A Special Start to the New Year
This New Year began with time, food, and experiences that felt unusually rich and meaningful, especially after getting married.
From home-cooked meals and short trips to mindful spending and restarting exercise, the days were filled with small but satisfying choices.
It was a gentle reminder that happiness can come from both enjoying good food and being intentional with money and routines.
A New Year That Felt Different After Marriage
Hello, I am Kim Eunbyeolbit, dreaming of financial freedom.
The year started with a week full of delicious food and a special sense of celebration.
I found myself wondering if I had ever welcomed the year in such a relaxed and joyful way since getting married.
Thanks to my husband’s company holiday, we were able to begin the year with a small trip instead of rushing back into daily routines.
Everyday Meals That Became Small Celebrations
We enjoyed cheese smoked duck and soybean paste stew that my mom gave us.
The cheese smoked duck surprisingly paired well with lettuce, and wrapping it made the meal even more fun.
One day, I met a friend for lunch and finally satisfied my craving for dolsot bibimbap.
For dinner that night, I made a rice burger at home.
Cooking Together at Home
We bought spaghetti ingredients and cooked together after a long time.
My husband made the spaghetti for me, which somehow made it taste even better.
On the first day of the New Year, we cooked dumpling soup using homemade dumplings and beef bone soup prepared by my mom.
It felt comforting and symbolic to start the year with such a traditional meal.
A Short Trip and Intentional Spending
We visited Lotte Tower in Seoul, went up to the Seoul Sky Observatory, and had a meal at the Makino Chaya buffet.
Because we used our designated travel fund, none of these expenses affected our daily budget.
I also finally bought the sneakers I had been needing at the Lotte Mall, which felt long overdue.
A One-Night Trip to the West Coast
We took a one-night, two-day trip to Daecheon on the west coast.
Again, we used our travel fund, so there was no pressure on our regular spending.
I had planned to stop eating sashimi, but being near the sea made it hard to resist.
We bought just one kilogram of sashimi and paired it with clam soup and steamed scallops.
A Cloudy Sunrise and a Little Disappointment
We went to the west coast hoping to see the sunrise.
Unfortunately, the weather was too cloudy, and we couldn’t see it.
It was especially disappointing because it was supposed to be my first sunrise experience.
Restarting Exercise as a Couple
I started exercising again for the New Year.
This time, my husband registered together with me.
It’s only day three, but I hope we can keep this routine going for a full year.
My previous record has always been three to five months, so this feels like a new challenge.
Spending Reflections from the Start of the Year
Good Spending
The Makino Chaya Black 31 buffet was expensive, but it felt like a meaningful experience that reminded me of the value of money.
Restarting exercise by registering at the gym with my husband also felt like a worthwhile investment in our health.
When Spending Feels Less Satisfying
Disappointing Spending
The steamed scallops were a bit underwhelming, possibly because they had cooled down.
In contrast, the clam soup turned out to be surprisingly delicious, making the scallops feel even more disappointing.
Still, even these small disappointments became part of the story of our New Year.
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