4 Unique Ways to Save in the New Year

As the calendar flips forward, many people take the opportunity to assess where they’ve been and set fresh goals for the new year. According to Motley Fool Money, more than half of Americans say they want to set a financial plan for 2026, but only two in five think they’ll actually stick to it. Shake up your savings methods with these non-traditional strategies in the new year.

1. Don’t buy anything new for an entire month. 

In an age of same-day delivery and social media ads selling the hottest new product, challenge yourself to go 30 days without buying anything brand new. You can still buy the essentials – but for everything else try buying secondhand, borrowing from a friend, or repairing something you already have. This challenge not only saves you money, but it also reduces clutter and waste. 

2. Designate “cash-only” weekends.

The physical act of handing over cash helps to visualize how much money you’re really spending. Weekends are often a time of higher spending, so switching out swipes for cash can make a noticeable difference. 

3. Try reverse budgeting. 

Set an automatic transfer to yourself on payday. It's like putting your savings on autopilot – you decide how much you want to transfer to savings, the money automatically transfers, then budget how you want to spend the rest. Try setting a percentage for how much is transferred each month or a specific dollar amount if you’re saving for a big trip or purchase. 

4. Create a “buy it later” list.

See something you really want to buy? Put it on a 72-hour “buy it later” list to make sure it’s an item that is necessary. Oftentimes, holding off on impulse purchases helps you stay in line with financial goals and helps to avoid buyer’s regret and waste. 

Saving money in the new year doesn’t have to feel rigid or overwhelming. Switch it up and implement one or two of these unique savings tips to take small steps toward big goals.