Every January, millions of people set financial resolutions. By February, most have already forgotten them. Studies show that only 9% of Americans who make New Year's resolutions actually complete them. When it comes to money-saving goals, that number is even lower.
But here's the good news: the problem isn't willpower. It's strategy.
The most successful savers don't rely on motivation alone. They build systems that make saving money automatic, effortless, and even rewarding. As we head into 2026, let's look at seven money-saving goals that are designed to stick—not just for January, but for the entire year.
Why Most Financial Resolutions Fail
Before diving into the goals, it's worth understanding why so many financial resolutions fail:
- They're too vague ("I want to save more money")
- They're too ambitious ("I'll save $10,000 this year" without a plan)
- They require constant willpower (daily decisions drain motivation)
- They don't account for real life (unexpected expenses happen)
The goals below are different. Each one is specific, actionable, and designed to become a habit—not a chore.
Goal 1: Implement the 24-Hour Rule for Purchases Over $50
Impulse purchases are the silent killer of budgets. Research from the Journal of Consumer Psychology shows that 88% of impulse purchases are regretted within a week. The 24-hour rule is a simple but powerful way to combat this.
How It Works
Whenever you're about to make a non-essential purchase over $50, wait 24 hours before buying. Add it to your phone's notes or a wishlist, then revisit it the next day.
You'll find that most of the time, the urge has passed. And when you do decide to buy, you'll feel confident it's a purchase you actually want—not just a momentary impulse.
For online shopping, leave items in your cart overnight. Many retailers will send you a discount code to complete your purchase, saving you an extra 10-15%. Check our daily deals page to see current discounts before you buy.
Potential Annual Savings: $500-$1,500
Most Americans spend over $5,000 annually on impulse purchases. Cutting even 20% of those adds up fast.
Goal 2: Compare Prices Before Every Purchase Over $25
Here's a fact that might surprise you: the same product can cost 30-50% more at one retailer versus another. This isn't just during sales—it's true year-round. Retailers know most shoppers don't compare, so they price accordingly.
How It Works
Before making any purchase over $25, take 30 seconds to check the price at 2-3 other retailers. If you're shopping in-store, use a barcode scanner app like OneScan to instantly see prices at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and eBay without leaving the aisle.
This single habit can save hundreds of dollars per year without requiring you to sacrifice anything. You still buy what you want—you just pay less for it.
When to Compare
- Electronics - Prices vary wildly between stores
- Household items - Cleaning supplies, batteries, light bulbs
- Toys and games - Especially during gift-buying seasons
- Small appliances - Blenders, coffee makers, kitchen gadgets
Potential Annual Savings: $600-$1,200
If you make 50 purchases over $25 per year and save an average of $15 each time, that's $750 back in your pocket.
Goal 3: Track Every Dollar for One Month
You can't improve what you don't measure. The most eye-opening exercise any saver can do is track every single purchase for 30 days. Not to restrict spending—just to observe it.
How It Works
Use whatever method works for you:
- A notes app on your phone
- A spreadsheet
- A budgeting app like Mint, YNAB, or Copilot
Every time you spend money, log it. Coffee? Log it. Parking meter? Log it. Subscription renewal? Log it.
At the end of the month, categorize your spending and look at the totals. Most people are shocked by what they find—especially in categories like dining out, subscriptions, and small daily purchases.
What to Look For
- Recurring charges you forgot about - Old subscriptions, free trials that converted
- Category creep - Spending that slowly increased over time
- Emotional spending patterns - Do you spend more on stressful days?
Small daily purchases add up more than you think. A $6 coffee every workday is $1,560 per year. Not saying you should give it up—just be aware of it.
Potential Annual Savings: $1,000-$3,000
Awareness alone typically reduces spending by 10-15%. Combine it with intentional changes, and the savings multiply.
Goal 4: Adopt the 50/30/20 Budget Framework
If you've never had a budget that worked, the 50/30/20 rule might be the one that finally clicks. It's simple enough to remember and flexible enough to actually follow.
How It Works
Divide your after-tax income into three buckets:
| Category | Percentage | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Needs | 50% | Rent, utilities, groceries, insurance, minimum debt payments |
| Wants | 30% | Dining out, entertainment, hobbies, shopping, subscriptions |
| Savings | 20% | Emergency fund, retirement, investments, debt payoff beyond minimums |
The beauty of this system is its flexibility. You don't need to track every penny—just ensure your spending roughly aligns with these percentages.
Getting Started
- Calculate your monthly after-tax income
- Multiply by 0.5, 0.3, and 0.2 to get your targets
- Review your current spending against these targets
- Adjust gradually—even getting to 50/25/25 is a win
Potential Annual Savings: $2,000-$5,000+
Moving from saving 5% to saving 20% of a $50,000 income means an extra $7,500 per year.
