Happy New Year! With a brand new calendar year ahead of us, there’s no better time to do some financial reflecting and goal-setting for the future. Refreshing your commitment to yourself and your finances is a great way to kick off the year. Here are four financial goals to set in 2026.

1. Check in on your monthly budget.

A lot can change from year to year. The budget that worked for you six months ago might not work for you today, but finding time to sit down and reassess can be hard. Because your budget will guide your saving and spending choices, it’s important to make sure it still supports your larger goals.

Examine your income, spending and budgeting strategy. Looking to try something different? Explore a variety of budgeting methods, like the envelope method, the 50/30/20 method or the zero-balance budget, and find one that works well for your current financial needs.

Remember, the best budget is the one you can stick to. Don’t have a budget yet? Get started here.

2. Choose a strategy to tackle high-interest debt.

High-interest debt can be stressful, and tackling it can feel overwhelming. Having a plan — and sticking to it — makes a huge difference. There are many strategies for paying off debt, but two of the most popular are the snowball method and the avalanche method.

With the snowball method, you tackle the smallest balances first and use those small wins to build momentum. With the avalanche method, you focus on paying off loans with the highest interest rates first to minimize the interest you pay overall.

Learn more about these debt-reduction strategies, choose your preferred method and start eliminating debt in 2026.

3. Increase your savings by 1–5%.

You don’t have to wait until you’re 100% debt-free to start saving. In fact, when it comes to saving, time is your biggest asset. Try increasing the amount you’re saving by 5% this year. Remember, everyone starts somewhere. If you can’t raise your savings by 5% yet, start with raising it by just 1%, and increase that amount over time as you’re able. You’ll be surprised by what consistency can achieve.

Want to give your savings an extra leg up? Consider opening a Get Fit Account¹ or a Certificate Account so your money can make money by earning a higher interest rate, which means less work for you.

4. Get serious about retirement.

Once you’ve got your saving and budgeting goals in place, you’ll want to shift your focus to longer-term financial plans, like retirement. Sure, retirement might be decades away for you, but the earlier you start, the more you can save.

If you already have a 401(k) through your employer — and especially if they offer a good match — then you’re well on your way. A 401(k) is a great place to start your retirement journey.

If you need to open an account on your own or just want to supplement your 401(k), an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is one of the smartest options out there.² Interested? Learn more about the benefits of IRAs here.

We wish you the very best in achieving your financial goals in 2026! For more financial tips and resources, visit our Education page.

---

Posted In:

• General Education