How To Make Financial Resolutions That Actually Work In 2026 And Beyond

When it comes to your finances, you don’t need to wait until the beginning of the year to start chipping away at your debt or saving for retirement, but for many, the new year represents an opportunity for a fresh start.

The most popular financial resolutions Americans made for 2025 included saving more money (43%), paying down debt (37%), and spending less (31%), according to a recent Fidelity survey.

In a separate study, Allianz found that Americans are prioritizing financial stability as a part of their New Year’s resolutions.

If you’re among those looking to improve your personal finances this year, you’ll probably need an effective plan. Here are some ways you can improve your chances of following through with your financial resolutions in the new year, according to experts.

Review your Finances in Context Of Your Life

The end of the year is a good time to review your finances and think about any adjustments you need to make based on big events that may have happened or are expected to happen in the near future.

“Think about how your life has changed in the past year. For example, if you got married or started a family recently, you’ll probably have some new resolutions for 2025,” said Boaz Lahovitsky, Head of JPMorgan Personal Advisors, adding that its “natural for your life and priorities to evolve over time. The new year can be a good time to check in and adjust your goals as needed.”

Tie Resolutions To Short- and Long-Term Goals

Goals can be short-term like paying off credit card debt or have a longer horizon like saving for retirement.

In the Fidelity survey, the majority of Americans who had resolutions to save had short-term goals—like building up an emergency fund—but it’s important to think about long term goals (those you want to achieve in the next two to ten years) too.

To craft a financial resolution, Kevin Coombs, Lead Financial Planner at Donaldson Capital Management, suggests creating one based on what stage of life you’re in.

For example, those who expect to retire sooner might draft a plan on when they’ll collect Social Security and how they’ll handle long-term care expenses. In contrast, those further away from retirement might focus on boosting their retirement savings rate or getting their employer’s 401(k) match.

Be Specific and Track Progress

And while New Year’s resolutions are easy to make, they can be hard for people to stick to. For that reason, Lahovitsky recommends that people get specific about what their goals are and how they plan to achieve them.

“Consider setting ‘SMART’ goals. These are goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound,” said Lahovitsky. “Rather than saying you want to ‘invest more’ or ‘plan for a big trip’ in the new year, take the time to get specific and outline exactly how much you hope to allocate towards that goal and by when.” And remember to regularly track your progress against those specific markers.

Knowing where you stand compared to your goal can also prove to boost motivation by helping you realize how far you’ve come.

“It can be hard to sacrifice a short-term gratifying expenditure for a more rewarding long-term benefit,” said Lahovitsky. “Celebrating small wins towards a longer-term goal builds motivation that helps deal with the psychological effects of delayed gratification.”

Keep It Simple and Get Help

Its easy to set the bar high when you’re starting off a new year, and then lose your way. One way to improve your shot at success with a financial resolution is to come up with realistic and simple plan.

To make it easier, Coombs is a fan of automating savings to a retirement account or a high-yield savings account. “It’s so easy to set up one time when you are fired up, and then that [action] pays dividends for the rest of the year,” he said.

If you’re the type of person who finds that their motivation wanes after a few months, he suggests digging deep to understand your own motivations and even employing the help of another person.

“Tie it [your goal] to a strong, intrinsic, visceral desire… Do not set goals simply because you feel like you should, out of obligation, or social pressure,” said Coombs. “Studies have shown that sharing your goal with others and writing the goal down often strengthens your commitment to it.”