2025 Year in Review

This is my 2025 year in review. A year of family, change, reflection, and learning what actually matters.

Year in Review: Highlights & Other Events

Family, Friends & Life

Lake Life: We spent multiple weekends and a week at the lake, and it was exactly what we needed. Relaxing days, ripping around on the Sea-Doo with kids on the tube, jumping off the boat in the middle of the lake, and just being together. Pure memory-building time.

Mini Trip: We took a trip to Edmonton and spent time at West Edmonton Mall and the waterpark. It was the kids’ first time at a big waterpark, and they loved it. I’ve always loved waterslides (when my stomach cooperates), and it was fun passing that on to them.

Mom, Dad and the Farm: This year also brought some of the hardest moments our family has faced. We made the decision to move my mom and dad into the city as my dad’s health declined—his breathing was getting worse, and getting around was becoming more difficult. They had been renting an apartment in the city since April while waiting for the farm to sell, but after a family meeting with my sisters and parents, we agreed it was best for them to move permanently. Maintaining the house and acreage was simply too much.

Within two weeks of moving, the farm received an offer. We accepted, conditions lifted, and it was finally moving forward.

My dad passed away shortly after—about three weeks after the move. It felt like he waited until he knew Mom was settled and the farm was taken care of before he was able to let go. Losing him was incredibly hard, but I’m grateful we were able to make those decisions when we did.

Counselling: On a more personal level, I continued sessions to work through ongoing issues related to a difficult relationship that had been triggering stress for years. I wasn’t well equipped to handle the targeting and emotional impact it had on me, and counselling was a huge eye-opener. It helped me understand myself better and start responding in healthier ways.

Family: We hosted Christmas this year—18 people, full house. Big family gatherings are something I really love, and it was loud, busy, and exactly how I like it. My family is awesome.

Friends: This year also included more small, one-on-one time with close friends and the occasional mini-group movie night—no agenda, just space to talk about anything. I’m very fortunate to have a few guys in my life where conversations can stay light or go deep, and both matter.

Volunteering

Coaching: I coached my boys’ baseball team this year, and it was incredibly rewarding. Watching their progress over the season—both in skills and in how they worked together as a team—was the highlight. The boys were great to coach, and I hope I helped spark a long-term love for the game.

I coached not just my own boys, but a full range of personalities and skill levels—from the big hitters to kids who had never played before. Everyone got a shot at every position. It wasn’t about winning; it was about development, confidence, and learning the game.

I’m really proud of how fair the season was and how much progress the team made. The parents were thoughtful, supportive, and always willing to help, which made the whole experience easy and genuinely enjoyable. I’d coach that group again in a heartbeat.

Community: I also continued volunteering with my club, though at a different pace. Now that I’m no longer on the executive, things have naturally settled down. It’s been a good shift—being able to pick and choose where I step in to help, support when needed, and stay involved without carrying the same level of responsibility.

Mental Health, Habits and Growth

My 2025 update is a continuation—still very much a work in progress—of focusing on my mental health, eating habits, and the patterns that drive both.

This year, I’ve been more honest with myself about my triggers: stress, boredom, poor routines from working at home, and easy access to food that doesn’t serve me well. But I also realized something deeper. When I’m not feeling good about my relationships—or about myself—I eat. What I once chalked up to work stress or boredom was also tied to a sense of inadequacy, using food as comfort and distraction. It’s all connected.

Weight has continued to be a struggle, but not the whole story. I worked out about half the year—sometimes a full workout, sometimes just a walk—but I tracked it all. Frequency mattered more than perfection. I crushed my 2024 activity numbers, and 2026 is already off to a strong start.

One of the highlights was participating in personal training sessions. They helped immensely with form, confidence, and strength. My trainer was excellent, and having a tangible goal—a photo shoot at the end—gave me motivation. I now have some wicked photos of myself training. I may not be at my favourite weight or look yet, but I’m proud of the work behind them.

