3 Money Mistakes Americans Regret Making in 2025 — and How To Avoid Them
Written by
Gabrielle Olya
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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Despite a tough financial year in 2025, many Americans are optimistic about the year ahead. A recent Intuit Credit Karma study found that although 49% of Americans believe that their financial situation worsened in 2025, 45% feel confident in their ability to reach their 2026 financial goals. One way they’re ensuring this is by reflecting on the missteps they made over the past year, and looking for ways to course-correct.
Here are their top financial regrets of 2025 — and how to avoid them in 2026.
Regret No. 1: Not Building Savings
The top financial regret of 2025 was not saving money (38%) — but even if you’re one of the many Americans who didn’t save last year, you can turn things around in 2026.
“The key to success and sticking to better financial habits in the new year is not just to set goals, but to build systems of accountability, whether that’s with a partner, family member or using a financial app,” said Courtney Alev, consumer financial advocate at Intuit Credit Karma.
She also recommended setting achievable milestones, budgeting with intention and treating savings like a non-negotiable.
“Even small automatic transfers each paycheck or directing tax refunds straight into savings can build momentum and confidence for the year ahead,” Alev said.
Regret No. 2: Impulse Spending
The No. 2 regret over the last year was making impulse purchases (28%).
“Impulse spending is often driven by stress and emotion, so the first step is creating a ‘pause point’ to slow down the decision-making process,” Alev said. “Given how easy it is to impulse buy with features like one-click checkout, a concrete rule is essential.”
Alev recommended waiting 24 hours to make any small purchases, and up to a week or a month for bigger purchases.
“For me, when I come across an item I’m tempted to buy, I add it to my Notes app instead of making an impulse purchase,” she said. “I find that if I wait one day, I’m not as interested in at least half of the purchases I thought I wanted to make at the moment.”
Setting simple rules for nonessential purchases, like placing monetary limits on discretionary spending, can also help curb impulsive behavior.
Regret No. 3: Racking Up Credit Card Debt
The No. 3 regret was accumulating too much credit card debt (21%). If you’re heading into the new year with debt, make a plan to tackle it.
“Knowledge is power, and by understanding balances and interest rates, consumers can then prioritize paying down high-interest cards while continuing to make minimum payments on the rest,” Alev said.
A realistic budget and directing any extra funds toward balances can accelerate progress, she added.
“It’s also important to be mindful of taking on any additional debt while trying to pay down credit card debt,” Alev said.
Small changes now can help Americans enter 2026 on a stronger financial footing.
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