As 2025 kicks off, many of us are making our resolutions for the new year. But as you ponder your fitness goals or a new skill you want to learn in 2025, you should also make a resolution to improve your finances.
Here are a few financial goals you could aim for in 2025.
1. Find easy ways to save
Many people are struggling to make ends meet due to the high cost of living, making it difficult to save for future emergencies or retirement. More than a quarter of adults in the United States say they have no emergency savings, the highest since 2020, according to Bankrate.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Everyone has different savings goals. Are you saving up to buy a house? Do you want to add more to a retirement account? Or do you simply want to build up your savings? Whichever you choose, you need to start with a plan.
The first thing you need to do is take a look at your budget. Are you spending more each month than you are making? Are there areas you can cut back on? Cancel any unused subscriptions or streaming services that you don’t use. Try making coffee at home and skip the $7 daily latte.
Consider putting money into a high-yield savings account, a certificate of deposit (CD) or a money market account. High-yield savings accounts allow you to grow your money faster than a regular savings account.
Unlike many other investment options, you can easily withdraw money from these accounts if you suddenly need access. The best savings rates for high-yield accounts are close to 5%. That means if you deposit $10,000, you’ll have an additional $500 in one year without doing anything else.
If you’re just starting your savings journey, start small. Put 5% of each paycheck into whatever you're saving towards, this could be retirement savings or an emergency fund. A little is better than nothing. When you feel more comfortable or if you get a raise, you can increase your amount to 10% or 15%.
2. Avoid adding to your debt
A great financial goal for 2025 is to avoid adding any debt. Currently, credit card debt in the United States is sitting at an astonishing $1.17 trillion. The more debt you have, the more interest you are paying, which is money you could be using to pay yourself. Even with recent rate cuts, interest rates remain high, making it harder for people to pay off their debt. This is not only keeping many Americans in debt for longer than they should, but also preventing them from progressing toward owning a home, building up their emergency savings or saving for retirement.
No matter what type of debt you have, you need to have a plan for paying it off. The two most popular strategies for attacking debt are the avalanche method and the snowball method. Using the avalanche method, you pay off the highest-interest debt first and then roll that payment into the next highest debt. The snowball method is where you tackle your debt by balance, from lowest to highest.
3. Improve your financial knowledge
When you were growing up, how much were you taught about money and finances? If you are like most people, it wasn’t much, if any. But don’t panic, it’s never too late to learn something new and improve your financial literacy.
Try reading articles, websites or books dedicated to personal finance. This is a quick and easy way to learn more about topics you might not know much about. Also, look into local organizations or financial firms in your area that may host workshops or webinars on various financial topics.
4. Choose an accountability partner
Just like with any goal or resolution, we’re much more likely to stick to it if you have a partner to tag along with. An accountability partner can check in with you as needed and offer encouragement and advice when you start to slip. Letting others know that you are trying to save money can help you cut back on spending as well.
Instead of friends reaching out to go to dinner, they might offer to host a dinner at their home saving you both money. If you are more of a competitor, try turning this into a game with your partner. Whoever pays off a loan first or saves the most during a certain period, owes the other person coffee.
A financial adviser can be one of the best accountability partners. They can help you with many aspects of your financial picture to outline your goals and ensure you stay on track in 2025.
Drake & Associates is an independent investment advisory firm registered with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. This is prepared for informational purposes only. It does not address specific investment objectives, or the financial situation and the particular needs of any person who may view this report. Neither the information nor any opinion expressed it so be construed as solicitation to buy or sell a security of personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. The information cited is believed to be from reliable sources, Drake & Associates assumes no obligation to update this information, or to advise on further development relating to it. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
Related Content
- Five Year-End Strategies You Can't Afford to Miss
- Year-End Retirement Tax Planning Actions if You Have $1 Million or More
- What Not to Do When Planning Your Retirement
- How to Have a Happy Retirement
- Five Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Retired
-
Ask the Editor — Tax Questions on Inherited IRAsAsk the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, we answer tax questions from readers on the rules on inheriting IRAs.
-
I Asked Experts When It's Worth Splurging on Beauty and Skincare — and When You Can SaveSmart Shopping Experts agree that while you don't have to spend three figures on your products, some higher-priced items have value.
-
When It's Worth Spending Money on Beauty and Skincare — and When You Can Save
Smart Shopping Experts agree that while you don't have to spend three figures on your products, some higher-priced items have value.
-
How to Find the Best Alternatives to Popular Travel DestinationsYou don’t have to bust your budget or battle big crowds to enjoy pristine natural beauty, rich culture, authentic cuisine and more.
-
My First $1 Million: Retired Self-Employed Attorney, 75, Coast of WashingtonEver wonder how someone who's made a million dollars or more did it? Kiplinger's My First $1 Million series uncovers the answers.
-
Walmart Takes on Prime Day With Competing July Deals EventWalmart is launching its own multi-day sales event to rival Amazon Prime Day — and it could be a smart time to shop, even if you're not a member.
-
7 Golf Course Destinations to Vacation Away from the CrowdsBeat the growing crowds of new golfers at these golf course destinations off the beaten path.
-
A Financial Expert's Three Steps to Becoming Debt-Free (Even in This Economy)If debt has you spiraling, now is the time to take a few common-sense steps to help knock it down and get it under control.
-
I'm an Insurance Expert: This Is How Your Insurance Protects You While You're on VacationHere are three key things to consider about your insurance (auto, property and health) when traveling within the U.S., including coverage for rental cars, personal belongings and medical emergencies.
-
The Best FSA or HSA-Eligible Prime Day Deals You Can Shop NowDouble down on savings by taking advantage of these early Prime Day deals that are FSA or HSA eligible. Save on fitness trackers, air purifiers, baby gear and more.
