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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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As early-stage startups head into 2026, fundraising standards continue to tighten. Investors expect founders to bring organization, accuracy, and transparency to every aspect of their equity and financial structure. Clean records, clear communication, and a strong grasp of ownership mechanics now matter as much as the pitch itself. For founders planning a seed or Series A raise, readiness has become a strategic advantage.

Cake Equity shares 10 ways to prepare your startup for fundraising in 2026.

1. Move off spreadsheets and establish a clean, reliable cap table

Cap tables kept in spreadsheets often accumulate errors, especially after multiple SAFEs (Simple Agreement for Future Equity), notes, or option grants. Investors expect accurate, real-time ownership records that match signed agreements and reflect fully diluted ownership. Many founders move their cap tables off spreadsheets to meet rising investor expectations, as dynamic cap table management is now considered a baseline requirement. If your cap table still lives in a spreadsheet, it is time to migrate to a dedicated cap table software.

2. Plan your raise and model dilution scenarios

Modeling different raise amounts, valuations, and option pool changes helps founders understand how ownership will shift over time. Investors want to see that you have thought through dilution and runway before they commit capital. Set aside time to model various fundraising scenarios before entering investor conversations.

3. Update your 409A valuation if you plan to issue stock options

A 409A valuation determines the fair market value (FMV) of your common stock. It is required before granting stock options and protects stakeholders from unexpected tax exposure. If you intend to issue new options in 2026, an updated 409A ensures grants are compliant and helps investors see that your equity processes adhere to regulatory standards.

4. Review your ASC 718 and stay on top of stock-based compensation reporting

ASC 718 governs how companies record the expense of equity awards on their financial statements. Accurate reporting creates a clearer financial snapshot for investors and prevents last-minute cleanup during diligence. Early-stage companies that stay current with ASC 718 often move more smoothly through investor reviews.

5. Consider QSBS as part of your long-term exit strategy

Qualified small business stock (QSBS) allows eligible shareholders to potentially exclude up to $10 million (or more, depending on basis) from capital gains. Because eligibility depends on early choices, such as corporate structure and asset thresholds, founders who examine QSBS requirements in advance are better positioned to preserve this significant advantage when a future exit occurs.

6. Centralize investor relations through a single platform for updates and documents

During fundraising, investors expect quick access to accurate information. Centralizing pitch decks, financials, ownership summaries, and board documents through a unified investor portal creates a more professional experienc

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Whether it’s due to an ingredient allergy or other reasons, compounding pharmacies can help tailor a custom-made medication to meet your needs. And when drug shortages happen, they can play an important role, too.

Two semaglutide injections, Ozempic and Wegovy, were previously affected by shortages. Given the demand, some compounding pharmacies jumped at the opportunity to fill a medical need. By mixing up semaglutide injections from scratch, they could help people continue treatment until the shortage was over.

Under certain conditions, the FDA may allow pharmacies to make medications that are in shortage. But as of February 2025, the FDA declared that the semaglutide shortage was resolved. Even so, compounded semaglutide products may not disappear completely. In this case, compounded semaglutide may seem like a tempting alternative. But is it worth the risk? GoodRx, a platform for medication savings, highlights what people should know about compounded semaglutide.

Compounded semaglutide is a medication that’s custom-made by a compounding pharmacy. It contains the active ingredient semaglutide, which is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Semaglutide is found in three FDA-approved medications: Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus.

Does this mean that compounded semaglutide is the same as Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus? The short answer: No. And these products are not “generic Ozempic” or “generic Wegovy.” Generic drugs are FDA-approved and must show that they’re bioequivalent to the brand-name drug. There are no FDA-approved generics of these medications yet.

