The Happy Hour Crew Talks Financial Independence
On the last Friday of the month, I host the happy hour on the podcast, where I gather great friends to drink cheap drinks and talk about money topics. This is a very special Happy Hour, as we’re talking about our thoughts around Financial Independence and the year-end happy hour, so we’ll be sharing our highs and lows of the year and setting our goals for next year. I also have a very special surprise in this show, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
What are we drinking?
Colin- Grape Liquid IV with two shots of vodka
Melanie - Espresso with a dash of cream
Alicia - Apple Cinnamon Sangria
Shannon - Bota box Nighthawk Red Wine
Podcast Notes
Reflecting on 2023 Highs & Lows
Colin’s word for 2023 was ‘exploration,’ which he definitely achieved. He wanted to prioritize his spending on traveling and exploring the world. The lows of this year ultimately led to highs because it helped him understand he needed to spend time focusing on himself. That realization helped spark change, and he’s feeling good and dating again.
Everything was chaos for Alicia in 2023. She struggled with empty nest syndrome, which is technically a good thing, but it felt like a low for her. She can feel the vacancy of her youngest son’s presence. There have also been health struggles in the family in 2023. On the positive end, Alicia has been learning about herself and letting go of things. She’s okay with not being right; she just wants to be happy.
Melanie had surgery in May, and the recovery was difficult. She went through 3-7 weeks of intense recovery and experienced pain that made her think about life in a completely different way. This triggered a depressive episode, which lasted a long time, so Melanie went back on medication and therapy. On the positive end, once she was feeling better, she booked a trip to Japan for Thanksgiving and had the most incredible experience.
This has been the hardest year of Shannon’s life, but she didn’t have any lows. She had challenging experiences but chose not to view them as lows. On the exciting end, she recently passed the Series 65 exam and Will officially get into college. Vinnie proposed, and Shannon is officially engaged! She feels overwhelmed by the goodness at this moment.
2024 Intentions
Colin’s goal is for 2024 to be a more relaxed year. He wants to prioritize himself and find more time to focus on his creative passion projects.
Alicia is manifesting 10% monthly growth for The Financial Gym with their new 2024 offerings. She wants to mentor the next generation of young women, focus on planning less, listening more, and spreading joy.
Melanie wants to write less and do more teaching and speaking engagements. She’s been exploring her career for the last few years and is excited to move in the right direction. She knows herself a lot more and how to take care of her mental health.
For Shannon, the podcast will end the podcast in 2024! The Financial Gym will also launch the new Financial Gym Advisory services. They’ve been with clients through all different financial stages, and she’s looking forward to this new chapter. 2024 is a big year for The Gym, so the wedding will happen in 2025.
Year End Thoughts and Reflections
Always take the time to keep setting and reflecting on your goals, even if the same ones make an appearance year after year. Sometimes, goals take longer than a year or two.
The key is to persist and have patience. Just because something is taking longer than you expected, that doesn’t mean it isn’t going to happen.
No matter where you are, there are always ways to reflect and set intentions. Change can be scary but also beautiful.
When you’re in the low, it feels like you’ll never get out. When you’re in that place, remember it’s important to be there, to feel it, and be fully human. Once you get through it to the other side, you can appreciate its beauty and remember why you’re here.
Everything is helping us become better versions of ourselves. Remember that every experience is a gift and an opportunity to learn and grow.
Takeaway: My biggest takeaway is to always set goals for yourself every year and try your best to move closer to them every year. Shoot for the moon, if you fall short at least you’ll have reached the stars and I never want you to stop reaching for those big hopes and dreams.
Connect with The Happy Hour Crew
Melanie Lockert: melanielockert.com
Colin Becker: @iwillbecolinyou & colinbecker.com
Alicia Lazarto: CFO of The Financial Gym
Shannon McLay: The Host and CEO at The Financial Gym
Resources mentioned in the Episode:
If you have any topics you would like me to cover on this podcast, or if you’d like to get in the financially naked hot seat, I encourage you to email me at Shannon@fingyms.com, or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook Page, and let me know what you want to hear.
In addition to hosting this show, I’m the founder and CEO of The Financial Gym. We are celebrating 10 years of this journey, and now, more than ever, I see the importance of the work we do every day. Rising inflation, the return of student loan debt, high interest rates on mortgages, and volatile stock markets make it a time when you need a best financial friend to help you make the best choices.
At Financial Gym, you get paired with a Certified Financial Trainer, who we call your BFF. Our team has coached clients through every financial season, whether they were living paycheck to paycheck or headed into Financial Independence and retirement.
To celebrate the final season of Martinis and Your Money, listeners can get 20% off of one-on-one training services. So what are you waiting for? Head over to financialgym.com to get started today. Our warm-up calls are free of cost and judgment.