As investors, we spend a great deal of time measuring returns. We track markets daily, analyse charts, and compare our investment performance against benchmarks. And when the year comes to a close, the first thing many of us look at is our portfolio statement.
But there is another return we seldom evaluate: the return on our spending.
Every dollar we spend shapes our lives in small or big ways. Some spending brings joy, connection, and better health. Some brings regret, or nothing meaningful at all.
So, before we rush into another year of goal setting and consumption, perhaps it is good to pause and ask: Did my spending this year help me live a better life, and what can I do better next year?
Here are three simple questions I asked myself as the year draws to a close:
- What am I grateful that money enabled this year?
- What money decisions drained my peace?
- What money choices are aligned with my future story?
Let me share some of my personal reflections, with the hope that they inspire yours.
What Am I Grateful That Money Enabled This Year?
My wife and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary in January. For most years, we simply had a quiet dinner with our children. This year, I wanted to do something special for her. So, I booked a Spanish restaurant, curated the menu, arranged the wines, and invited some of our closest friends, family, and my colleagues who have journeyed with us over the decades.
When my wife walked in, she was surprised. Then she was moved. And throughout the evening, we laughed, reminisced, and celebrated not just our anniversary but also friendships.
The bill came up to around $10,000. But its value? Immeasurable.
This year, I also travelled more than usual for vacations — six trips in total. Two were holidays to Japan with my wife and closest friends. One was a short Shanghai getaway with my wife, and one was on my own for a personal retreat in Taiwan. Another was with my polytechnic classmates to Hanoi, celebrating our 55th birthdays, a milestone that reminds us that time together is becoming more precious.
And as I write this, my family and I are in Bangkok. We are here to support my son in what may be his final SEA Games representing Singapore in floorball. He has poured almost 15 years into this sport, with countless training sessions, injuries, victories, and sometimes disappointments. Being here for him is our way of honouring that journey.
In all these trips, we spent quite a bit on air tickets, accommodation, and meals. But the spending bought me stronger bonds in our friendships, shared milestones, mind space, a son who knows his family is behind him all the way, and a heart full of gratitude for the time we have together.
These are returns no investment portfolio can generate.
What Money Decisions Drained My Peace?
This year, our family car turned almost nine years old, with one year left before the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) renewal. So, I began looking for a replacement. I’m not a car enthusiast. I take public transport to work and drive mainly on weekends. But a thought crept in…
“Since I can afford it now, maybe I should upgrade to a luxury brand? A nicer image… a symbol of success… why not?”
That was when I caught myself.
Was I about to spend over $300,000 just to impress people I don’t know, or to match a perception of what someone in my position “should” drive?
I for one should know that if spending is driven by ego, it will rarely buy peace. So, I stepped back and decided to buy a car that is more practical and value-conscious, but more aligned with my values. In return, I gained a sense of ease, and I stayed consistent with who I am — not who others expect me to be.
What Money Choices Are Aligned With My Future Story?
We often plan financially for retirement, but fewer of us plan our health for retirement.
As I grow older, I want to continue doing what gives me purpose — travelling, learning, leading, writing, and spending meaningful time with loved ones. And I want to be able to take care of my wife, whose health is more fragile than mine.
So, this year, I invested intentionally in my health. Besides doing regular strength training and cardio exercises, as well as keeping to a diet that is low in sugar and carbohydrates, I went through comprehensive health checks, which included a CT angiogram, CT scans of the lungs and pelvis, as well as an endoscopy. I also embarked on Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment to strengthen my overall wellbeing.
These were costly decisions. But they are not expenses. They are investments in improving my health span, which I need to enable my retirement plan.
A Balance Sheet of Life
At Providend, we often help clients first make ikigai decisions — decisions aligned with what they find worth in daily living, before building wealth plans around them.
Ikigai comes from two Japanese characters:
‘iki’ – daily living
‘gai’ – worth or value
In other words, it’s about living out what matters, every day, today and in the future.
When I reflect on my personal “life balance sheet” this year, on the asset side, my spending has helped me build memories, deepen relationships, strengthen my physical and mental health, enjoy peace of mind, and live a life aligned with my ikigai. On the liabilities side, I have avoided ego purchases, purchases that cause regret, and spending that signals success but steals joy.
We should still manage money wisely, invest prudently, and prepare well. But when spending serves what we value most in life, it becomes an asset, not a liability. I guess I ended 2025 with a positive “life net worth”.
Your Year-End Audit
As we close the chapter on 2025, I invite you to take a quiet moment for yourself. Not with spreadsheets (though those have their place), but with honesty.
Three questions to reflect on:
- What did money enable this year that you are truly grateful for?
- Which spending decisions still trouble you inside?
- Which spending strengthened the story you want your future to tell?
Write your answers down and talk to someone you love and trust about them. Let them shape how you spend in the new year, with intention and alignment to your own ikigai. Let the people you shared with hold you accountable in 2026.
Because in the end, money is not just a tool to grow wealth. It is a tool to grow life and enable your ikigai.
As you look back on the year, ask yourself: what did my money really buy? And was it worth it?
The writer, Christopher Tan, is Chief Executive Officer of Providend Ltd, Southeast Asia’s first fee-only comprehensive wealth advisory firm and author of the book “Money Wisdom: Simple Truths for Financial Wellness“. He is also a Certified Ikigai Tribe Coach.
The edited version of this article was published in The Business Times on 22 December 2025.
For more related resources, check out:
1. Finding Your Ikigai: Sha-En’s Journey from Primary School Teacher to Happiness Scientist
2. Finding Your Ikigai For A Life That Is Worth Living
3. The Part of Ikigai That No One Talks About
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