When it comes to financial wellness, big goals are nearly as important as the small habits which get you there. Pick and choose from these small money changes, which can have an outsize impact on your 2026 financial goals.
Limit Meals Out: A meal that costs fifteen dollars (plus tax, plus tip) at a restaurant may cost a couple dollars to prepare at home. Learning a few cheap, nutritious recipes is well worth the investment.
Use Public Transportation: Try doing a car-free day once or twice per week. You may discover the transport options are convenient enough to leave the car at home (and save on gas) more often.
Autosave From Your Paycheck: Talk to your credit union or bank about automated savings accounts, so you can put a portion of your paycheck directly into an account for emergencies, vacations, or another savings goal.
Delete Delivery Apps: Receiving items directly to your door is fast and convenient, but between tips and convenience fees, the costs add up fast. To avoid temptation, delete delivery apps from your device.
Cancel Subscriptions: Take an hour to list all your subscriptions (media, entertainment, delivery) and cancel any services you haven’t used in a month. You can always re-start if you need it.
Pay Yourself First: Don’t leave savings goals at the bottom of your budget. Instead, pay yourself first by contributing to key savings accounts—retirement, emergency vacation fund—before divvying up the rest of your funds.
Buy in Bulk: If you’ve got the storage space, buy in bulk. Per unit costs on bulk items are significantly cheaper—just be sure you’re only buying items you need and will use before they expire.
Do “Zero Dollar” Days: Designate one or two days per week as “zero dollar days,” which means no spending allowed. Bring your lunch to work, make coffee at home, and leave your wallet behind.
Shop Secondhand: Thrift stores have it all; from clothing to party platters to sports gear. Maybe you won’t find the exact product you’re looking for, but you might be surprised by what’s available—and how inexpensive it is.
Meal Plan: Planning meals for the week, then only buying the items you need at the grocery store, is a great way to reduce food spending as well as daily stress over what to make for dinner.
Don’t Shop Online: While prices look lower online, digital shopping can lead to impulse buys, missed return windows, and products you don’t need. Try no online shopping for a month, then re-evaluate a longer-term habit change.
24-Hour Basket Rule: If you can’t avoid shopping online, try leaving items in your basket for twenty-four hours before making a purchase. As a bonus, retailers sometimes offer additional coupons to basket-holders who wait.
Drop Streaming Platforms: Instead of paying for six streaming platforms, only subscribe to one platform at a time and rotate every month. You’ll reduce subscription fatigue and save a good chunk of money in the process.
Get a New Card: Earning cash-back through a trusted credit card is a simple way to save money even when you spend. Check out consumer-friendly cards with no gimmicks from Harvard FCU.