Work was quieter this year after a major project—one that had consumed 100% of my time and energy—was cancelled. If you read my 2024 update, you’ll remember how much mental strain that project caused, especially being misaligned with my strengths and asked to stop doing the work I’m good at. My efforts to communicate the reality and risks came at a cost to my mental health. In the end, those concerns were validated, and the project was shut down. That was a strange mix of relief and exhaustion.

Financially, I loosened the reins more than usual. I’m naturally frugal, but this year I tried to “enjoy” my money. Some of that went toward convenience and short-term comfort rather than long-term fulfillment—a lesson learned. That said, not all of it was misplaced. A new-to-me guitar and digital amp have been well worth it. I’ve been playing a lot, and having something versatile that matches the music I want to play has brought genuine, lasting joy.

Overall, I feel optimistic. I’m committed to working on myself—inside and out—and continuing this growth journey with more awareness and intention. I want to focus on my relationships, be present, and be deliberate about the memories I’m creating with the people who matter most.

Volunteering still matters to me; it just looks a little different in this season.

Financial Decisions & Consequences

This year included a handful of financial decisions and surprises—some planned, some very much not—but all meaningful in how they shaped our household.

Mortgage: We renewed our mortgage with TD, re-signing a five-year fixed rate at 4.29%. It was a conservative choice, but one that gives us predictability and consistent payments—something that matters a lot to both my wife and me. I’d personally be more comfortable with variable, but stability won out this time.

Flood & Renovation: While we were in Edmonton, our basement flooded due to heavy rain and a sump pump failure. We ended our trip early and were incredibly lucky to have an amazing neighbour who was pumping water out until we got home. I also happened to have a friend in disaster recovery, which helped immensely. The bottom two feet of the basement and the carpet had to be removed.

We chose to turn the situation into an opportunity and added another bedroom in the basement so our twin boys could move down there. In the end, the result was actually better than before—we now have a more livable home that fits our needs. My buddy’s crew got us fully back in within two months, which was impressively fast given the circumstances.

New Vehicle: We bought a Honda CR-V and sold our Civic. The Civic was still mechanically sound, but the body was showing its age and it simply wasn’t great in winter. Moving to a newer, winter-ready vehicle for my wife brought peace of mind, better safety, and some genuinely fun new technology. It was a large purchase—used, but not cheap—but one that aligned with comfort, reliability, and confidence for our family.

Another New Vehicle: I also took over my dad’s truck. It’s still in great shape with low kilometres. I don’t see a long-term need for a third vehicle or a truck specifically, but it’s been incredibly handy for dump runs, hauling, and occasional family trips. It also gives us a solid winter emergency option if needed. I’ll likely look to sell it in the spring.

Overall, this was a year where money flowed more than usual—sometimes by choice, sometimes by necessity—but most decisions ultimately improved our day-to-day comfort and safety as a family.

Check out my related posts:

• 2024 Year in Review

• 2023 Year in Review

2025 Net Worth Update: $83,689

I don’t have much commentary here—markets are going to do what markets do. Let them.

2025	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
Net Worth	-$39,912	$65,232	$49,278	$9,091	$83,689

2025 YTD Savings Rate Update: +14.8%

My savings rate took a dive this year as I eased off throttling myself and focused more on enjoying my money. That led to some personal overspending, combined with larger purchases like vehicles and renovations. Even so, we still landed around a 15% savings rate.

Not ideal—but also not damaging long term. Direction still matters more than any single year. Time to refocus.

	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	2025
Savings Rate	25.7%	7.55%	27.35%	-0.50	14.8%

Blog Updates from the Year

I published three posts this year—less volume than some years, but all meaningful and intentional.

The first was my 2024 Year in Review, which served as a full reflection on work, family, finances, and mental health. Writing it helped me process a difficult stretch and put perspective around what had been a heavy year.

