our honeymoon to February 2020—we wanted to save it for the winter, when we really needed a break from the cold, and were lucky to get away before the Covid craziness hit. We stayed at the Barcelo Maya Riviera in Mexico and had a great time. It’s a newer resort, adults only (so worth it—the beach was not crowded, no screaming kids) and we sneaked in a few excursions, including a catamaran cruise and trip to Tulum. We used this photo for our Christmas cards! While on the topic of honeymoons, shoutout to my husband who has made staying home all year suck less! Who would have thought our second year of marriage would be marked by a global pandemic?
Home Improvements. We hit the house projects hard when Covid lockdowns hit in March. I shared a summary of of our projects on Instagram, but the highlights include a firepit and new roofing and siding! The projects kept us very busy all year, and it’s been rewarding to create our own little sanctuary where we enjoy spending time (in addition to increasing resale value). BUT I am looking forward to more relaxing in the backyard and less working in the backyard next year!
DEBT FREE! 2019 was a tough year for my finances. It was the year we got married, which obviously came with expenses—my wedding shoes and jewelry were splurge-worthy and I definitely treated myself to more than one Clare V bag. I also had a lot of friends get married in 2019 and, between my own bachelorette party and theirs + weddings, I traveled to Charleston, Oregon, Omaha, New Orleans and Vegas (and even had to decline trips to Chicago, North Carolina and Palm Springs). Everything added up, and in the beginning of 2020 Chris gave me a tough-love talk about getting back on track. A year later, I’ve paid off my credit card, paid off my student loan (!) and my savings account has never been healthier. It wasn’t easy paying huge chunks on my student loan every month instead of buying things I wanted for the house, but looking back, I’m proud of my discipline and how quickly I was able to change course. Admittedly, Covid helped—I hardly spent any money on clothes this year, we rarely went out to eat, and we didn’t travel at all after our honeymoon, which allowed me to really focus on my money goals. The world won’t be on lockdown forever, but I feel like I’ve established new financial habits that I will be taking with me into next year (and beyond)!
