In this post from January 2021, I listed 9 things I will keep paying for that year. This is how things went:
1. Courses
No. I didn't take any course in 2021.
2. Writing and designing tools
Yes. Publishing a book is not free. It can be, but I don't trust myself to design my own covers and edit my work. If you are a writer, check out Reedsy, there's a lot of free courses and information from this site.
3. E-books
Yes, plus printed books. I have always kept the books on my shelf up to 20, but I got into ordering printed books for yoga, adult coloring books, and books by Filipino authors. These are my favorite books from 2021.
As I write this, some of these are now for sale. I try not to keep a book for over 6 months unless I am willing to keep one for a long time. I ask myself, "Am I willing to travel with this book? Will I read this book twice or three times over? Did this book come from a memorable place? Was it given by a friend? Does it hold a special meaning to me?" If the answer is yes, it remains on the shelf. If not, I'm ready to pass it on.
4. Raw materials for DIY products
No. I didn't make enough time for DIY.
5. Subscription services
Yes. I stopped using Patreon and went for more books instead.
6. Notebooks for journaling and writing drafts
Yes, a couple.
7. Healthy snacks
Yes. I also ate a lot of Korean food and junk food this year. No excuses. They taste good to me!
8. Nature trips.
Yes. They are inexpensive, usually hard to get to, but always worth the time and money!
Having fun in a pool in an organic farm in Cavite
9. Yoga classes.
No, I didn't pay for any yoga classes and did self-practice up until my surgery.
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Something to add to this list would be books from Filipino authors and indie authors, foreign and Pinoy. These are good sources of Pinoy indie books that are on Shopee: UWU, Sanctum Press, 8Letters Books.
The most important thing would be needs for our health such as home test kits, disposable masks, and medicines. Despite the effectiveness of vaccines, we can't completely beat COVID-19 yet, and definitely not soon. Health should be on everyone's list.
There will be surprise expenses, that's for sure, but nothing beats good old preparation plus recognizing which ones contribute to our quality of life more than others.