Workers Include Financial Wishes for New Year’s Resolutions  

Labor Landscape

A new Wells Fargo survey, with data collected by Ipsos among U.S. adults 25 years old or older with incomes under $100,000, finds 97 percent are planning on New Year’s Resolutions to include a financial component, with saving more money as a top goal. 

Among those setting financial resolutions, confidence in achieving those goals in the coming year is high with one-third very confident, half somewhat confident and only one-in-seven less somewhat confident.   

Market watchers report that financial goal setting adds a feeling of financial control and makes it easier to say no to unnecessary spending for the majority. Saving money has a positive association with self-care, happiness and freedom for most, even though about half are at odds with spending versus saving.  

Just under two- in- five (37 percent) of Americans age 25 or older with an annual income less than $100,000 have or expect to have any News Year’s Resolutions. The other three-in-five do not have nor expect to have any New Year’s Resolutions in 2026 (42 percent) or (22 percent) are not yet sure.  

Among those who have or expect to make a New Year’s Resolution  for 2026, nearly all (97 percent) have already set or are considering financial resolutions as part of their 2026 resolutions.  And these financial goal setters have a fairly high confidence in achieving their goals.  And among those 2026 plans for New Year’s Resolution plans, saving more money is the top financial resolution, garnering a (70 percent) selection.  About half  or (49 percent ) resolve to spend less or  reduce spending, while two-in-five strive to improve their credit score (39 percent), pay off debt (38 percent) or start a side hustle or new income stream (35 percent). 

The survey found that (34 percent) are very confident they will achieve their financial goals, followed by half (52 percent) who say they are somewhat confident with one-in-seven (14 percent) reporting little confidence in their New Year’s Resolutions plans.  

Sue Roth, a freelance designer from Washington, Pa., admits to making New Year’s Resolutions and breaking them the same day. “I’m a hopeless shopper and go nuts in the January store sales.  I buy stuff I really don’t need, ‘’ she lamented.   

But Paula A. Calabrese, a writer and consultant from Pittsburgh, Pa., said she has always included a financial resolution for the New Year. “I usually refer to it as being an austerity program. It always means spending less, wanting less and being satisfied with less,’’ said Calabrese, who collects cookie and ginger jars.  “I really don’t need one single thing but there is always something that I want,’’ Calabrese said.  

Ron Volk, a retired economist from Burlington, Vermont, said the problem with New Year’s Resolutions is that they are so easy to break.  “Today’s high-priced economy also makes it very difficult for people to save. Families are stretched thin by the cost of food, shelter and gas,’’ said Volk.  “I plan to pay off my charge card and use cash for purchases in 2026,’’ Volk said.   

New Year’s Resolutions have ancient roots, starting with Babylonians 4,000 years ago making promises to their gods for a prosperous year, followed by Romans honoring Janus with vows, knights renewing chivalry oaths in the Middle Ages, and later Puritans focusing on self-examination, leading to the modern secular tradition of personal self-improvement that became common by the 19^th century.  

Finally, the survey found that men are expected to spend more to achieve their resolutions than women ($5,360 compared with $4,000.) 

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