Your top New Year's resolutions for 2026

Creating a budget doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s always good to know what you’ve got coming in each month, so you can avoid overspending – and maybe even find ways to save money!

A budget doesn’t mean you know exactly to the penny what you will actually spend, but it’s a good way to know how much you can afford to spend in each area of your life. A budget will help you keep on top of necessities like rent/​mortgage and bills, expenses like travel costs or toiletries, and less frequent but more pricey things like car insurance, glasses or Christmas presents.

By making it your New Year’s resolution to create – or update – your budget for 2026, you can go into the year knowing you’re on top of your finances from day one.

If you’ve never created a budget before, why not use the documents below to get started?

While saving isn’t possible for everyone, if you’re able to put aside even a little bit of money each month, this could be a New Year’s resolution your future self will thank you for. To get started, you might want to set yourself some fun money saving challenges.

First, decide what your savings pot is for. Is it going to be set aside, only for emergencies, like car or home repairs? Or would you like to save towards something specific this year, like a holiday or new home?

Next, decide on a savings goal. How much this is will depend on what you’re saving for. For example, if you’d like to save up for a new sofa, you could do some research and estimate how much this will cost. You can then use your budget to work out how much you’re able to save towards it each month, and estimate how long it will take to reach your goal.

If you’re saving money towards an emergency pot without a specific cost attached, you could either set a monthly goal, such as putting aside £20 a month, or set an annual goal, such as having £500 saved by the end of 2026.

Perhaps you’re saving for something that will take a really long time, either because it’s expensive or you’re not able to save much each month. Don’t give up! Every £1 you’re able to put aside is one step closer to your goal.

The main thing is to be realistic, and not put aside more than you can actually afford to. If you keep needing to dip into your savings pot, then your budget isn’t actually sustainable, and you’ll never reach your goal. It’s better to build up slowly and steadily.

Maybe it will take five years to save up for that family holiday you’ve always wished for, but when you finally hit your goal, it’ll be so worth it. For specific tips on saving for a holiday, you can read our blog.

Whether you’re able to save £5 a month or £100, making saving your New Year’s resolution also means you’ll be more prepared for unexpected costs in the future, meaning you’re able to withstand any financial shocks that come your way.

As we enter 2026, why not make a New Year’s resolution to spend a bit less this year? You might be wondering what on earth you can cut back, when things are already tight. But saving on the small things isn’t about going without. It’s about being aware of what you can buy less often, or buy cheaper.

Here are just a few ways that, with a little bit of planning, could help you save those pennies throughout 2026:

• Taking lunch and drinks to work, so you don’t need to buy food and drink while out

• Trying out cheaper brands of foods, toiletries and other items

• Shopping second hand for clothes, setting a limit on how many you buy, and selling what you no longer wear

• Planning meals and batch cooking for the week, so you only buy the ingredients you need (and are less tempted to order takeaway when the food runs out!). See our supermarket tips for saving money.

• Shopping around for cheaper energy tariffs, broadband, insurance etc. If you’re struggling to pay your bills, check out our blog to see what support could be available to you.

Whether money is tight all year round or you’re feeling the squeeze after Christmas, January can be a great time to start prioritising your mental wellbeing. 

With the days still cold and dark, your budget feeling the strain, and going back to work after some time off, January can feel quite heavy compared to the celebrations and rest that Christmas (sometimes!) brings.

Here are some tips for boosting your mood and improving your mental wellbeing this year.

When you move your body, it releases endorphins (feel good hormones) and helps reduce stress, as well as improving your cognitive abilities such as thinking and focusing.

Even though the daylight hours are limited, you might want to set a New Year’s resolution to get out of the house every day, even for a short trip to the shop or round the block – it doesn’t have to be long!

You’ll have heard so many times how important it is to make sure you’re drinking enough water. There are so many benefits, from improved brain function and energy levels, to preventing headaches and other physical ailments.

After Christmas, when you might have eaten more treats and snacks, or had some celebratory drinks, your body will thank you for those extra couple of glasses of water throughout the day.

When everyone is back to work, school and daily life, things can get busy really quickly. It can feel lonely, not knowing when you’ll next see your friends or family and being rushed back into the day to day chaos. Why not make a resolution to stay in touch with someone this year that you would like to connect with more?

It might mean pencilling in a date or two ahead of time, before your schedules get too busy, or setting a reminder to check in by text once a fortnight. There is no right or wrong way to stay connected, and you can find what works best for you. But relationships are vital for our mental wellbeing, so if you often feel the post-Christmas loneliness or wish you’d seen your loved ones more in 2025, maybe this one’s for you.

Life is busy. There is no doubt about it. From the moment you get up in the morning, maybe you’re making breakfast for the kids then taking them to school, then working or sorting the house out before picking the kids up, taking them to after school clubs, making dinner, sorting bath and bedtimes and then cleaning up, all to crawl into bed exhausted. Or maybe you’re working all hours, commuting and travelling or looking after others in your life. We all need a moment to pause.

It’s not always possible to take a day off, and we can’t just create more time. But what we can do is create intention pauses throughout the day, whether they’re 20 minutes or five.

Maybe it’s a cup of tea – still warm! – before everyone else wakes up. Maybe it’s going for a walk on your lunch break. Maybe it’s taking half an hour to read the next chapter of your book before bed. Maybe it’s a few deep breaths before school pick up.

Just taking a few moments for yourself can be a great way to reset your nervous system. You can restore a sense of calm and safety to your body by breathing deep and slow, being in the moment and taking just a few minutes to yourself, where nothing is being demanded of you.

If you’re worried about money going into 2026, don’t worry alone. Confide in someone you love and trust, whether it’s a friend, pastor, family member or colleague.

There are steps you can take this New Year to get on top of your finances, but that all starts by being honest about where things are at, and admitting if things aren’t working.

Struggling with your finances is nothing to be ashamed of, and there is help available. Suffering in silence only makes you feel isolated, and makes it feel even harder to reach out. Why not make it your New Year’s resolution in 2026 to share with one person what you’re struggling with, and figure out a way forward – together?

Maybe you’re ending 2025 with some debts. As we hit 2026, why not make your resolution to get out of debt and start afresh?

This might mean working out a budget where you’re able to start making repayments. Perhaps it’s checking to see if you’re eligible for any extra income, such as benefits. You can check what you’re entitled to using our benefits calculator, in partnership with Turn2us.

We also offer free, professional debt advice across the UK. Find your local debt centre today and see how we can help get you out of debt, starting now.

If you don’t yet have a Will, perhaps your New Year’s resolution for 2026 could be to create one! A Will is just one way to help plan for the future, financially – for your loved ones. CAP can help you create a Will for free today, if that’s something you’d like to do.

Taking this one step at the start of this year could make all the difference for your loved ones in the future.

Whatever New Year’s resolutions you decide to put into practice in 2026, be encouraged that even the small steps you take will make a big difference. Every decision you make, from creating a budget that works for you, to choosing to get your debts sorted out, will help you build a future where you can manage your money with confidence.