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6 Game-Changing Money Resolutions That Actually Work
By Liliana Hall MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
Big resolutions fade fast. Here are small, sustainable goals with outsized impact.
Money resolutions only stick if they’re built to last. About 61% of U.S. adults center their New Year’s resolutions around money or finances, according to data from the Pew Research Center. The follow-through is a different story: An October Vanguard survey found that nearly 75% of Americans fell short of their money resolutions in 2025.
For many people, unrealistic goals are the sticking point. Overly ambitious resolutions fade fast, so instead of attempting a total financial overhaul, focus on small, sustainable changes with outsized impact.
Here are a few of our favorites.
1. Put your savings on autopilot
Directing a portion of each paycheck into a high-yield savings account (HYSA) is one of the easiest ways to build your savings.
As of this writing, the best HYSAs offer annual percentage yields (APYs) above 4% — more than 10 times the national average. Bread Savings and Newtek Bank, for two, are offering 4.05% 4.35% APYs, respectively.
The upside is twofold: You’re less likely to spend what you don’t see, and you never have to remember to manually make the transfer yourself.
If you’re unsure how much you can realistically afford to set aside, budgeting apps can help you see exactly where your money is going and pinpoint an amount that won’t disrupt your cash flow.
2. Max your 401(k) match
If your employer offers a retirement match incentive — typically up to 4% or 5% of your salary — this is something you should be taking advantage of.
The start of the year is a good time to reassess your retirement account, review how much you’re contributing each month and make sure you’re not leaving free money on the table.
3. Trim the (financial) fat
Recurring bills can quietly add up. Between forgotten subscriptions and surprise price hikes, it’s easy to pay for services you no longer need (or even use).
Doing a quick audit of your monthly expenses can free up cash with relatively little effort. You can do this manually, by reviewing your bank statements line by line, or use a budgeting app to automate the process.
4. Get organized
Staying on top of your finances isn’t just about budgeting and cutting back — it also means knowing exactly where your most important documents live. From insurance policies and tax records to IDs and passports, scattered paperwork can make everything from filing taxes to handling emergencies unnecessarily stressful.
Backing up and centralizing key documents in one secure place is a resolution that pays off year-round. Digital vault tools are built for this purpose, and let you store important documents, passwords and identification cards in a single encrypted digital hub.
5. Prioritize stability over strategy
You may have heard of the “pay yourself first” method, which emphasizes sending money straight to your investment and savings accounts as soon as your paycheck hits. The idea is simple, but if you’re working your way out of debt, it’s not ideal.
Prioritizing essential expenses that have real consequences when ignored — like rent, student loans and credit card payments — helps sustain a solid financial foundation. If your resolution for 2026 is to make meaningful progress on paying down debt, take care of your budget non-negotiables before spending money elsewhere.
6. Build your budget to last
The goal of budgeting isn’t to deprive yourself of the things you enjoy, but to make your money work harder for you.
Start by mapping out your income and fixed expenses, then set aside a realistic amount for discretionary spending. Tools that track spending and categorize expenses can make this process easier — and help you adjust as your habits and priorities change over time.
Be it budgeting, tracking, or planning, Quicken Simplifi is the way to go
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Liliana Hall is an Austin-based reporter for Money, where she covers a range of topics, including financial news, policy, banking, investing, passive income, financial planning and student loan debt. Passionate about accessibility and financial literacy, she’s dedicated to helping readers navigate the complexities of money management and feel empowered to make informed decisions about their financial futures. Previously, Liliana covered all angles of personal finance as a writer and editor at CreditCards.com, Bankrate and CNET. Before she ever wrote about money, she worked in a handful of newsrooms across Austin, Texas, covering everything from the Texas Legislature to SXSW and the 2019 Men’s NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Her work has been featured in The Daily Texan, Austin Chronicle and KUT. A Texas native, Liliana graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. When she’s offline, you can probably find her paddle boarding on Lady Bird Lake, riding her moped around town or reading for her book club.