10 Financial Resolutions For 2026 | Discover Personal Loans

If you have made financial resolutions in the past and stumbled on your way to achieving them, you’re not alone. Creating specific goals may help you bring you greater financial peace of mind as the economy ebbs and flows.

A key to reaching big goals may be to divide them into small, doable steps, like the ten suggested financial resolutions for 2026 listed below. It’s ok if things don’t go perfectly—just keep moving forward.

1. Create or revise your budget

If you have a budget, the beginning of a new year is the perfect time to review it. Maybe your income or expenses have changed, or you’ve accrued more debt than you anticipated. You can adjust your budget to your current financial picture and set your financial goals from there.

Don’t have a budget? Not to worry. It’s also a great moment to assess your financial picture and build a budget. Budgeting can be intimidating if you have never done it. The only trick is to find a budget approach that works for you. No matter which method you choose, you’ll want to start by assessing your income, monthly expenses, outstanding debt, and savings goals.

2. Pay down debt

According to Motley Fool Money, paying off debt is the number one financial resolution for most Americans. If debt management tops your list, you might resolve to pay off a chunk of your higher-interest debt in 2026. Credit cards are a form of revolving debt; if you don’t pay you full balance each month, you’ll owe more than the amount you originally borrowed because of interest charges.

With your budget in hand, look at whether you might increase the amount you pay each month on your credit cards. Boosting your monthly payments, even by an extra $25 or $50 per month, may help you pay down your higher-interest debt faster.

And the bonus? Reducing your outstanding debt may even help improve your credit score, which tells lenders about your creditworthiness.

3. Build confidence through personal finance literacy

Whether you are a beginner or have been budgeting for years, learning more about personal finance could be a great financial goal. The wealth of excellent information online makes it easier than ever to learn. You can also find accessible books and articles. Your local library may offer financial literacy education opportunities. Be sure to look for credible sources and avoid financial fads.

To start, resolve to learn about debt: not all debt is the same. Debt can be considered either good or bad. Bad debt, such as high-interest debt or payday loans, might cost you more in interest and hold you back from reaching your financial resolutions. On the flip side, good debt might help you establish credit and build wealth. Mortgages, student loans, and other installment loans are all examples of loans that may help boost your credit health.

4. Plan for medical costs

It may not come as a surprise that healthcare costs are expected to rise in 2026. Knowing this, planning ahead and budgeting may help relieve financial stress. Budget for anticipated medical expenses, like planned doctor visits or dental work, for example.

You’ll need to be prepared for unexpected medical expenses, too. Saving a small additional amount each month just in case of unplanned costs like these can be a helpful goal.

5. Review insurance coverage

As you work on your 2026 budget, another smart financial goal may be to review insruance policies to understand if you have the coverage you need. Many health insurance policies begin at the new year, for example. Shopping around rather than auto-renewing could help you find savings if your premiums are rising.

It could also be helpful to review and update other types of insurance, such as auto, life, and home insurance policies, at the same time. Budgeting for these expenses is important for you and your family, as they can provide peace of mind. It is always advisable to consult with a financial advisor or benefits counselor as you make these decisions.

6. Save for your retirement

Retirement may seem far away or out of reach, but it is important to think about before the time comes. Building a retirement fund is a great New Year’s resolution, but the cost of living may make it challenging.

Check out options like a 401(k) or another tax-deferred savings plan, if you have access to one through your employer. Calculate how a small contribution or increase to your current contribution affects your take-home pay.¹ If you can increase your contribution, even by 1%, it may add up over time. Before making any changes, be sure to consult a tax professional or financial advisor.

7. Get a handle on education expenses

If you or a child is planning to go to college or pursue other training, you already know that education costs can be steep. That’s why anticipating and saving for education costs is an important financial goal. A student loan might help you pay for school-related expenses, such as tuition, housing, and fees, but note any impact that education loan payments or expenses might have on your budget. The start of the year is a good time to estimate what you are likely to spend.

8. Make the most of your home

Remember the “good debt” we talked about earlier, which can help improve your financial position? Now is a good time to see if setting a 2026 financial goal to make home improvements fits into your budget. If so, consider scheduling and budgeting for those improvements so they can be tackled during the right season.

You could research a home improvement loan to cover the cost of many home-related expenses—whether you are fixing the roof, replacing the kitchen cabinets, or adding an extra bathroom.

9. Support your favorite cause

There is no shortage of worthy charities around the world. No matter what your preferred cause is, you could resolve to make an impact without breaking your budget. Every little bit helps, so focus on how you might plan for charitable giving within your budget. If you are unable to support a cause financially, you could consider budgeting your time and talent to help out in your community.

10. Add an extra paycheck

One way to give your bank account a little extra breathing room is by making money during your free time. There are plenty of “side hustles” out there—from freelancing and food delivery to babysitting and dog walking. Resolve to find something you enjoy and see if there is a way to make money doing it. With more money coming in, you might be able to achieve your financial goals that much sooner.

How to make resolutions stick

While working on your financial health throughout 2026, don’t forget to recognize all your hard work. Take a moment to de-stress and reflect on your progress. You’ve earned it. Maybe treat yourself to a special cup of coffee, a nice dinner, or something you’ve had your eye on. Whatever your reward, keep in mind the 50/30/20 budgeting rule—try to use 50% of your available funds to needs, 30% to wants, and 20% to savings/debt repayment.

With these New Year’s resolutions and clear financial goals for 2026 in mind, you might want to think of other ways to improve your financial health. For instance, you may save money on higher-interest debt with a debt consolidation loan. You could use the money you save on interest, for example, to build up your emergency fund.

With a Discover® personal loan, you can make one set regular monthly payment that you can plan for and build into your budget. In fact, over 3 million people reached their goals with the help of a Discover personal loan.

Commit to any one of these New Year’s financial resolutions, start practicing the financial habits that will help you reach them, and you could be able to set even bigger goals next year.

One small step at a time, you really could make progress over the course of a year.

¹ https://www.fidelity.com/viewpoints/retirement/save-more

10 Financial Goals for 2026