You may see compounded semaglutide in several different dosage forms, including:

• Injections
• Sublingual (under the tongue) drops
• Orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs)
• Oral capsules or tablets
• Nasal sprays

Compounded semaglutide medications are not FDA-approved. Their safety and effectiveness haven’t been established. So it’s no

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While some members of Gen Z may still be working entry-level jobs while attending high school or college, much of this cohort has now entered the workforce in earnest. As the least experienced generation on the schedule, Gen Z is generally paid less than their older counterparts, with this holding true in 93% of cities. But in a handful of locations, Gen Z offers skills and expertise — and sometimes youth itself — that help these workers pull ahead against the odds and earn more than older generations.

With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked 354 of the largest U.S. cities based on the percentage difference between the local median income for people aged 15 to 24 compared to the rest of the local population.

Key Findings

• Gen Z earns a 70% premium in Hollywood, Florida. The median Gen Z household earned $121,317 in Hollywood in 2024, compared to $71,067 for all households — a 70.7% difference. Clearwater, Florida, has the second-highest advantage for Gen Z households with a 58.7% disparity. Young households earned $105,280 compared to a $66,357 median across all households.
• In all, Gen Z out-earns other generations in 7% of cities. While it’s rare for young up-and-comers to outperform older households for income, some economic dynamics make it possible. Studywide, Gen Z had a positive earnings premium in 24 out of 354 cities, with roughly half in Florida or California. Others include Federal Way, Washington; Lynn, Massachusetts; Kent, Washington; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Newport News, Virginia; Jackson, Michigan; and Brownsville, Texas, among others.
• The median Gen Z income in this city is over $160,000. Gen Z earns the most in Sunnyvale, California, where the median income for that age group is $162,486. However, this is 10.2% lower than the median income across all households in this high-earning city ($181,022). This negative earnings premium puts Sunnyvale at the 37th best overall for Gen Z’s earnings.
• The median Gen Z income is less than $50,000 in more than half of cities. For most young people, income tends to be lower than across all households. People aged 15 to 24 are generally at the bottom of the earnings totem poll. In fact, the median Gen Z income is lower than the 2024 U.S. median household income in 91% of cities surveyed.

SmartAsset

24 Cities Where Gen Z Makes More Than the Median Household

Out of 354 cities, Gen Z earns more than their older counterparts in just a handful of places.

1. Hollywood, Florida

• Gen Z earnings premiu

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When employees are unwell or juggling too much, elevated rates of absenteeism are one signal for organizations to look for. And that signal comes at a cost for organizations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the cost is $1,685 per employee per year. For an organization with 600 employees, absenteeism costs would exceed $1 million annually. That’s why it’s essential to define absenteeism, so organizations can see what’s driving it and address those factors before it becomes a bigger (and more expensive) issue.

Spring Health examined the rising issue of workplace absenteeism and strategies for addressing it.

How to define absenteeism

Absenteeism refers to frequent or prolonged absence from work, often beyond what is considered normal or acceptable. While occasional absences due to illness or emergencies are expected, consistent absenteeism can signal underlying challenges such as stress, burnout, or unmet mental health needs.

High levels of absenteeism can affect workplace productivity, team morale, and overall organizational performance.

Is absenteeism on the rise?

Absentee rates in the U.S. have been stubbornly high since the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a workplace absence rate of 2.8%. In 2024, that number had reached 3.2%. In some sectors, such as healthcare support and social services, the rate is well over 4%.

An important note: The BLS absence rates only include time missed for illness, injury, or childcare challenges—not time off for vacations, personal days, or holidays.

What is the difference between absence and absenteeism?

Generally speaking, an absence from work would include any type of reason for missing work. Absenteeism includes only consistent absences from work that are often unplanned or unusual, and these absences could be a sign of a chronic, underlying, or organizational problem.

What is an example of absenteeism?

A customer service manager at a large retail chain takes a three-week leave due to burnout. To fill the gap, the team rotates coverage across three other managers. While the department remains technically staffed, key performance indicators begin to decline, including:

• Response times slow
• Customer complaints increase
• Team morale

Additionally, each replacement manager struggles to juggle their own duties with the added load.

According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), replacement workers are typically around 30% less productiv