No one is safe from inflation these days.
Whether it’s the frustration from the high cost of living or the sigh of despair while you consider taking out a loan to buy your eggs, 2026 is proving that the days of ignoring budget-friendly practices are over.
Here are five strategies that every person should consider this year, lest they let the financial pressures chew them up and spit them out.
Automating Your Savings
Everyone is treading water with how much they’re attempting to save on day-to-day expenses. But what about emergencies? Americans simply don’t invest enough in emergency funds and rely too heavily on credit to get them through rough spots.
Fix that this year by automating a transfer from your checking account directly to your savings. The amount is irrelevant: even if it’s just a little bit, you’ll notice that it adds up faster than you expect.
Shop Secondhand
Buying new is old news — thrift stores, whether online or in-person, have been gaining popularity for years. And if you’re holding out because you think it’s “just a trend,” know that you’re seriously missing out on some incredible savings.
Our consumerist culture is a double-edged sword; there are plenty of people who will wear or use something a handful of times only to donate it to Goodwill or other local thrift stores.
So why pay top dollar for something perfectly usable? We’d never recommend it, but in 2026? It’d be downright absurd not to look into your gently used options before buying new.
Free Your Wallet With Free Events
Your community is already teeming with wonderful, cheap, or free things to enjoy. Look at your local community center’s calendar or check social media for upcoming events.
You could find everything from free yoga classes in the park or a local farmers’ market, where you can enjoy live music while browsing fresh produce. Sure, neither is the Eras tour level of high octane. But since you also aren’t spending hundreds to thousands of dollars on entertainment, we’ll call that a major win in 2025.
Get Creative With Your Home
Re-investing in your home is always a good idea, yet it’s also often more expensive than homeowners bargain for. Couple that with rising prices of materials and goods, and you’re likely paying more this year for simple projects than you ever would have in the past.
Instead of waiting for prices to go down, why not take matters into your own hands and personalize your space? Install a new light fixture in your bathroom. Give your living room furniture a fresh coat of paint. Home improvement tutorials are easy to follow, and many include step-by-step videos. So, if you have an afternoon to kill and some gumption, you could be your own contractor for the day for a fraction of the price!
Spend Less
This might be a big “thank you, Captain Obvious” moment, but it’s still worth saying: Now is the time to lower your discretionary spending. If you find this challenging, lean into it and actually challenge yourself. Designate a few days, or even a week, when you spend only on necessities.
Lowering your “fun money” budget doesn’t sound “fun” at all at first. But we guarantee that you’ll cut back on impulse purchases and likely realize that spending money isn’t always as “fun” as you thought it was.
