Saving money is actually quite a hard thing to do. Ask anyone! The moment you start saving up, everything in life seems to turn on its head and you suddenly need that money more than you ever did before. 

But that doesn’t mean you can live without savings. An emergency fund can be the difference between staying afloat and bankruptcy, and you’re going to hate yourself for not padding it out sooner. 

So, in 2026, if you’ve made a resolution to actually build up your savings account, you’re going to need to lock in and commit. And to do that, we’ve compiled a little list of things to do to help you stick to your savings goals across the rest of the year. 

Break it Down

Save money. Yeah, that technically counts as a resolution. But in terms of something you can work toward and keep at, it sucks. You need to break it down into something you can actually take steps to complete. 

Imagine you were trying to climb Mount Everest, and the only thing you wrote down on your plan was ‘Climb Everest’. You wouldn’t know how to train for the climb, what to pack, the best equipment, where to find a guide – you just wouldn’t be able to complete your goal.

So break it down. Take ‘save money’ and actually write out some numbers, a schedule, etc., and then outline a plan you can actually follow.

Download a Budgeting App

It’s a lot easier to stay on budget when your budget is always in your pocket. With a budgeting app, you can take your saving plans (and your expense tracking) everywhere you need to actually spend. And that’s a lot easier than trying to add it all up in your head or just keeping a savings diary at home.

Of course, not all budgeting apps are going to be right for you, so make sure you do your research. The best budgeting apps will all have features that help you keep an eye on your money, ways to adjust your budget from month to month, and even offer more innovative saving methods that actually help you stay on target. 

Free Up Your Cash

Got some debt you’re in the middle of paying off? While you might want to save right now, that needs to go first. Once it’s off your credit report and you’re all done with paying it, not only are you likely to see your score stabilize in the green, but you’ll have a lot more money to save with. 

Think of this as a prep step. Debt first, savings second. Or debt and savings at the same time, if you really want to make sure you’ve got emergency money in the bank. Debt payments still need to get the lion’s share, however. 

Want to save this year? Make it a manageable goal by breaking it down, keeping track at all times, and freeing up your cash for your savings account.