Goal 5: Automate Your Savings
The most successful savers don't rely on willpower. They set up automatic transfers so saving happens before they even see the money. This is the "pay yourself first" principle in action.
How It Works
Set up automatic transfers from your checking account to your savings account. Schedule them for the day after your paycheck arrives.
Start small if you need to—even $50 per paycheck builds the habit. The key is consistency, not amount.
Automation Ideas
- Direct deposit split - Have a portion of your paycheck go directly to savings
- Round-up savings - Apps like Acorns round up purchases and invest the difference
- Bill payment automation - Avoid late fees by automating recurring bills
- Subscription for savings accounts - Some banks let you set up recurring deposits
Money you don't see is money you don't spend. Keep your savings in a separate bank than your checking account, and you'll be less tempted to dip into it.
Potential Annual Savings: $1,200-$6,000+
Automating $100/week adds up to $5,200 per year—without any ongoing effort.
Goal 6: Conduct a Monthly Subscription Audit
The average American spends $219 per month on subscriptions—and studies show that most people underestimate their subscription spending by 2-3x. That's because subscriptions are designed to be forgotten.
How It Works
Set a monthly reminder (the first of each month works well) to review all your active subscriptions. Ask yourself:
- Did I use this service in the last 30 days?
- Is it providing value worth the cost?
- Is there a cheaper alternative?
Common Subscription Culprits
- Streaming services - How many do you actually watch?
- Software subscriptions - Adobe, Microsoft, cloud storage
- Gym memberships - Especially ones you're not using
- News and media - Multiple publications with overlapping content
- Apps with premium tiers - Are you using the premium features?
The Cancel and Re-subscribe Strategy
Many services offer discounts to win back canceled subscribers. Cancel, wait a week, and see what offers arrive in your inbox.
Potential Annual Savings: $500-$2,000
Cutting three $15/month subscriptions you don't use saves $540 per year.
Goal 7: Stack Your Savings with Cash-Back and Rewards Tools
The most effective savers combine multiple strategies. When you stack discounts, cash-back rewards, and price comparison, the savings compound.
The Savings Stack
- Before shopping - Check for cash-back opportunities (Rakuten, Honey, Capital One Shopping) and browse today's best deals
- While shopping - Compare prices across retailers using barcode scanning apps
- At checkout - Use a rewards credit card for additional cash back
- After shopping - Submit receipts to receipt-scanning apps like Fetch or Ibotta
Try OneScan Today
Download the app and start comparing prices instantly
Making It Sustainable
You don't need to do all of this for every purchase. Focus on:
- Big purchases - Use the full stack for anything over $100
- Regular shopping - Use one or two tools consistently
- Seasonal shopping - Go all-in during holiday and back-to-school seasons
Potential Annual Savings: $300-$1,000+
Even 3% cash back on $10,000 in annual spending is $300 in your pocket.
Adding It All Up: Your 2026 Savings Potential
Here's what implementing these seven goals could mean for your finances:
| Goal | Potential Annual Savings |
|---|---|
| 24-Hour Rule | $500 - $1,500 |
| Price Comparison | $600 - $1,200 |
| 30-Day Tracking | $1,000 - $3,000 |
| 50/30/20 Budget | $2,000 - $5,000+ |
| Automated Savings | $1,200 - $6,000+ |
| Subscription Audit | $500 - $2,000 |
| Savings Stack | $300 - $1,000+ |
| Total | $6,100 - $19,700+ |
Even if you only implement half of these goals at half their potential, you're looking at $1,500-$5,000 in additional savings for 2026.
Start Small, Build Momentum
You don't need to implement all seven goals on January 1st. In fact, trying to do everything at once is exactly why most resolutions fail.
Instead, pick one or two goals to start with. Master those, then add more. The goal isn't perfection—it's progress.
Here's a suggested rollout:
- January: Start tracking your spending (Goal 3)
- February: Implement the 24-hour rule (Goal 1)
- March: Do your first subscription audit (Goal 6)
- April: Set up automated savings (Goal 5)
- May onward: Layer in price comparison and rewards stacking
By mid-year, you'll have built a savings system that runs on autopilot—and you'll wonder why you didn't start sooner.
The Bottom Line
Saving money in 2026 doesn't require deprivation, extreme budgeting, or giving up the things you enjoy. It requires building smart systems that work with your habits, not against them.
The seven goals in this guide are designed to be sustainable. They're not about willpower—they're about structure. And structure beats motivation every single time.
Here's to a financially healthier 2026. You've got this.
What money-saving goal are you starting with this year? The OneScan team would love to hear about your journey—drop us a line or tag us on social media with your wins.
