How to Build Better Money Habits in 2026

9 snips

Jan 1, 2026

Discover how to align your financial goals for 2026 with your core values, from freedom to adventure. Get practical tips on transforming big dreams into actionable plans using the SMART framework. The hosts share personal goals like boosting savings and managing crypto hype. Learn how to create realistic targets for monthly contributions, add personal rewards for motivation, and prepare for financial curveballs. This engaging discussion helps you create a meaningful roadmap for your financial future!

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ANECDOTE

Elizabeth’s Concrete 2026 Goals

Elizabeth plans to pay off her car loan by December and is making extra monthly payments to hit that target.
She also intends to maintain a 30–40% retirement savings rate and open dedicated accounts for sinking funds.

INSIGHT

Ambition Often Outruns Market Reality

Many people plan risky financial moves (crypto, business starts, buying homes) despite market challenges.
Survey intentions often overstate realistic outcomes like home purchases in a tough market.

ADVICE

Tie Goals To Core Values

Anchor your financial goals to core values like freedom, community, or adventure to make them meaningful.
Translate values into concrete actions such as boosting emergency funds, donating, or funding travel so you stay motivated.

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Learn how to tie your 2026 money goals to your values so you can stick with them all year.

How can you match your 2026 money goals to what you really care about? And how do you turn those goals into a plan you’ll actually follow? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss values-based money planning and goal-setting frameworks to help you build a realistic, meaningful financial plan for the new year. They begin with a discussion of centering money goals on your core values, with tips and tricks on identifying what matters most (like freedom, community, or adventure), translating those values into goals such as paying off a car loan or saving for early retirement, and aligning your saving, spending, giving and fun money with the life you actually want to live. Along the way, they share their own 2026 goals, from boosting emergency funds and increasing income to opening “fun money” and giving accounts and navigating a tough housing market and crypto temptations highlighted in NerdWallet’s 2026 Financial Outlook Survey.

Then, Sean and Elizabeth discuss how to move from big dreams to daily action using the SMART — and SMARTER — goal framework. They discuss how to break large goals (like maxing a Roth IRA or saving for a big event) into monthly and per-paycheck targets, how to make goals specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound, and how to build in personal rewards so sticking to your plan actually feels good. They also cover getting comfortable with the discomfort of change, planning for curveballs like impulse spending and surprise kid or car expenses, and using tools like high-yield savings accounts and multiple sinking funds (yes, even for summer camp) so you can absorb surprises without blowing up your 2026 money plan.

NerdWallet 2026 Financial Outlook Survey: https://www.nerdwallet.com/finance/studies/2026-consumer-outlook-report

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In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: new year financial goals, 2026 financial goals, how to set financial goals, SMART goals for money, SMARTER goals framework, values based budgeting, align money with values, paying off car loan early, early retirement savings rate, FIRE retirement plan, increase my income 2026, emergency fund savings, sinking funds examples, fun money account, high yield savings account, giving fund for charity, support local community with money, starting a business in 2026, investing in crypto 2026, Dogecoin investing, buying a house in 2026, saving for a house down payment, NerdWallet 2026 financial outlook survey, impulse spending help, budget for summer camp, planning for surprise bills, Roth IRA contribution 2026, break big goals into small steps, reward yourself for saving, how to stick to money goals

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com.

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