Almost 60% of people say that 2026 will be better for their wallet than 2025, according to a new WalletHub survey released today. In order to provide a playbook for how to overcome financial obstacles and make improvements in the new year, WalletHub also released its list of the Top 16 Financial Resolutions for 2026.
Key Findings
- Hope for a More Prosperous Year: Almost 60% of people say that 2026 will be better for their wallet than 2025.
- Less Money to Celebrate With: More than 3 in 5 Americans expect to spend less money on New Year’s plans this year compared to last year.
- New Year, New Financial Goals: More than 1 in 4 Americans are planning to make finance-related New Year’s resolutions.
- Building Savings Tops Financial Resolutions: 31% of people making a financial resolution say they want to save more.
- Inflation Anxiety Persists: More than half of Americans say inflation is their biggest financial concern for 2026.
- Quiet Commitments: Nearly 3 in 5 people say they will keep their resolutions a secret this year.
| WalletHub’s Top Resolutions for 2026 | ||
| 1. Make a realistic budget & stick to it | 9. Look for a better job | |
| 2. Save more money | 10. Get an A in financial literacy | |
| 3. Get a 4%+ return on your cash | 11. Use utility bills & rent payments to build credit | |
| 4. Explore ways to refinance high interest rates | 12. Focus on physical health, given its strong connection to financial health | |
| 5. Use different credit cards for everyday purchases & debt | 13. Make sure you have enough insurance for a catastrophe | |
| 6. Repay 25% of your credit card debt | 14. Protect your identity | |
| 7. Pay bills right after getting your paycheck | 15. Join a credit union | |
| 8. Fight back against inflation | 16. Improve your WalletScore | |
“It’s interesting that nearly 60% of people expect more financial success in 2026 than they enjoyed in 2025, yet only 26% of people plan to make a finance-related New Year’s resolution, according to a new WalletHub survey. Hope is not a strategy and we’re far from a situation where a rising tide is lifting all boats, so people need to make some concrete plans for how they’re going to turn their financial dreams into reality. The most popular financial resolution for 2026 is to save more money, and pulling that off can be as simple as making a budget and tracking your expenses. Regardless of what your top priority is, everyone needs a financial gameplan for the year. Otherwise, you’re probably going to wind up repeating mistakes from 2025.”
- John Kiernan, WalletHub Editor
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