A new survey from Vanguard has found that Americans are optimistic about 2026 and their “financial resolutions” for the coming year after falling short of their resolutions in 2025.
In its latest consumer survey, Vanguard found that while nearly three quarters of those surveyed said they fell short of their saving and spending resolutions for this year, most are optimistic that next year will be better. The survey found that 84 percent of American have financial resolutions for 2026, and the top two resolutions are building up an emergency fund and using a high-yielding account for short-term savings goals.
The survey found that 82 percent of Americans are somewhat or very confident in their ability to achieve their financial resolutions in 2026, but that each generation said there were different obstacles to achieving their goals. Nearly 30 percent of boomers were most concerned about unexpected expenses, while 22 percent of millennials reported struggling with insufficient income and 15 percent of Gen Z reporting that they live beyond their means. Across all generations, the biggest concern was economic uncertainty (22 percent) and how it would impact their ability to meet their saving and spending goals.
“Americans are focused on building emergency funds and saving for short-term goals, and they need information and tools to make smarter savings decisions, so they don’t fall short of their resolutions,” Matt Benchener, Managing Director of Vanguard’s Personal Investor business, said. “Use the end of the year as a time to reset. Americans should take a close look at where they save to ensure they are earning the returns they deserve. A high-yielding savings vehicle, like Vanguard’s Cash Plus Account, can earn more than eight times the average interest of a traditional bank savings account.”