Letter from the Editor: 'Some pretty remarkable things have happened this year...'

Some pretty remarkable things have happened this year.

Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig's Barbie smashed box office records to become the studio's highest-grossing film of all time. (Are you also still crying over that speech?)

Taylor Swift smashed Aussie records when more than four million people desperately watched the same blue bar drift across their screens while they tried to snap up a ticket to one of her local shows. (I tried and I failed like many others. Don't remind me.)

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And the whole country collectively lost their minds when hero Cortnee Vine slotted that ball into the net, firing the Matildas into the Women's World Cup semi-final.

There has never been more of a reason to celebrate women.?

Today, 9honey turns a big ol' seven years old and while marking another lap around the sun gives us an opportunity to reflect on the year that just passed, we should also look ahead.?

Watch the video above.?

For 9honey that means more.

More columnists, with the introduction of writer and award-winning podcaster Zoe Marshall and sports presenter and proud Gamilaroi and Dunghutti woman Marlee Silva

More budgeting advice and hacks after the recent launch of 9honey Money.?

More ways to connect with us (Have you followed us on TikTok?!).

And more listening to what you want and what you need.?

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That all starts with the findings of our expansive research into the state of Australian families' financial situation in the lead-up to Christmas and the new year.?

Money has been the topic on everyone's lips the last couple of years: with what seems like the price of everything going up: interest rates, rent, petrol, energy and gas bills, groceries¡­?

Despite all this, you just can't kill the Christmas spirit, with the research revealing one in five Australian women are planning to spend more than $1000 to celebrate the festive season.

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The Nine Audience insights team found 54 per cent of 9honey readers will spend the same amount this year as they did in Christmas 2022, 33 per cent less, and 13 per cent will spend more.?

It's no surprise to learn that we're all desperate for a holiday, too, with one in two Australian families indicating they are planning to travel in the next 12 months.

The study found families were planning to spend an average of $8785 on travel and accommodation.?

And at the top of your travel bucket list? It's the Sunshine State.?

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Yep, the places we're planning to pack up and scoot off to in order (drum roll, please): Queensland, followed by Victoria, the United States and Europe.?

There's a lot to look forward to in the next year but for now, we'll take in the moment and stick a fork in that birthday cake.?