Your tailored financial roadmap for 2026
Every January, millions across the UK set financial resolutions, whether it’s to save more, clear debt, or feel more in control of their money. Yet, for many, those goals might be difficult to sustain, as a recent YouGov survey reveals that almost one in four (24%) admit to having failed to keep any of their New Year’s resolutions in 2025.
Despite that, many still start the year with clear ambitions for their finances, and our latest study shows exactly where they’re focusing their efforts. The study found that 62% of respondents have made financial resolutions this year, with some setting more than one money focussed goal. The most common goals include building an emergency fund (28%), save for a big purchase such as a house deposit, car, or holiday (24%), clear existing credit card debt (21%), or cancel unused subscriptions (18%).
Searches for “budget planner” and “financial resolutions” peak at the start of the year, showing that people are looking for structure and guidance. The problem is that much of the advice available is generic, offering the same solutions regardless of income, life stage, or financial situation.
To close that gap, we’ve created four tailored financial roadmaps with prompts that translate broad financial intentions into clear, achievable actions, tailored to various real-life situations.
Why Financial Resolutions Lose Momentum
Financial goals might be difficult to maintain when people feel unsure where to start or how to prioritise. According to the FCA, 22% of UK adults report feeling overwhelmed or stressed when dealing with financial matters, while 12% of people who want to save say that the number of available options prevents them from taking action.
Broad money goals can be hard to stick to without a clear plan, especially when they have to compete with everyday costs like bills, rent or mortgage payments. Without practical steps, it can be difficult to track progress or know what to do next, which can make financial planning feel less relevant over time. A more structured approach, such as regular check-ins and breaking goals into smaller steps, can make money feel easier to manage day to day.
A New Way to Set Money Goals
Start with a roadmap, not a resolution. Instead of vague aims like “save more” or “cut debt”, a roadmap begins with one clear annual objective that fits your circumstances, income, and life stage. That bigger goal is then broken down into simple monthly actions, with no more than three tasks at a time, so it feels realistic alongside everyday costs, work, and family life. By turning goals into planned steps you can schedule and track, a roadmap makes progress easier to see and helps financial planning become part of your routine, rather than something you only revisit when it starts to feel urgent.
The Four Tailored Financial Roadmaps
Each roadmap follows the same simple structure, but the goal changes depending on what you want to prioritise. The Four Tailored Financial Roadmaps focus on the most common money goals among UK households, from building an emergency fund and saving for a big purchase to clearing debt and cancelling unused subscriptions. Each one is built around a specific objective and uses up-to-date official UK data to reflect the real-life financial pressures people face at different stages of life.
How to Use the Financial Roadmaps
Step One: Choose the roadmap that best matches your current financial goal.
Step Two: Download the roadmap to your Apple or Android device. Each roadmap has one download link, which works across major calendar systems, including iOS, Android, and desktop calendars. Once added, it will populate your calendar with simple monthly prompts to help you stay on track throughout the year.
Step Three: There is no further setup required beyond adding it to your calendar, just follow each step as it appears month by month.
The entries for all roadmaps will appear in your 2026 calendar on the following dates;
Month 1-2: Review and Plan – 9th February
Month 3-4: Act – 1st March
Month 5-6: Assess & Optimise – 1st May
Month 7-8: Act – 1st July
Month 9-10: Assess & Optimise – 1st September
Month 11-12: Future Goals – 1st November
Debt-Reducing Focus
For many households, debt remains a significant source of financial pressure, particularly where borrowing is spread across credit cards, overdrafts and personal loans with varying interest rates.
The Debt-Reducing Focus roadmap is designed for those who want to regain control of non-mortgage borrowing. It prompts you to identify which debts are costing you the most and prioritise payments in a way that can reduce both interest charges and outstanding balances over time.
Using real interest rate data and common repayment behaviours, the roadmap shows how exploring lower-interest options can help people make more progress rather than increasing repayments alone, depending on individual circumstances.
