Our Annual FIRE Reset: Goals Bingo, Mindful Spending, and a No-Spend Challenge

Over New Year’s Eve and the first five days of the new year, my wife and I did our annual FIRE (Financially Independent, Retire Early) reset, which includes creating our 2026 Goals Bingo cards and completing our no-spend challenge. This reset helps us stay intentional about health, spending, and how we want early retirement to actually feel—not just how it looks on paper.

This will be our first full year in early retirement since exiting the rat race in 2025. Last year, we were just trying to get settled into our new lifestyle. This year, we’re more focused on shaping our ideal early retirement; we were a lot more intentional when creating our 2026 Goals Bingo cards.

My 2025 card included a lot of random outstanding household chores and repair work. This year’s card is focused primarily on health planning and enriching our early retirement through experiences.

We’re only a little over a week into 2026, but I’ve already completed one square on my Bingo card. I’m optimistic about how the year will shape up.

WHY WE DO AN ANNUAL FIRE RESET INSTEAD OF NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

As we watched the New Year countdown on TV, the reporters inevitably turned to the topic of New Year's resolutions. The requisite “travel more” and “lose weight” were, of course, mentioned.

I rolled my eyes at this because New Year’s resolutions never work. Resolutions fail because they’re rarely written down—and even when they are, they’re vague and quickly forgotten. “Travel more” sounds nice, but it’s impossible to know when you’ve succeeded. Without measurable actions or a sense of completion, there’s no momentum, no pride, and no joy.

Resolutions are not goals. They are nothing more than a list of wishes you hope the universe will grant you.

We tried the “hope everything magically just works out” method for over 30 years, and it just set us far behind everyone else. It was only after we shifted to careful goal setting and intentional living that we finally got out of the starting block.

A FIRE lifestyle isn’t achievable by simply wishing for it. And an annual reset helps us reassess our goals and maintain control over the lifestyle we want.

For 2026, that meant getting honest about what will have the biggest impact on our quality of life in early retirement. Those priorities are reflected in our Goals Bingo cards, which are less like checklists and more like a system for staying aligned with what we value.

GOALS BINGO: HOW WE TURN OUR PRIORITIES INTO DAILY ACTION

The Goals Bingo card isn’t about creating a to-do list. It’s a way to create measurable and actionable goals focused on the handful of habits that actually matter. Each Bingo square represents a small action that supports a bigger 2026 goal.

What I like about the Bingo format is that it rewards consistency instead of intensity. There’s no finish line and no punishment for missing a square. The goal isn’t to complete the card as fast as possible; it’s to keep showing up in small ways that compound over time. That’s the same mindset that underpins long-term investing—and it’s why this approach fits so naturally into our FIRE lifestyle.

WHY THE GOALS BINGO CARD WORKS

If you’re curious about creating your own Goals Bingo card, see my previous posts on how to create SMART goals and to download a Bingo card template.

Unlike resolutions, Goals Bingo works. It forces you to create specific, measurable actions. And, it turns achieving goals into a fun activity. You’ll find yourself checking your card regularly to see where a Bingo is possible.

Traditional goal-setting is about as fun as going to the dentist. Goals Bingo, though, is fun, especially if you give yourself prizes for getting a Bingo.

In addition to being specific, another key to a great Bingo card is keeping goals achievable. Don’t make them frustrating and difficult. The point is to keep yourself motivated.

One way to do so is to decide on the overall big goal you want to achieve for the year. Perhaps there’s a FIRE milestone you want to achieve, for example. Then fill your Bingo squares with the steps you’ll need to take to achieve that goal.

Keep it realistic. Small achievements compound over time, just like building wealth. It’s all about intentional habit-building.

WHY HEALTH AND EXPERIENCES DOMINATE MY 2026 GOALS

A third of the spaces on my Goals Bingo card are health-focused this year. I have goals to increase my physical activity, such as jogging 320 miles over the course of the year. Others, such as getting 12 massages, are there to reduce stress and improve overall well-being.

