Want a stronger 2026 budget? Start by looking back at last year

(InvestigateTV) — It is a new year, and for many people that means new resolutions and fresh financial goals.

If you want to set yourself up for a stronger 2026, experts say you should begin by looking back at the goals you set in 2025.

Leslie Tayne, a debt relief attorney, said it is important to revisit your goals from last year and whether you accomplished them so you can learn what to do differently this year.

“This way you can set up a similar situation for success this year,” Tayne said. “Perhaps you want to put more money into savings or this year since interest rates are down, you might want to do a different type of investment vehicle. Other than a short-term savings account, maybe you didn’t put as much money as you’d like to put away in savings, and this year it’s more important than ever to put money away.”

Tayne recommends looking closely at your budget for the upcoming year and then making specific money goals so you have a very narrow vision of what you need to accomplish.

“The more detailed you can get the better off you are at being successful with that, because if you leave it general, I just want to save, but you didn’t set yourself a road map, how much money, how often, where you’re putting it, it will be more difficult to stick to the plan. So be really specific when it comes to goals,” she said.

One of her key strategies is to automate your savings. She suggests having money come out of your paycheck every week or every other week and setting up a separate account for that money to go into.

If you are getting bonuses, she said, put some of that money into that separate account too. It can help you reach your savings goals for the year faster.

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