Slower, Wealthier, Happier

Happy.

That’s my word for 2025.
I chose it with intention. I wanted to remind myself every single day that happy is a choice. Not just a feeling that shows up when life is good, but a decision I get to make—even in the small, sometimes routine moments that don’t make the highlight reels.

I chose happy because it carries weight.
It carries joy.
It carries peace.
It carries strength.
It carries my personhood.

And I get to define it for myself. It doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s version. It doesn’t have to match what social media says happiness should be. My happy is mine—and I get to create it every single day.

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The Little Things That Make My Money Happy

I think about the small splurges. Not the first-class trips to Hawaii or the brand-new car (though I wouldn’t turn those down, trust me). I’m talking about the small things that make my heart smile.

A couple of weeks ago, I found myself at Aldi. Now, if you know me, you know I love a good Aldi find. I was strolling through the aisles with my good, good girlfriend, just enjoying the flow of the weekend. I had seen this wooden bowl in their weekly finds. You know the kind I’m talking about—the kind that makes you think of slow mornings, fresh fruit, and beautiful countertops.

I had been watching different versions of it pop up in people’s homes for a while, and I wanted one. So, when I saw it sitting there, I grabbed it. And you know what? It wasn’t just about the bowl. It was the experience. The laughter with my friend. The joy of finding something I had been wanting. The simplicity of it.

And it didn’t cost hundreds of dollars. It wasn’t some lavish splurge. But it was mine. And it made me happy.

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Happiness in Small Spaces

A few weeks before that, I wanted a couple of small tables for my balcony. I had this vision of redecorating my outdoor space—adding some plants, setting up a cozy chair, creating a little oasis where I could sit with my tea and watch the sunrise.

I found them. They weren’t expensive. Just simple little tables that fit perfectly in the corners of my balcony. I remember carrying them home, setting them up, and stepping back to admire the space. It was mine. It was peaceful. It was exactly what I wanted.

Those small splurges? They feel big. They make my money happy.

And it’s not because money itself brings happiness—I know that’s not true. But it’s what money enables. It’s the small things you get to say yes to because you have access. It’s the ability to create beauty and comfort in your own space. It’s the feeling of knowing that you don’t have to wait for some grand moment to experience joy.

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What Makes My Money Feel Happy?

It’s not the big, flashy things. (Though I’m not saying no to those, either.)
But it’s the small stuff.

It’s the candle I pick up because it smells like a memory I want to hold onto.
It’s the $12 table that makes my balcony feel like a sanctuary.
It’s the lamp I found at a consignment shop that makes my reading nook glow just right.
It’s the fresh flowers I buy for myself every Friday, just because.

These are the things that make my money feel happy.

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Joyful Spending, Mindful Living

When I think about the phrase, “money can’t buy happiness,” I get it. But I also know that money can give you access to the things that create happy moments. It can provide the small luxuries that turn a regular day into something special.

It’s not always about the grand gestures.
Sometimes, it’s about finding that perfect blanket that makes your living room feel like a hug.
It’s about picking up that wooden bowl at Aldi because you’ve wanted it for months.
It’s about walking through the aisles with your friend, laughing, talking, being fully present.

That’s where the joy is.
That’s where the happy is.
That’s what makes my money feel like it’s doing something more than just existing. It’s living with me.

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Let’s Talk About It

I want to know—what makes your money feel happy? Is it the small splurges that don’t break the bank but make your heart smile? Is it that fresh bouquet of flowers? The weekend brunch with your girlfriends? That candle that makes your whole house smell like peace?

Drop it in the comments. I want to hear the little things that bring you joy.

Because Sis, your money deserves to make you happy.

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