One of the reasons we chose FIRE was to be able to enjoy retirement for as long as possible before age catches up. I look at my retired Dad, who has the money to do things he enjoys but not the physical health to do so. Without good health, none of the fun things we want to do in early retirement, such as traveling, would be possible.

Health in retirement is one thing we can’t simply “hope for the best” on. When financially independent and paying for your own health insurance, your body becomes part of the plan.

Improving health isn’t just a nice-to-have goal—it’s about financial risk management and keeping costs low. I’ve personally met people who fell into a deep financial hole because of a single health-related episode.

Preventive care is no longer just about preventing illnesses—it’s about preventing financial collapse. That’s why health shows up repeatedly on my card this year, not because it’s trendy, but because it’s foundational.

The other major focus of my 2026 Bingo card is on life enrichment. Roughly half of my card is filled with experiences that will bring us happiness and fulfillment.

One thing I’ve learned in early retirement and my FIRE journey is that material things don’t enrich our lives. Sure, there’s some joy in buying a new gadget or clothes, but it’s short-lived.

Experiences, on the other hand, stick with you forever. They change how you think and how you interact with others. And the memories pay dividends far into the future.

REVIEWING THE YEAR: TRACKING HAPPY MOMENTS

On the topic of happy memories, last year, a friend suggested we track special moments throughout the year.

Any time we experienced something that brought us joy, we’d jot it down on a slip of paper and deposit it into a “Happiness Jar.” These weren’t paragraphs, just one or two sentences each—it was micro-journaling.

And it didn’t matter how small the moment was, as long as it brought us joy. For example, one moment we recorded was camping out on the floor one night with our dogs for the first time. They aren’t allowed in our bed, so getting to sleep with them was a treat for everyone.

By New Year’s Eve, we had a jar full of notes, which we read one by one. It was fun to relive these fleeting moments that we otherwise would’ve forgotten. It cost us nothing to implement, but the payout was priceless—and it reinforced how much of intentional living has nothing to do with money.

THE 5-DAY NO-SPEND CHALLENGE (AND WHY WE DO IT EVERY YEAR)

I previously mentioned that part of our annual tradition is a 5-day no-spend challenge. For the first five days of the new year, we spend no money at all. We even reschedule any recurring automatic payments around those five days. It keeps us mindful of where our money is going.

During these five days, we swap eating out for home-cooked meals. Instead of paying for entertainment and activities, we keep things simple with nice conversation, board games, and hobbies. It reminds us of our humble roots and that happiness doesn’t necessitate spending.

The other reason for the no-spend tradition is a lighthearted belief that how you start the year sets the tone for what follows. Historically, we successfully complete the no-spend challenge only half the time. A few friends tried it this year and didn’t make it past day-three.

We failed two years in a row in 2024 and 2025, but I’m happy to say we broke that losing streak. We successfully made it through January 5 without spending a dime. I feel like 2026 will be a great year.

WHY SMALL RITUALS MATTER MORE THAN BIG FINANCIAL MOVES

Last year, when I announced my retirement to friends and coworkers, a few asked me what they should do to also retire early. The thing is, there is no quick method to reaching financial independence.

Escaping the rat race is like running a marathon. Sprinting at full speed for a mile won’t win you the marathon. You need to be able to sustain your speed for 26 miles.

FIRE is a result of a series of sustainable behavioral changes, not just a single big financial move. My personal FIRE journey took about 10 years of careful goal-setting and lifestyle tweaks.

One reason I started this blog was to share the habits that helped us retire early. And this was despite starting in our late 30s with no financial background or high-paying jobs. Sustainable progress beats short bursts of effort—every time. Pace yourself, and you’ll get there.

I’ll see you at the finish line!

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Disclaimer: I’m not a licensed financial professional. This blog shares my personal experiences and opinions around money, investing, and early retirement. It’s for informational and educational purposes only—not financial, legal, or tax advice. Always do your own research or consult with a qualified professional before making any financial decisions.