Month 1-2: Review & Plan | List all debts - seeing balances and due dates in one place might help things feel more manageable. Start by creating a comprehensive list of all non-mortgage debt, including credit cards, personal loans, and overdrafts. Seeing everything in one place, including total balances, APRs, and monthly due dates, might help the situation feel more manageable. Use budget planning tips to compare your total income against your essential outgoings. This helps you identify how much "disposable" cash you have, which is your realistic amount for debt repayment. |
Month 3-4: Act | Target high-cost debt - identify and tackle expensive borrowing. Review your list from February to identify which debts are costing you the most in interest charges. To increase your repayment power, audit your recent bank statements for any forgotten subscriptions. Cancelling unused subscriptions could free up extra cash. Focus on maintaining minimum payments on all debts while avoiding taking on any new borrowing where possible. |
Month 5-6: Assess & Optimise | Interest reduction - choose and refine your repayment approach. Researching structured repayment methods might help you stay motivated. The "Avalanche" method focuses on the highest interest debt first to save money over time, while the "Snowball" method focuses on the smallest balances first for quick "wins". You might also want to explore if balance transfer credit cards could help lower the interest you pay, provided you meet the lender's eligibility criteria. |
Month 7-8: Act | Lender engagement - proactive communication with lenders. If you find that your monthly payments are becoming difficult to maintain alongside everyday costs, consider contacting your lenders directly. Lenders are often able to discuss options such as temporary payment plans or interest freezes depending on your individual circumstances. Early engagement could be better than missing a payment |
Month 9-10: Assess & Optimise | Explore support - review progress and explore confidential support. Look back at your "Debt Audit" from February to see how your balances have changed; tracking this progress is key to staying on course. If you feel overwhelmed or your debt still feels unmanageable, you might want to look for free, confidential support from organisations like StepChange or National Debtline. |
Month 11-12: Future Goals | Plan for life after debt - establish what your next financial priorities might be. As you move toward a more stable position, start planning for your financial life after debt. Consider setting a new goal, such as building an Emergency Fund to act as a safety net for unexpected expenses. This could help to ensure you don't need to rely on high-cost credit in the future. |
Download Debt-Reducing Focus Roadmap for your Apple or Android Device here.
First Home Finances
Saving for a first home might feel increasingly out of reach, particularly in a market shaped by rising property prices and upfront costs. Current housing market data and government savings schemes reflect the financial environment faced by many aspiring first-time buyers.
This roadmap focuses on helping users understand how structured saving, tax-efficient products and steady credit management can work together over time, rather than concentrating solely on a single deposit target.
It also explains how reaching key loan-to-value milestones may unlock better mortgage rates, helping first-time buyers move closer to homeownership without overstretching their finances.
Month 1-2: Review & Plan | Full financial picture - assess your starting point. Knowing exactly where you stand today could help you set a realistic direction for your home-buying journey. Start by listing your current total income, regular outgoings, and any existing savings. This "baseline" helps you determine how much you can realistically afford to set aside each month without overstretching. You might find it useful to use a mortgage calculator to get an initial idea of how much you could potentially borrow based on your current income. |
Month 3-4: Act | Credit health check - review your credit reports. It may be helpful to check your files with the three main UK credit agencies (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) to find and fix any errors that could affect a future mortgage application. Lenders look for a history of reliable payments, so ensure you are registered on the electoral roll and that all current accounts are being managed within their limits. |
Month 5-6: Assess & Optimise | Set a deposit goal - use a comparison tool to find a savings account that suits you. Use a savings comparison tool to find an account that suits your specific needs. You might consider researching the Lifetime ISA (LISA), which offers a 25% government bonus on savings up to £4,000 per year for first-time buyers, though you should check the specific withdrawal rules and property price caps. Having a dedicated pot for your deposit helps separate your "house money" from your everyday spending. |
Month 7-8: Act | Budget stress test - test your future budget. Try "simulating" homeownership by saving the amount you expect your mortgage and household bills might cost. For example, if your expected mortgage is £300 more than your current rent, move that extra £300 into your deposit pot each month. This not only grows your deposit faster but also proves that your future budget is sustainable alongside your current lifestyle. |
Month 9-10: Assess & Optimise | Research locations - look at property types and hidden fees. Start narrowing down property types and locations while considering if you have saved enough to cover the "hidden" fees of buying. Remember that a deposit is only part of the cost; you will also need to budget for surveys, solicitor fees, land registry charges, and potential Stamp Duty. Researching now helps you avoid surprises when you eventually find the right property. |
Month 11-12: Future Goals | Define your ready-to-buy criteria - talk to professionals. Talk to professionals like mortgage experts or estate agents to define what your final "ready-to-buy" checklist looks like. Reaching key loan-to-value (LTV) milestones, such as moving from a 5% to a 10% deposit, may unlock more competitive mortgage rates. Having a "Mortgage in Principle" ready can make you a more serious contender in the eyes of sellers. |
Download First Home Finances Roadmap for your Apple or Android Device here.