The second was a Rational Reminder–inspired post collecting some of my favourite short, punchy quotes that I use when talking to others about personal finance. These are the simple ideas that tend to resonate most in conversation—easy to remember, easy to explain, and effective at cutting through noise.

The third was an update to my original post explaining how a TFSA works. I refreshed it with current contribution room information and clarified a few points to keep it accurate and relevant. It’s one of those evergreen topics that people continue to misunderstand, so keeping it up to date felt worthwhile.

Writing remains something I enjoy—not just for sharing information, but for organizing my own thoughts. Even when I don’t post often, the process itself is valuable.

Podcasts That Keep My Thinking Sharp

• The Rational Reminder Podcast
  A steady anchor for long-term, evidence-based thinking about investing, risk, and behavior—especially useful when markets (and opinions) get noisy. One-liners from four standout episodes this year:
  • Markets don’t reward certainty—they reward discipline.
  • Good investing is mostly about avoiding big mistakes.
  • Complex strategies rarely outperform simple ones after costs.
  • Your behavior matters more than your asset allocation.
• The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe
  In today’s political and media landscape—where misinformation and disinformation are everywhere—skepticism isn’t cynicism, it’s a survival skill. SGU reinforces critical thinking, scientific literacy, and the habit of asking “how do we know this?” before reacting or forming strong opinions. Particularly useful SGU themes / episodes:
  • Deep dives on misinformation, conspiracy thinking, and cognitive biases
  • Science vs. headlines (how media framing distorts reality)
  • Evaluating sources, claims, and expert consensus

These podcasts help slow my thinking down, challenge emotional reactions, and keep me grounded in evidence—something I value more every year.

Here’s a Short List of some recent listens – The Rational Reminder Podcast

• Episode 387: Lessons from The Wealthy Barber (2025) (Dec 11, 2025)
• Episode 382: Ted Cadsby – The Power of Index Funds, and Being Human (Nov 6, 2025)
• Episode 377: Investing in Your Health (Oct 2, 2025)
• Episode 363: The (Underappreciated) Risk of Individual Stocks (Jun 26, 2025)

Reading (OK, Audiobooks)

I didn’t read (listen) a ton this year, but I did enjoy what I picked up—mostly a mix of escapism, relationship/self-reflection, and a few easy reads.

Reading – What Stuck

A few things stood out from this year’s reading—even if I don’t remember every detail of every book.

First, escapism matters. The Darth Bane trilogy reminded me how valuable it is to sink into something purely enjoyable. The Star Wars lore, the long timelines, and watching a character play the long game was a good counterbalance to day-to-day stress. Sometimes the value of reading isn’t insight—it’s relief.

Second, simplicity can help, but it isn’t a cure-all. Books like The Let Them Theory reinforced the idea of focusing on what I can control, and there are useful nuggets there. But they also clarified something for me: personal growth frameworks don’t magically fix situations where people are acting in bad faith or causing harm. You can do the work and still need boundaries.

Third, labels and frameworks are tools, not truths. Surrounded by Idiots wasn’t scientifically grounded, but it did give me a lens—however imperfect—to think about differences in communication styles and behaviors, including my own. I didn’t take it as fact, just as a prompt for reflection.

Finally, not everything has to be deep to be worthwhile. The Housemaid books and The Art of Small Talk were reminders that reading doesn’t always need to be productive or meaningful. Sometimes it’s just about enjoying the moment, especially during lake days, downtime, or when mental energy is low.

Looking back, the biggest takeaway isn’t tied to any single book. It’s that reading—whether for escape, perspective, or humor—mirrored where I was mentally this year: looking for balance, relief, and small insights rather than big life-changing answers.

Final Thoughts

This year was about learning—sometimes the hard way—where my energy, money, and attention are best spent. Progress didn’t always look clean or efficient, but it was real. I’m entering the next year more aware, more grounded, and focused on the people, habits, and experiences that actually matter.