My 2026 Reset: Building a Healthier Relationship with Me, Money and Maya

If there’s one truth I learned in 2025, it’s that your relationship with money isn’t defined by how much you earn — it’s shaped by your habits, your emotional triggers, and the stories you tell yourself whenever things get overwhelming.

If there’s one lesson I’ learned from my late mom, it was “Save! Save! Save as much as you can!”

That was one of the reasons why she never asked or accepted money from me unless there was an occasion.

But no one ever explained to me what to do when life keeps throwing you expenses you didn’t plan for, or when stress-buying becomes your default form of therapy.

So, as the year wraps up, I’m taking a deeper look at how I interact with money — not just the numbers on the screen, but the feelings attached to them. This isn’t a financial makeover. It’s more like learning to treat my money the way I treat my time and energy: with intention.

And this is where my 2026 begins.

The Moments That Made Me Rethink Everything

There were days this year when I’d open a food delivery app after a long day because I was too tired to cook, convincing myself I deserved the convenience. Then I’d wonder why my “miscellaneous” spending was bigger than my grocery budget.

On tough days, I tend to “self-soothe” by browsing through my favorite shopping apps — as if the perfect action figure, die-cast model, or blind box is waiting there to magically fix my mood. I try avoiding the temptation, especially on those notorious double-double sale days, but somehow, I still end up with a pile of parcels I forgot I paid for.

True story: I have deliveries from 2019 that I’ve never opened. I’m not even sure if they contain the toy I actually ordered.

Those choices weren’t about the money. They were about comfort, stress, burnout, and the tiny bursts of joy I cling to when the days get messy.

That’s when I realized:
My finances aren’t failing — my habits are just emotionally driven.

So instead of punishing myself, I started thinking: How do I build a healthier relationship with money that still feels human?

My 2026 Shift: Gentle, Honest, and Realistic

Some people enter the new year with strict financial rules. Mine is simpler:
Be honest with myself and create habits I can actually sustain.

These were the shifts I committed to:

1. Acknowledge my spending triggers

Tired Ed spends more. Stressed Ed taps “Add TOYS to Cart.” Hungry Ed doesn’t think twice. Identifying these patterns didn’t make me feel bad — it helped me prepare better.

2. Give every peso a purpose

Not in a strict budgeting way, but in a “does this help my future self?” kind of way. If the answer is yes, I proceed. If not, I rethink. I also ask myself “Where the heck am I going to display those toys anyway?”

3. Swap guilt for accountability

Money mistakes happen. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s consistency.

And honestly? Using Maya made that shift easier.

How Maya Became My Accountability Partner

I didn’t want an app that made me feel judged. I wanted something that kept me grounded without overwhelming me, and Maya became exactly that.

Maya Personal Goals[GU2]  helped me put names to the things that matter —a home office upgrade I’ve always wanted, a travel getaway to see the Aurora Borealis, or even a future emergency buffer so I don’t panic when life surprises me. Seeing those goals grow little by little feels like cheering for my future self. And the best part? My Personal Goals savings can earn up to 8% p.a., so every small deposit feels like it’s actually working with me, not just sitting there.

Maya Savings and Time Deposit Plus [GU3] gave me a place to put the money I would normally leave untouched in a low-interest account. Watching passive growth every month is motivating — it’s like getting rewarded for being responsible. And with Time Deposit earning up to 6% p.a., it made more sense to lock in money I don’t need right away and let it grow quietly in the background.

And Maya Easy Credit,[GU4]  used intentionally, became a tool instead of a trap. On tight months, it helped me balance timing without the shame spiral. The difference is I borrow only what I can repay calmly, and the app makes it easy to track.

Together, these features felt less like “financial management” and more like having a partner who reminds you gently: “ED UY! remember your goals.”

New Year, New Money Mindset: Totoo Na This Time

I’m not trying to become the most disciplined person in the Philippines, nor do I have any intentions to become one.

I just want to be someone who respects goals as much as I respect deadlines, sleep, and peace.

2026, for me, is about small, steady shifts — choosing awareness over impulse, purpose over pressure, and long-term comfort over short-term dopamine.

And if you’re reading this, maybe you’re in that same in-between space: earning, spending, trying your best, and learning as you go.

There’s no shame in starting over. No shame in trying again.

So, here’s to the year we become more intentional — not perfect, just better.

If you end up making your own money reset or planning your 2026 goals, tag @mayaiseverything. I’d love to see how you’re rewriting your relationship with money too.