In 2024, I shopped less than I have in years past. I think generally, since COVID-19, my consumption patterns have changed. In the past, I used to impulse shop a lot of clothes, shoes, and bags. In recent years, and particularly in 2024, it’s been smaller things that spark joy and make my spaces more comfortable.
Here’s a list of the odd bits and bobs that made me feel super-happy in 2024, and wherever possible, I am linking to them.
Hobonichi Techo Cousin
This was technically a purchase in late 2023. I had got into journaling during the pandemic but was never fully satisfied with the planner I was using then (by Alicia Souza). I mean, I love her planners; they are such a delight, but I also wanted something more minimal that would allow me to just write free form the way I wanted. Bullet journaling seemed too much of an effort, but then I chanced upon the Hobonichi Reddit. Could this planner be the magic trick to make me a super-efficient, multi-tasking badass?
I do think it did. I loved being on top of my to-do list, and the Cousin is a beast (it’s not called a Life Book for nothing). I could plan both my work and personal commitments in one book, along with my diet and fitness routine, and my spending to boot. I credit it with my being so disciplined last year in life as a whole. I loved planning in it so much, I decided to continue with the same planner for 2025 as well.
My son has also gotten on the planner bandwagon after seeing me journaling, and I got him a smaller A6 Hobonichi Hon as well, and he’s been writing in it so far. It’s so cute to see him writing in his admittedly more beautiful than mine journal ❤️. More on the Hobonichi here.
Stationery
A great planner needs some great stationery, right? Since the planner comes from Japan, I ordered a bunch of stationery for the free shipping. I”ll admit a lot of it is quite junk – stickers, and stuff. But I love the stamps, and the fabulous but super-cheap fountain pens I got. They make writing such a delight. I think most of the stuff that’s available in the Hobonichi store is of pretty high quality and I may have overdone it a bit with my stationery shopping 🫣.
These fountain pens are not the old stodgy pens that used to leak. They can be used with ink cartridges or ink, and they are very easy, no-nonsense pens. I fell in love with them from the beginning, and they make writing such a pleasure.
My huge-ass living room rug
K wanted a rug for our living room, and he was browsing and selecting the ugliest, plainest rugs ever. I couldn’t bear it. I offered to pay for the rug if I could get one of my choosing. He hemmed and hawed a bit, but the thought of not having to pay anything out of his pocket won him over. He doesn’t usually like my taste and thinks it’s too flashy. It may be a tad flashy and maximalist, but it suits our room beautifully. He was out when the rug came and when he walked in, there was just a gasp of awe and delight at how magnificent it looked. We are both in love with it now.
The rug is also the softest thing ever. We play games on it and sometimes just lie down and watch TV. It’s the most gorgeous thing in our house, and really makes our living room, which has a mish-mash of old furniture, look very luxe, and yet cozy and inviting. I purchased it from Cocoon Rugs (they have a showroom in Electronic City) and yes, I paid an arm and a leg for it, with absolutely zero regrets.
The most divine perfume
No trip abroad is complete without a little spree at the duty-free. Ha! I like how that rhymes. Anyway, my business trip to the US was fairly frugal overall, except for the duty-free at San Francisco and Dubai, where I did quite a bit of damage.
I was initially attracted to a limited-edition bottle (always a sucker for pretty packaging) the salesperson had on the counter. I sniffed a few other perfumes just to compare, but the moment I smelled this, I knew this was the one. It’s strong but not overpowering. It’s got a very Oriental feel (I have heard it described as a woody rose) and it’s unlike anything I have smelled before in my life. I used it heavily all last year, and it’s my scent of choice for all special occasions or nights out. I just wish it also came in that pretty toile de jouy packaging.
Malfy gin
San Francisco duty-free had some pretty great deals on booze. I was at the counter with gifts for my colleagues when I saw a buy one, get one offer on Malfy gin—a brand I had never heard of before. The bottle looked super cute, and I thought, why not? It was an impulse buy, and I regretted it so much later that I just put it away and never looked at it since.
Until K fished it out for our New Year’s Eve celebrations. We paired it with Sepoy & Co. (also available in Nature’s Basket and Nilgiris) lemonades and the pairing was fabulous! An impulse buy that totally worked for me!
Sapa Stollen and Gingerbread Cookies
We ended this year with Christmas goodies from Sapa Bakery. I initially might have bought them because of the fancy tins 🫣, but the actual goodies were fabulous! I have an egg allergy, and baked goods are a bit of a hit-or-miss for me. But Sapa Bakery was just the best, I could gorge on the stuff without any upset stomachs!
I indulged in their Stollen and gingerbread cookies over the Christmas break, and I now am struggling with buttoning up my pants. Time to get back on the treadmill!
And these are all my favorite purchases of 2024! What sparked joy for you last year?
