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Americans’ 5 top financial New Year’s resolutions for 2026

The Motley Fool surveyed 2,000 American adults to find out what people’s most common financial resolutions are

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As the New Year approaches, millions of Americans are pledging to reset their financial lives.

The Motley Fool, a financial advice website, surveyed 2,000 American adults to find out what people’s most common financial resolutions are. And while people are planning to make resolutions — many are worried they won’t be able to keep them. A recent study found that even if you can’t stick to a budget, just setting an ambitious one will end up saving you money in the long term.

Continue reading to see the five most common goals, according to The Motley Fool.

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Paying off debt

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Americans, saddled by trillions in household debt, want to be free.

A quarter of all respondents listed paying down debt as their highest priority, and it was the largest resolution across every generation, though each generation’s debt looks a little different.

The Motley Fool found younger adults want to pay off student loans and their "Buy Now, Pay Later" balances. Older Americans are more likely to want to be free of their mortgages. But all generations are focused on their credit card balances, with 37% of debt-focused resolvers targeting it above everything else.

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Saving for something big

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Saving up for big life events is the second most popular goal. This category includes traditional milestones like buying a home or funding a wedding, plus travel and other leisure activities.

Gen Z, understandably, is the least focused on vacation, and the most interested in saving to buy a car, The Motley Fool found.

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Increasing income

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No surprise that Americans also want to make more money.

With inflation and rising costs cited as the top reasons, people feel they’re paychecks aren’t going far enough and they want to be making more.

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Saving for retirement

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Retirement savings are also on the mind, with Americans wanting to put more away next year as they think towards the future. While it’s far less of a concern for Gen Z, it is a big priority for Baby Boomers and Gen X, who are getting close to retirement age, if they’re not there already.

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Reducing spending

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And, of course, another financial goal is cutting spending. While it’s arguably the hardest resolution to stick to, The Motley Fool found it looms large on Americans’ minds as they enter 2026, especially after an expensive holiday season.