New Year. New Financial Goals.
January 15, 2026
Happy New Year!
The best part of the new year is the opportunity for a fresh start. It’s a time to plan for the year and dream about all the possibilities that lie ahead. And what would any plan or dream be without the dollars and cents involved in its fruition? But, if tackling a FULL YEAR’S worth of those dollars and cents sounds overwhelming, no worries. I’ve got you. Let’s take it step by step from the beginning.
Budget
Change happens. A lot more than (ahem) some of us would like, which means the old way of budgeting your money might not be the best way of budgeting anymore. Take a look at your income, debts, and goals to see what could use a refresh in 2026. Still paying the same insurance company since 1985? Time to see if there is a better option out there today. What about high-interest-rate credit cards? If you’re paying too much, it’s time to look at alternatives to consolidate or transfer your balances to a more affordable card.
Side note – our Visa Rewards Credit Card might be just what you are looking for. More on that later. For now, let’s do a deeper dive into most people’s financial obligations and how you can build a template that fits your life.
Income
If you have read any article discussing the state of the economy, you probably already know that job opportunities are harder to come by these days. Hiring is slow, competition is high, and economic uncertainty abounds. With that said, if you have a job, you might want to plan on staying put for the time being, which might mean negotiating the promotion you’ve been hoping for or taking on added responsibilities. That doesn’t mean you can’t take steps to increase your earnings in other ways.
Side Hustles
Part-time gigs are still out there – granted, maybe a bit harder to score – but the opportunity is there to make some extra cash on the side. Check with your local employment offices, news publications, and community boards for ways to make some extra cash. Or, branch out and scour the Internet for remote opportunities. You won’t necessarily get rich, but it is a good way to supplement income if you need it.
Depending on your unique situation, consider taking on a second full-time job. Navigating two jobs with demanding long-term hours on a split-shift schedule isn’t for the faint of heart. Still, if your current employer has no limitations in place and you can handle the lack of downtime and sleep :P, it might be a viable option. Just remember to have an honest conversation with both employers up front to ensure there is no conflict with your schedule or job responsibilities.
Winning the Lottery
Someone has to win, right?
Just kidding. It won’t hurt to budget for a weekly scratcher in your disposable income, but don’t count on this method to boost your income.
Debt
If you are fortunate enough to be debt-free – congratulations! Unfortunately, that is not the case for the majority of people. Most of us have at least some debt – a mortgage, car loan, credit card, or personal loan – even medical debt. In the absence of revolving debt, you likely have recurring expenses (if you don’t, I want to know your secret) such as cell phone, rent, utilities, gas, and insurance.
For the most part, with exceptions for open-ended loans and debts calculated by balance owed on an approved limit, your debts will be a set amount for the life of the loan. Your mortgage, auto loan, and personal loans, for instance, will likely fall into this category. While you can (and should) look for opportunities to consolidate or negotiate when possible, it is generally easier to impact meaningful changes to bills from service providers like insurance, Internet, and cell phone. Be prepared to put your money where your mouth is and leave, if you need to, but more often than not, they will be willing and able to negotiate some savings to keep your business.
Goals
It’s common to set personal goals as the new year approaches. Eat right, exercise more, spend more time with friends – those are lofty goals, but you should also consider setting financial goals at the start of each year. These goals can help you do what matters most…save for a family vacation, end the cycle of debt, or upgrade your home or vehicle. What’s more, writing down your goals makes you 33-42% more likely to achieve them!
Tackling your finances can be an overwhelming prospect – after all, our money has a reach far beyond our wallets. So where do you begin? For starters, consult with a trusted ally. Your local credit union or community credit union should have plenty of resources – from low-interest rates on revolving credit and/or secured loans to savings and checking accounts, and financial services designed to help their members – they should be your first stop. Remember, credit unions are member-owned financial institutions, and as a financial cooperative, we have the responsibility to members, not shareholders. That’s why we frequently discuss the many (many…) differences between credit unions vs. banks and how credit unions invariably win by comparison.
Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way. Yes, I work and bank at InFirst, so my perspective will be from that standpoint; however, I encourage you to do your own research. The good news is that we offer everything a bank would, only better, and we’ve been a trusted financial institution for over 90 years, so we are stable. Take a peek at our brand new website (with all the bells and whistles you want from a modern-day credit union), but the service from “back in the day.” If you aren’t a member yet, becoming one is quick and easy, so you, too, can take advantage of everything we have to offer!
At InFirst, we offer FREE financial counselling sessions with our Certified Credit Union Financial Counsellor. Whether you want advice on saving for retirement, addressing debt, learn about your credit, or anything else involving your financial wellness, we can help. Schedule your session today!
We also have tools like our Household Budget Worksheet, high-yield Savings and Certificates (perfect for long-term saving goals!), and our money-saving My Money+ Checking account that not only pays you dividends, but it saves you money on services you’re probably already paying (too much) for. You can learn more about that here.
Lastly, if you’re looking to end the cycle of debt for the new year, and if you are, you are in good company. Our Visa Rewards Credit Card can help. How? Glad you asked.
1. This card is a fixed-rate card. Many credit card companies charge a variable rate, which is excellent (for them) but not so great for you. Think back to your credit card statements. You’ve probably seen rates of 20% or more, with some particularly bold creditors charging 30%. Maybe you’ve gotten mail saying the rate will be increasing soon, but have you ever received a notification that it will be decreasing? Yeah, me neither. So to recap, a fixed rate is better than a variable rate – as long as it’s low. Lucky for you, our Visa Rewards Credit Card rates start as low as 10.90% APR and cap at 17.99% APR, thanks to the way credit unions are structured. But that’s not all…
2. We don’t charge an Annual Fee. You heard that right. Nada. Zero. Zilch. You can have our card without worrying about that looming over your head.
3. Did we mention it’s a Rewards card? That means for every single dollar you spend, you’re going to earn Rewards Points. Many larger banks will limit your rewards to a single category and make you jump through hoops to take advantage of that program. Not here. All cardholders automatically earn 4X the points per dollar spent at Gas Stations (that includes inside the Gas Station, not just at the pump), 3X the points per dollar spent at Restaurants and on Travel purchases, 2X the points per dollar spent at Grocery Stores, Wholesale Clubs and Superstores, plus 1 point per dollar spent at all other retailers. That’s not even including our Rewards Points specials we offer during the year. Best of all, you can redeem Rewards Points easily for cash (there are other redemption options, too, but who cares? Cash is king!).
4. As long as you have available credit, you can transfer your balance to InFirst at your standard purchase rate and save lots of money; however, now through March, we are offering a “Rate Rescue” Balance Transfer Special. Leave your high rates in 2025 and pay just 3.60% APR for 16 months! You can click here to learn more about this special.
What are your financial goals in 2026? I want to hear from you! Comment below, or email me.