5 Ways To Stick To Your Resolution to Save Money

One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to save money or make better financial decisions. A YouGov survey suggests that 21% of UK residents pledged to save more or spend less in 2025. If you were among them but couldn’t keep your resolution past the first few months of the year, then this article is for you.
In the current economic climate, while saving has become a necessity, the harsh reality is that many people are not left with enough to save. Some are even struggling to pay for necessities by the end of the month, relying on quick loans as a source of urgent financial relief.
While these loans can offer much-needed relief in difficult situations, they may not be the best solution to an emergency. On the other hand, traditional loans, like personal loans, require a prerequisite credit score to be eligible. Yet, a 2024 study revealed that 20% of people in the UK have a poor credit score. Saving for an emergency can help you avert such situations and better manage your personal finances.
Are you planning to take back control of your finances in 2026? Take steps that may help improve your credit score and support you in managing your debt. We have compiled a guide to help you stick to your resolutions beyond January and have better control over your personal finances.

Be SMART About Your Goals
The number one reason people break their financial resolutions is that they are very vague about them. Promising to “Save Money” or “Spend Less” doesn’t amount to a well-defined plan.
You need to come up with a SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound) goal. For instance, “I will save £600 for my emergency fund by the end of the year”. This means you will be setting aside £50 each month, and you’ve set a deadline and specified the exact category.
This will help you prioritise saving over discretionary spending at your favourite retailer or buying something trendy that your co-worker got.
Choose Affordable Alternatives
Are you suddenly into matcha lattes? Each cup from your local café costs an average of £5. The lower-cost alternative is to buy a packet of matcha from the local supermarket and make it at home. It is significantly more affordable, coming up to a pound or less per cup.
Changing yourself can feel hard, especially with constant peer pressure and social validations. Make minor changes, like bringing your own lunch from home once a week instead of ordering food for lunch. Once you feel comfortable, push it to twice a week, and then more days. It is healthy and pocket-friendly, enabling you to stick to your goals.
Be Lenient With Your Goals
Have you noticed how people who smoke or vape find it difficult to quit when trying to go cold turkey? Unlike those who try stopping suddenly, people who pace themselves often have better success.
For your resolution to save money, if you set an unrealistic goal with no room for compromise, you may end up ditching the plan before summer rolls around. If you earn £2,000 a month and have expenses of £1,600, and you decide to save £400, you will probably make it harder for yourself to stick to the plan. Why?
Not every month is the same, nor are the expenses. What if it was your best friend’s birthday, and you overshot your gift budget, or there was an emergency expense, and you spent more than allocated?
Now, suddenly, you don’t have £400 left to save; you feel disheartened, and before you know it, the resolution has gone out of the window, and all you are left with is a feeling of dejection and no money saved.
Having a more realistic goal of saving £100 a month will help you stick to your plan.
Save and Do Not Spend The Extra Money Every Month
Budgeting can be an effective way to keep track of your expenses and savings. Be precise, and take into account everything you spend on rent or mortgage, utilities, insurance premiums, debt repayments, streaming platform fees, fuel or transport costs, entertainment and even miscellaneous expenses. Then comes your savings and investments. A good budget will make provisions for every last penny you make.
However, just like you may end up spending more (money from your miscellaneous or discretionary budget), some months you spend less. When this happens, it is a very normal urge to shop or treat yourself to a fancy dinner with the money.
A good practice here would be to save any extra pounds left after your monthly expenses for your investments or emergency fund.
Automate Savings To Make It A Habit
Your willpower may not hold strong when faced with choices like saving versus spending on things you love. Even if you make the right choice, you may feel bitter and sad.
Set up automatic transfers from your debit or salary account. You might want to prioritise allocating funds towards timely debt repayment, including credit card payments, mortgages, car loans or personal loans.
Going over the repayment deadline may result in additional charges from your lender, impacting your credit score. It’s worth automating recurring payments, like utilities and phone bills, to help you avoid any late fees.
You could also give your bank a standing order to set aside a certain amount every month towards your investment.
Final Words
It is important to be kind to yourself when facing financial hardships. Constantly being critical of your choices doesn’t help; rather, it can lead to stress, burnout or even money-draining, unhealthy coping mechanisms like substance abuse, alcoholism or gambling.
Setting a budget, working proactively to pay off debt and building an emergency fund can all help you save money, improve your credit score and be more financially stable.
By consistently changing small habits, you can see a difference over time.
Happy saving!