If you’re starting the new year looking at your bank account and thinking, “What happened?” — you’re in good company. According to WalletHub’s Post-Holiday Shopping Survey, 48% of Americans say they spent too much during the holidays. And 56% wish they had budgeted better.
But here’s the part that matters most: 64% of Americans believe 2026 will be better for their finances than 2025. That’s not just optimism — that’s intention. And intention is where every good financial plan starts.
The Holiday Spending Hangover Is Real
Let’s be honest about what happened. More than two-thirds of people say inflation affected their holiday spending more than they anticipated. The prices were higher, the expectations were the same, and the credit card bills piled up faster than expected.
This isn’t a personal failure. It’s a reality that millions of families navigated at the same time. The question isn’t whether you overspent — it’s what you do next.
Your 90-Day Financial Reset
WalletHub found that nearly 3 in 5 people plan to follow a strict budget to compensate for holiday spending. That’s a powerful starting point. Here’s how to make it stick:
Start with awareness, not punishment. Open your banking app and look at your December and January spending. Don’t judge it — just see it. You can’t fix what you won’t face, and awareness is the foundation of every lasting change.
Separate your debt from your daily spending. If you’re carrying a holiday balance on a credit card, stop using that card for new purchases. Use a different card or debit for everyday spending, and direct payments toward your balance. This prevents interest from compounding on both old and new charges.
Consider a 0% intro APR card. WalletHub’s editors named the U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card as the best intro APR option for 2026 — it offers 0% interest for 24 months with no annual fee. That’s two full years where every dollar you pay goes toward your balance, not interest. If you’re carrying holiday debt, a balance transfer could save you hundreds.
Use a rewards card for what you’re already buying. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers 2% cash back on everything with no annual fee. If you’re paying your balance in full each month, those rewards add up — and they’re essentially free money on spending you’d do anyway.
Make Budgeting a Year-Round Habit
As WalletHub editor John Kiernan put it: “Nearly 3 in 5 people plan to follow a strict budget to compensate for holiday overspending, and that’s a good start. Continuing to budget year-round is even better.”
He’s right. The trap most people fall into is budgeting in January and February, then drifting back to old habits by spring. The families who build real financial stability are the ones who budget in July the same way they budget in January.
There’s another stat from the survey worth noting: nearly 3 in 4 Americans fear upcoming health care cost increases more than their holiday debt. That tells us something important — people are thinking ahead. They’re aware that financial pressure doesn’t stop after the holidays. And that awareness is exactly what makes year-round budgeting so essential.
You’re Not Behind — You’re Starting
If you’re one of the 56% who wish they had budgeted better, that’s not a mark against you. That’s motivation. The fact that you’re thinking about it means you’re already ahead of where you were last year.
Pick one thing from this post and do it today. Check your spending. Set up a budget app. Look into a balance transfer. Just one step. That’s how financial transformation begins — not with a dramatic overhaul, but with a single intentional choice.
2026 can absolutely be your year. The 64% who believe it? Be one of them — and then back it up with action.