Almost half of Americans still haven’t got their finances in order. Without a plan, money decisions tend to be pretty reactive, driven by stress and short-term needs
A new year is a good time to take a fresh look, but it’s all too easy to fall back into old patterns because our resolutions tend to be pretty vague. “Save more” is a case in point. Without any clear idea of how to actually make it happen, your financial resolutions become pointless. Here are practical financial resolutions for 2026.
Planing Retirement
You don’t start thinking about retirement in your 50s anymore; the sooner you start planning, the better.
More and more people are also looking into retiring abroad for a variety of reasons:
- a lower cost of living
- access to good health care
- a slower pace of life
Whether this is your dream or not, without a plan, you might find yourself having to put off retiring for years or give up on a comfortable retirement as a whole. Besides, relying on Social Security alone is unlikely to be enough, so it pays to get started as soon as possible.
Laying Out a Realistic Financial Plan
A financial plan is all about having a clear structure to your spending, savings, investments, and long-term goals. The problem is that many Americans just don’t see the need for one.
One common myth is that financial planning is only for people who earn a lot of money. But the truth is, it’s often most useful when times are tough. So it’s worth considering working with a financial planner, especially if you want the right kind of advice from someone who understands your professional challenges.
When to Save, When to Invest
The question is: Should you save or should you invest? The reality is that a lot of Americans can only do one or the other at a time. So it’s helpful to know when to prioritize which.
Saving should be the priority if you don’t have an emergency fund or your income is pretty unstable. The same goes if you’ve got a big chunk of high-interest debt. In those situations, stability and flexibility are what matter most.
It’s only once you’ve got the basics in place that investing becomes a good idea. For most people, that’s not about trading stocks or building a rental property empire. Employer-sponsored retirement plans and a low-cost portfolio of well-diversified index funds are great places to start. The key is to make consistent small contributions over time, rather than trying to make a big splash (which is more likely to end in a big flop).
Side Hustling
Side hustles are popular because they give you a bit of breathing room, even ifthey don’t suddenly make you rich. So, whether it’s to save up, pay off debt, or maybe even make a small investment, an extra income stream can be a real help.
For people just starting out, the best side hustles are often the ones that use existing skills. Freelance work, consulting, tutoring, or digital services are all often easier to pick up than trying to jump into something completely new.
Financial growth in 2026 is all about taking small, consistent steps in the right direction. So, this January, why not make it your mission to build toward a better financial future?
