Starting 2025 with Intention and Confidence

A fresh perspective on our finances

Hi there!

Is it too late to say Happy New Year🎊 ? I hope the year is off to a great start for you! Are you diving in with goals set and enthusiasm high, or easing into things at your own pace? Personally, I’m choosing to ease into 2025.

For the first time in years, I didn’t have my goals fully listed out by December 31st. Even by January 3rd, I hadn’t set any goals—and you know what? I was okay with that. This year, I’m embracing a season of flow: letting the tides guide me rather than forcing things to fit into a rigid plan 🧘🏾‍♀️.

A totally unrelated photo, but cheers to the new year!

Today, let’s dive into the new year with a fresh perspective on our finances:

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➡️ Focus on Your Input, Not Your Output

If your goals feel unclear or difficult to articulate right now, that’s okay. Clarity doesn’t always come immediately. Instead of fixating on what you don’t know or can’t control, focus on the small, consistent actions you can take to move closer to your goals.

For me, there are some goals for 2025 that I’m not entirely sure how I’ll achieve them, but I’ve decided to focus on my input rather than my output.

For example, when it comes to my YouTube videos, I can’t control how many views they get—things like the algorithm and other factors are outside my hands. What I can control is consistently creating high-quality, valuable content each week. By focusing on what’s within my control, I can make steady progress without getting overwhelmed by the things I can’t predict. Progress often comes naturally when you focus on consistent effort.

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➡️ The How Matters More Than the What

Many of us set goals like “I want to save £10,000 this year.” While ambitious, it’s not a SMART goal because it lacks a clear plan. The “how” is missing. Here’s how to fix that:

1. Break It Down Monthly
   Saving £10,000 in 2025 translates to around £833 per month. Is this realistic when you consider your current income, savings, and expenses?

2. Review Your Expenses
   Are there non-essential expenses you could cut back on? Small sacrifices can make a big difference over 12 months.

3. Evaluate Your Income
   If cutting expenses isn’t enough, could you increase your income? A side hustle or potential salary increase could bridge the gap. (👉🏽Video resource - Top 10 Side Hustles to Start in 2025)

There’s a popular saying I like: “Your entire life can change in a year.” Remember, a year is 12 full months, and your life can change dramatically during that time. January doesn’t have to be perfect. Start at your own pace—this is a marathon, not a sprint. BREATHE.

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👩🏽‍💻Upcoming Masterclass

I’m hosting a FREE masterclass this January on financial goals, budgeting, and tracking your finances. I’ll even show a LIVE demo of how I track my own finances using my Simple Income and Expenses Tracker.

Want to join? You’ll need a copy of the tracker to access the masterclass.
👉🏽Click here to get your tracker now!

Let’s kickstart 2025 with clarity and confidence.

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📹This Week’s Video: Tax Season Is Here

If you’re self-employed or have a side hustle—like content creation, selling items on Vinted, or Facebook Marketplace—it’s tax season! If you’ve earned over £1,000, you need to file a self-assessment tax return.

This week’s video is a simple step-by-step guide to help you file your taxes easily, plus there’s a special discount to make it even more affordable.

Here’s to a confident and intentional start to the year!

Drink lots of water and stay hydrated.

XOXO,
Chidera