Welcome back! It’s wonderful to be writing to you again as we kick off a brand-new year of financial updates. I hope you had a relaxing break and a fantastic start to 2026.
By the third week of January, the initial excitement of New Year’s resolutions often starts to fade. If your financial goals feel a little harder to stick to than they did on January 1st, don’t worry, you’re certainly not alone. Now is the perfect time for a “mid-month reset” to ensure your bank balance and your goals are heading in the right direction for the rest of the year.
Tallying the Holiday Total
The first step to a successful year is being honest about the one just finished. January is often when the final credit card statements or “buy now, pay later” instalments from the festive season arrive.
- Face the numbers: Sit down with your banking app and look at your total spending from mid-December to now. Don’t judge the spending; simply acknowledge the total so you know your starting point.
- Identify the “hangover” costs: If there’s lingering debt from the holidays, make paying this off your first priority before you focus on new savings goals.
The 15-Minute Subscription Audit
We often sign up for streaming services, gym memberships, or news sites over the summer break that we don’t actually need once work or study resumes.
Take 15 minutes to scroll through your transaction history. If you haven’t used a service in the last 30 days, cancel it. These small monthly costs might seem minor, but they can easily add up to hundreds/thousands of dollars over a year.
Move from Resolutions to Systems
Resolutions often fail because they rely on willpower. Systems succeed because they happen automatically.
- Automate your savings: Instead of promising to “save what’s left” at the end of the month, set up a recurring transfer for the day your salary arrives.
- Adjust your offset: If you have a mortgage, ensure every spare dollar is sitting in your offset account to help lower your interest charges immediately.
- Set a “No-Spend” week: To help rebalance the books after a busy December, try a week where you only spend on essentials like groceries and transport. It’s an effective way to break the habit of “mindless” spending.
Looking Ahead
A financial reset isn’t about being restrictive; it’s about making sure your money is working for the things you actually care about. By taking these small steps now, you’re setting a foundation that will make the rest of 2026 much smoother.