The holidays are usually a great time to think about the bigger picture things in life and reflect on what really matters. And while consumerism runs rampant during this time too, we mostly try to look past that into the deeper meanings of all these winter holidays.

The thing is though, financial stability can give you an awful lot to be thankful for other than just a number in a bank account or net worth statement sheet.

Personally, I’m thankful for:

• Less stress about what’s going to happen to me in the future.
• Freedom to pursue work I care about versus just work I have to do to get bills paid.
• Knowledge that I can be anywhere in the world and afford to drop what I’m doing and go home or to a friend, if they really needed me.
• Not having to track my budget down to the penny anymore and being able to splurge on things like a new shirt or Starbucks once in a while without thinking twice.
• The way my mindset towards money evolved during the journey of paying down debt and building up an emergency savings and retirement account.
• Going into the holidays knowing I won’t go into any debt over my Christmas shopping.

I also like to remind myself though that if I lost every penny I have, I’d still have:

• My faith
• My amazing family
• The best friends in the whole world
• A pretty well educated mind
• An awful lot of common sense
• A bootstrapping attitude
• My health
• A pile of incredible memories

 What are you thankful for this holiday season?