… but I should start a new year’s resolution this time. I really, really should contain my frivolous spending. I’m buying a lot of crap online to self-soothe. Like I’m justifying my purchases by saying I deserve this after going through so much shit with my boss. Enough with the bag purchases that cost me thousands of USD—the last batch of my US Black Friday hauls that arrived today will be the last for the next 12 months.

So this January, I should start the no-spend month and only food and essential purchases/payments (including utilities and repairs) will be allowed. I already doubled my budget for ETF and mutual fund unit purchases this December. For January I should also start doubling my UITF and VUL budget. I should open a PERA account with BDO (like the 401k in the US), which is income tax and estate tax-exempt. It also entitles me to a 5% tax credit (but this will complicate my ITR filing 🤦🏻‍♀️ which is already complicated).

I should revisit my personal finance spreadsheet tomorrow.

On January 6-10, I will be doing my semi-annual prayer and fasting. Last year I wasn’t able to do it because I got hospitalized in December because of my enlarged liver and inflamed pancreas. Fasting would have done me in.

Which brings me to my point: I should focus now on my health. I should complete my check ups with my doctors, especially now that I need to monitor my blood sugar. Cutting down or eliminating sugar from my diet six months ago could have helped me stave off taking maintenance medicines. Or it did not. I need to know soon.

Genetics sucks.

I haven’t cut back on food with high purines such as red meat, tuna, and fish sauce. If I did, then I would be leading a sad life. Well, I have minimized my consumption of beef but pork is still a work in progress. My high uric acid is manifesting through my painful knees. I have eliminated alcohol (except for that interview last month) since my hospitalization last year and only drink sparkling grape. I no longer consume sugary food and beverages like sodas (except coke zero) and sugar-coffee a.k.a Starbucks.

I should work on integrating long walks into my daily routine. This should keep me from shopping online, which I do when I get upset so I can get a dose of dopamine.