Savings Accelerator
For many people, the challenge with saving isn’t just putting money aside, but making sure savings hold their value over time. Inflation and interest rates can affect the value of savings if they’re not reviewed regularly.
The Savings Accelerator roadmap focuses on building a consistent, long-term approach to saving that keeps pace with inflation. It encourages regular reviews of saving products, making use of tax-efficient allowances and understanding how fees and poor rates may quietly erode returns over time. The aim is not short-term gain, but sustainable financial growth.
Month 1-2: Review & Plan | Purpose and buffer - define your 'why'. Be clear on what you are saving for, whether it’s a specific milestone like a home or an emergency fund. Having a specific goal can help keep you motivated when you’re tempted to spend. Start by listing your income, regular outgoings, and any current savings to understand your starting point. Set up a dedicated emergency ‘buffer’ pot, with a clear starting target to build towards, so you can cover unexpected costs without derailing your savings goals. |
Month 3-4: Act | Build a buffer - separate your savings by goal to help protect them. Consider separating your savings by goal into different accounts. This physical separation can help protect your long-term funds from being used for everyday expenses. You could use savings comparison tools to find accounts that offer competitive interest rates for different needs, such as easy-access for emergencies or fixed-term for longer goals. Start adding to you buffer pot alongside your savings each month, even a little can go a long way. |
Month 5-6: Assess & Optimise | Review and reset. Take stock of how the last few months have gone and keep it simple. Check whether you have been able to stick to your monthly savings amount and, if not, what got in the way. Even small changes in spending or income can throw a plan off, so adjust your targets to something you can realistically maintain. |
Month 7-8: Act | Automations - Setting up regular transfers could help you stay on track with your goals. Now you have established a routine with saving, setting up regular, automated transfers on payday could help you stay on track with your goals without having to remember to move the money manually. Automation turns saving into a habit rather than a choice. You might also want to check if you are making full use of tax-efficient allowances, such as your annual ISA limit. |
Month 9-10: Assess & Optimise | Redirect extra cash - try putting bonuses or cashback into savings before you spend them. Try putting any extra cash, such as work bonuses, tax refunds, or cashback from shopping, directly into your savings before you have a chance to spend them. Capturing this "extra" money can significantly accelerate your progress toward your main objective. Review your progress to see how these small injections have boosted your total balance. |
Month 11-12: Future Goals | Review and refine - review your spending to cut things you don't value while keeping what you love. Review your annual spending to identify and cut costs on things you no longer value, while keeping what you love. Reducing these outgoings can help increase your saving capacity for the year ahead. Use this time to establish what your next financial priorities might be and adjust your automated transfers to match your new goals. |
Download Savings Accelerator Roadmap for your Apple or Android Device here.
New Parent Prep
Becoming a new parent brings both emotional and financial change. Childcare is widely recognised as a major ongoing expense for families, making forward planning particularly important at this life stage.
The New Parent Prep roadmap supports households as they adjust to new expenses and changing income patterns. It focuses on creating breathing room within household budgets, building financial protection and setting aside savings for the unexpected.
