How are your 2026 resolutions going?
06 January 2026The long, dark (and it appears very cold) month of January marches on, and life can easily get in the way of any well-considered New Year’s resolutions that you may have. As with other years, the statistics for this year are interesting.
The online research group YouGov has looked at New Year’s resolutions and what most plan to focus on. More can be found here: https://yougov.co.uk/society/articles/53756-what-new-years-resolutions-are-britons-making-for-2026
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The key headlines from this poll are:
- 19% of Britons said they intend to make New Year’s resolutions for 2026
- Young people are the most likely to be making resolutions, with 37% of 18–24-year-olds saying they will do so
- Health pledges top the list of resolutions, with 23% of those making promises to themselves for the new year saying they intend to get fit or exercise more
- 38% of those who say they made New Year’s resolutions for 2025 say they have kept to all of them
(Source: YouGov website)
Whether or not you have any New Year’s resolutions for 2026, make yourself one promise (that you can keep) for your money planning. It doesn’t have to be a big one (but the more you can do the better):
- Save a bit each month for your children / grandchildren
- Use a suitable tax allowance before the end of the tax year
- Pay an extra amount off your credit card each month for 12 months
- Save your small coin change in a bottle or jar to see how much you collect over a year
- Make a Will if you don’t have one
- Use a gift allowance if affordable and suitable
- Check to see that your cash savings are earning interest. With higher interest rates, you should be getting some return on your cash
- Read your credit card and bank statements every month to make sure there are no errors
- Watch the Chancellor’s Spring Statement on 03 March 2026
These are just a few ideas of how small changes might just make a positive difference to 2026. There will be much to consider in the first part of the year as we reach the end of the tax year (2025/2026) at the beginning of April.
Taking time to be ready with your financial planning might make all the difference, particularly with a number of tax changes tabled for the new tax year.
No individual advice is contained within this blog.
Keith Churchouse FPFS
Director
CFP Chartered FCSI
Chartered Financial Planner
Chapters Financial Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, number 402899
