4 Tips To Achieve the Most Popular Money Goals for 2026

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Imagine this: It’s Jan. 1, 2025. Two friends set the same money goals — build savings, pay down debt and get better with their finances. Pretty standard; millions of people make the same resolutions every year.

One friend sets up a simple system: an automatic transfer, a realistic budget and a plan to tackle the highest-interest balance first. The other relies on willpower alone, with no concrete plan. By December, their goals are still identical, but their results are vastly different. The difference isn’t motivation. It was structure.

That’s the gap heading into 2026. Goals like building an emergency fund and moving your cash into a HYSA are still the most common, as per Vanguard’s latest study. But systems are what actually move you forward. Here’s how experts say to build the ones that work.

Set a Real Savings Target and Put It in the Right Account

Most people know they need an emergency fund, but they rarely decide how much they can realistically save or whether their money is sitting in the right place. Kate Byrne, head of Vanguard Cash Plus Distribution, said the first step is simply getting specific.

“It’s crucial consumers set aside time to prioritize their savings strategy. I often set a quick goal of how much money per month or paycheck I can save after non-negotiable expenses like mortgage, food and childcare expenses, and check the yield on where I’m putting these savings to make sure I am earning strong returns,” she said.

The second step is making sure your emergency savings isn’t stuck in a low-yield account.

“Oftentimes, investors will leave the savings they have in a traditional bank savings account, where yields average just 0.40%, when they could be earning significantly more in another savings vehicle,” Byrne said. “For example, Vanguard’s Cash Plus Account currently yields 3.50%, allowing investors to earn an additional $30 annually on every $1,000 saved.”

Automation can help reinforce the habit, but the bigger wins come from clarity and account choice. “Even if you don’t feel like you have a lot to contribute, consider starting small by automating a portion of your paycheck, even $10 or $20, to a high-yielding savings vehicle to help build up your savings buffer,” Byrne said. Even one small transfer every payday becomes easier when you know exactly how much you can save and you’re earning a stronger return on it.

Pay Off High-Interest Debt in the Right Order

Once your savings system is in place, the next bottleneck is debt. Richard Barrington, financial analyst for Credit Sesame, recommends starting with a simple ranking exercise.

“If you have multiple debts, look at the interest rate you pay on each one and rank them from the highest to the lowest interest rate,” he said. “The most efficient way to pay down debt is to first start with the most expensive ones first which brings down the amount you pay in interest.”

With the avalanche method squared away, your next step is to look at cheaper alternatives.

“After ranking your debts by the interest rate, check if you can transfer any of your high-interest balances to more affordable forms of debt,” Barrington said. “Personal loans generally have lower interest rates than credit cards. If you don’t think you can pay off your credit cards within a few months, consider using a loan to pay off some of those balances. A zero-interest-balance-transfer credit card is an alternative.”

Save More Consistently by Automating Your Decisions

Consistency is where most resolutions fall apart. Robert R. Johnson, PhD, CFA, CAIA, professor of finance at Creighton University, said saving should be treated as a required line item. He cited Warren Buffett’s principle: “Do not save what is left after spending; instead, spend what is left after saving.”

Automation helps with follow-through. “People should try and automate as many financial decisions as they can,” Johnson said. “One of the best ways to save money is to make it automatic … essentially, out of sight, out of mind.”

Bonus Tip: Boost Your Income

As Leslie H. Tayne, Esq., finance and debt expert and founder of Tayne Law Group, put it: “Sometimes, decreasing spending isn’t enough to be successful with new financial goals. Boosting your income can make a big difference, and it can be easier than you think. Picking up a side gig as a food delivery driver or dog sitting for your neighbor can help put extra cash in your pocket and speed up progress towards financial goals.”

Even occasional gig shifts, like renting out something you already own or taking a small freelance project, can create breathing room.

The Bottom Line

The goals aren’t new, but your approach can be. With better tools, clearer priorities and habits that run automatically, the financial resolutions you’ve struggled with for years become a lot more achievable.

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