By aligning planning with real childcare cost data, the roadmap could help with financial stress during an already demanding life change.
Month 1-2: Review & Plan | Financial snapshot - list your income, regular outgoings, and any savings. List your income, regular outgoings, and any savings to get a clear starting point. Set up your key pots and start saving straight away, even if it’s a small amount. Use a budget planner to track where your money goes and set a realistic monthly savings target. Before you finalise your plan, check what support you may be entitled to, such as Child Benefit and Tax Free Childcare, and get a rough idea of local childcare costs. This will help you plan with fewer surprises later. |
Month 3-4: Act | Budget stress-test - trial your maternity income for a month to test your budget. Try a “stress test” month by living on your expected maternity or paternity income where possible. This shows what needs to change and what feels achievable. Keep saving throughout, even if it is a smaller amount, and prioritise a buffer pot alongside any longer term goals. It is also a good time to check how time away from work could affect your State Pension and NI credits. |
Month 5-6: Assess & Optimise | Create a master baby budget Now turn what you have learned into a simple master budget that includes childcare, baby essentials, and any changes to household bills. If the stress test showed your original savings target was too high, reset it to something sustainable rather than dropping it completely. Review your savings accounts and consider switching if rates have changed but focus first on consistency and keeping the buffer pot topped up. |
Month 7-8: Act | Protection check - check if life insurance or income protection could help your family. As your family grows, it is important to review your insurance cover. Check if Life Insurance or Income Protection could help provide a financial safety net for your family if your circumstances change. This step focuses on building long-term security rather than just managing short-term costs. |
Month 9-10: Assess & Optimise | Household costs - compare and reduce fixed outgoings A good option is to review your fixed monthly bills, such as energy, broadband and insurance, and compare deals to see if you could lower them. Even small savings can free up extra breathing room in your budget. |
Month 11-12: Future Goals | Set a new financial baseline As you settle into your new routine, establish what your next financial priorities might be. This could involve adjusting your budget for life after leave or looking at long-term savings for your child’s future. Setting a new baseline ensures your financial planning remains relevant as your family’s needs evolve. |
Download New Parent Prep Roadmap for your Apple or Android Device here.
Structures That Fit Real Life
Each Financial Roadmap follows a clear annual rhythm, allowing users to build momentum gradually. The early months focus on review and organisation, while the later stages encourage optimisation and forward planning. By spreading actions across the year, the roadmap avoids the pressure of trying to fix everything at once.
Methodology
To create the financial roadmaps, we combined multiple authoritative data sources so that the information reflects real financial conditions in the UK.
Data sources:
YouGov
Financial Conduct Authority
The Money Charity Money Statistics
The FCA Financial Lives Survey
The Land Registry House Price Index
ONS Consumer Price Index and Weekly Earnings data
Bank of England interest rate figures
Government guidance on LISAs, Child Benefit and income tax
Insights from these sources were used to define realistic goals for each roadmap. These goals were then translated into a 12-month plan of practical actions, limited to no more than three per month to ensure the guidance remains achievable and relevant. Additional insights were drawn from a survey of 2,000 UK adults conducted by Censuswide between 20.01.2026 and 22.01.2026.
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Charlie is a senior commercial leader with close to a decade of experience across the UK’s leading personal-finance and comparison platforms. Before joining Compare the Market as Head of Commercial in 2024, he held senior commercial roles at TotallyMoney and MoneySuperMarket Group.
Our content is written by a Compare the Market expert, backed by data and enhanced by technology. Find out how we ensure accuracy and quality in our Editorial Guidelines.
What our expert says...
“While motivation is often high at the start of the year, financial goals can quickly feel overwhelming without clear structure or guidance that reflects everyday costs and pressures. When progress feels slow or targets seem unrealistic, confidence can dip, making it harder to stay on track. This is rarely down to a lack of effort, and more often reflects a need for support and a plan that feels achievable in real life.”