The 2025 Money Journal: What Worked, What Didn’t, and What Matters Most

As the year winds down, it’s tempting to rush straight into 2026; new goals, new habits, new lists of things we swear we’re going to do differently. But before you leap forward, there’s something far more valuable (and grounding) you can give yourself: a moment to look back.

This is your moment to pause and write down what worked, what didn’t, what surprised you, and what you want to carry with you into the new year without judgment. The more you do this - year after year - the more clearly you’ll see your growth, your patterns, and the path toward the financial life you actually want, not the one you think you “should” create.

Here are a few prompts to help you reflect on the year that was and prepare for the year to come.

📖What Were Your Financial Wins This Year?

Maybe you paid off a credit card, increased your 401(k) contribution, stuck to a vacation budget, or finally consolidated those old accounts. Maybe you were more mindful about your spending. Maybe you simply felt less stressed about money - an enormous accomplishment on its own.

Write them down. Celebrate them. They’re proof that momentum is real.

Journal prompts:

• What financial habits or decisions served you well this year?

• Which choices gave you the most peace of mind?

• What accomplishment made you proud - maybe even unexpectedly?

📖What Were Your Challenges or Lessons?

This is a judgment-free zone - no year is perfect. Think about the expenses you didn’t see coming, the times you overspent, or the goals you meant to prioritize but didn’t. These aren’t failures - they’re teachers.

Journal prompts:

• Where did I feel stressed or unprepared?

• What caught me off guard financially?

• Is there a pattern I want to change heading into 2026?

📖What Are You Most Grateful for This Year?

Gratitude strengthens financial clarity because it shifts your focus to what truly matters. Were you grateful for a family trip you saved for? Time off that didn’t derail your budget? A home that still feels like the right fit? Health, work stability, friendships, community, or simply a year of steady progress?

Gratitude helps you align your resources with your values, and that’s what real financial empowerment looks like.

Journal prompts:

• What experiences brought me joy?

• Which relationships or moments mattered most?

• What did my spending make possible this year that I’m thankful for?

📖What’s Most Important to You Right Now?

Maybe your priority is more family travel. Or buying a home. Or supporting aging parents. Or building a stronger emergency fund so you sleep better at night. Maybe it’s less hustle and more rest.

Whatever rises to the top for you deserves space in your financial plan.

Reflect on:

• What do I want more of next year?

• What do I want less of?

• What feels worth investing in emotionally, not just financially?

📖How Can You Build on What Worked?

If a vacation with your family was a highlight of 2025, can you set up a travel fund for 2026? If meal planning saved money and sanity, can you make it a weekly non-negotiable? If increasing your 401(k) contribution felt doable, can you nudge it up again by 1%?

Think in terms of small, sustainable steps - not sweeping resolutions that fizzle by mid-February.

Use these prompts:

• Which habits or systems do I want to carry forward?

• What’s one thing I can automate?

• What could I delegate to reduce stress (tax planning, investment management, household organizing)?

📖What Support Do You Need Going into the New Year?

Financial empowerment isn’t about doing everything alone.

Maybe you want to meet with a financial planner, talk with your partner about shared goals, or finally organize your estate documents. Maybe you need accountability. Maybe you just need someone to help you see the big picture.

And as you close out 2025, make space for your progress. Honor your lessons. Capture your gratitude.

Your financial story is unfolding, one intentional year at a time.