As we gather around the Thanksgiving table, we’ll give thanks for family, friends and maybe the last slice of pumpkin pie. But this year, there’s also reason to be grateful for what’s happening in our financial lives. Despite inflation worries, political noise and market mood swings, 2025 has given us several bright spots worth a toast.
A year ago, many experts were predicting a slowdown. Instead, the U.S. economy has surprised nearly everyone. Personal income has increased in all 50 states, including Tennessee. Consumer spending is holding up, and household balance sheets have improved. That’s progress for families trying to save for retirement or get out of debt.
After a few spicy years, inflation finally eased toward the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. Rent inflation hit its slowest pace since 2022, and grocery prices have stabilized. We’re not back to pre-pandemic levels, but we can be thankful that the fire has cooled from a boil to a simmer. Retirees on fixed incomes and young families alike feel the difference when prices rise more slowly.
Investors who have stayed the course can be thankful. Markets have rewarded patience, and the long-term trend is still a gift to disciplined savers. Market gains are like slow-roasted turkey — better when you let them cook over time.
We can be thankful that technological progress, especially in artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing, is boosting U.S. productivity. That’s an investment in future prosperity, the kind that leads to better jobs, higher wages and stronger portfolios.
As the year winds down, take a few thankful steps and make adjustments as needed: Review your retirement contributions. Check your beneficiary designations. Consider a charitable gift. Update your estate plan because planning is love in written form.
At Thanksgiving we often focus on food and family, but we can also focus on gratitude.
Gratitude doesn’t show up on a balance sheet, but it strengthens one. Being thankful for what we already have — steady work, a roof over our heads, good health and time with family — helps us make better financial choices. Gratitude also tempers greed, encourages generosity and reminds us that money is a tool, not a trophy.
This Thanksgiving let’s count our blessings, because gratitude, like good investing, compounds beautifully over time.
This article originally appeared in the Knoxville News Sentinel online on November 14, 2025.
