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While we don’t always follow through with them, picking the right resolutions that are realistic, doable and are simple enough to action could set you up for success in 2026.
How’d your 2025 resolutions go?
Did you make resolutions to save thousands of dollars in 2025? Or did you promise yourself to go to the gym every single day? Those can be hard to follow through on, since many resolutions are designed around existing bad habits — and any habit is hard to break.
According to an October 2025 Vanguard survey, 75% of Americans fell short of their saving and spending resolutions in 2025. However, most people also reported they were optimistic for 2026.
Instead of aiming for perfection, Finder.com offers 12 money management ideas to help you set realistic goals you can achieve in a year.
12 realistic New Year’s resolutions for 2026
1. Review your budget (or make a budget)
If you don’t have a solid budget, you may not know how much you’re spending on everyday items or paying for living expenses — let alone how much you could actually be saving.
A budget doesn’t have to be a complicated, long spreadsheet. There are plenty of budgeting apps, or you could also try the classic 50/30/20 method. The 50/30/20 budget stipulates that you allocate 50% of your cash toward expenses, 30% toward wants and 20% toward savings and debt repayment. You don’t have to stick to those percentages exactly, but it’s a simple method to start with.
2. Set up automatic savings
Want to save more money in 2026? Automatic savings contributions can make it simple and easy.
If you have direct deposit, most employers let you decide how much of your paycheck is deposited into which accounts, such as 90% into your checking and 10% into your savings. Alternatively, you can simply ask your bank to set up automatic transfers to a savings account on specific days.
3. Set fast-food spending caps
Saying you won’t spend any money on fast food probably isn’t realistic and just sets you up for failure. Instead of making the resolution to cut it out completely, just set a spending cap.
The average cost of a fast-food meal is $11.56. Knowing that, you could set a spending cap of around $35 per month, which would be about three trips per month. For a family of four, it could be around $150 for the whole month.
4. Pay down credit card debt
Not a very fun one, but a great financial resolution is to work on paying off expensive credit card debt.
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