Americans Set Financial Resolutions for 2026 — and Short-Term Savings Leads the List

Intermediate | January 5, 2026

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Why financial resolutions for 2026 feel different

As 2026 kicks off, a lot of Americans are taking a hard look at their budgets and saying, “Alright… time to get serious.” These financial resolutions for 2026 are less about big dreams and more about getting stability back. A recent Fidelity Investments study found that 64% of U.S. adults are considering a financial resolution for the new year—up from 56% the year before. (Fidelity study) And here’s the interesting twist: people aren’t dreaming big about the distant future. They’re mostly trying to get the next few months under control.

Short-Term Savings Beats Long-Term Planning

For the second year in a row, people who want to “save more money” are focusing more on short-term savings goals than long-term goals (52% vs. 48%). (Fidelity study PDF) In plain English: fewer people are thinking about retirement first, and more are thinking about things like credit card debt, emergency savings, mortgage payments, and big-ticket purchases.

The Top 3 Goals Stay the Same

Even though the mood feels different, the top financial goals are familiar:

Save more money (44%)
Pay down debt (36%)
Spend less (30%)

(Fidelity study PDF)

It’s not flashy, but it’s realistic. When prices feel high and life feels unpredictable, most people aren’t chasing “financial freedom” on social media—they’re trying to stop the monthly money leak.

Why So Many People Feel Stressed

The same study found that 55% of Americans feel overwhelmed by their personal finances, and 31% describe their relationship with money as stressful. (Fidelity study PDF) Younger adults feel this pressure the most: 68% of Millennials and 64% of Gen Z said they feel overwhelmed.

And the concerns are practical: people worry about finding money to save after paying bills, staying on top of monthly payments, and handling future health care and retirement costs.

2025 Was a Rough Year for Many Households

Another reason short-term savings is trending? A lot of people got hit with setbacks in 2025. Fidelity found that 72% experienced some type of financial setback last year. (Fidelity study PDF) The most common issue was having significantly less money due to rising everyday prices (33%), and 20% reported an unexpected non-health emergency.

Looking ahead, people’s top concern for 2026 is still the impact of rising everyday prices (45%), followed by unexpected expenses (31%) and rising health care or insurance costs (28%).

The Surprisingly Positive Part

Here’s the good news: even with all this stress, many people aren’t giving up. The study found that about 70% of respondents feel they’re in a similar or better financial situation than last year, and 43% say they feel better about their finances now than they did five years ago.

In other words, the vibe is: “Yes, things are tough… but I’m not powerless.” That’s why short-term savings goals are so popular—they’re something you can actually control.

Vocabulary

Resolution (noun) – a firm decision or goal for the future.
Example: Her resolution for 2026 is to save money every month.
Short-term (adjective) – focused on the near future, not a long time away.
Example: He set short-term goals like paying off his credit card.
Financial setback (noun) – a problem that hurts your money situation.
Example: A car repair became a major financial setback.
Overwhelmed (adjective) – feeling like something is too much to handle.
Example: She felt overwhelmed by bills and rising prices.
Inflation (noun) – when prices rise and money buys less.
Example: Inflation made groceries noticeably more expensive.
Emergency fund (noun) – money saved for unexpected problems.
Example: Building an emergency fund helped him feel safer.
Pay down (phrasal verb) – to reduce debt gradually.
Example: They are paying down their loans little by little.
Big-ticket (adjective) – expensive, high-cost.
Example: A new refrigerator is a big-ticket purchase.
Budget (noun) – a plan for how you will spend and save money.
Example: She made a budget so she could stop overspending.
Peace of mind (noun) – a calm feeling because you feel secure.
Example: Saving money gave him peace of mind.

Discussion Questions (About the Article)

Why do you think short-term savings goals are more popular than long-term goals right now?
Which of the top three financial resolutions (save more, pay down debt, spend less) feels most realistic for you?
What does it mean when people say they feel “overwhelmed” by their finances?
What kinds of financial setbacks do you think are most common for families?
What part of the article felt most relatable—and why?

Discussion Questions (About the Topic)

Do you think making a financial resolution actually helps people change? Why or why not?
What’s one simple habit that can help someone save more money?
Is it better to focus on paying down debt or building an emergency fund first? Explain.
How do rising everyday prices change the way people plan their future?
What does a “healthy relationship with money” look like in real life?

Related Idiom

“Get your house in order” – organize your life (or finances) before trying bigger goals.
Example: Many people are trying to get their house in order by building short-term savings first.

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Sources (for reference and deeper reading):

This article was inspired by Fox Business and Fidelity Investments.