"As we look ahead to the New Year, nearly half of Americans say they are feeling financially pressured. Forty-eight percent say they are more stressed at the end of this year than they were at the start of the year. That's up from 43% last year, according to a new study from the Allianz Center for the Future of Retirement. It's hard to manage those feelings, so instead of sitting with the anxiety, it may be helpful to exert some control over your situation."
"Perhaps this is the year that you create a few financial resolutions. According to Fidelity Investments' 2026 New Year's Financial Resolutions study, 64% of respondents are considering a financial resolution for 2026, an 8 percentage point increase from a year ago. How can you be one of the few who actually stick to a resolution? The key with any financial goal is to make it specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timebound, in other words, SMART."
Nearly half of Americans report increased financial pressure, with 48% saying they are more stressed at year-end than at the start. Sixty-four percent of respondents are considering a financial resolution for 2026. Effective financial goals should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timebound. Every financial goal requires understanding household income and expenses, so tracking spending for 90 days is recommended. Most banks and many free apps (PocketGuard, GoodBudget, Honeydue) can assist with tracking. Identify how much can be allocated to a goal, choose specific aims such as building six to 12 months of emergency reserves, set automatic transfers, and use liquid accounts to fund large expenses within the next 12 months, like a car purchase or a home down payment.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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