Forget New Year’s Budget Resolutions — Use These Apps to Review 2025 Spending Before Setting 2026 Goals
New Year’s resolutions might be made with the best of intentions, but they’re often broken because real change demands effort. There’s nothing wrong with setting a goal, but without context on where you’ve been, it’s hard to know where you’re headed. With 2025 in the rear view, you have a solid starting point — and it’s not hard to pull together.
- Before setting your 2026 budget, start by figuring out what you spent in 2025 — budget apps like Monarch, Copilot Money, or Quicken’s Simplifi are all running New Year deals right now.
- These apps let you connect your financial accounts to see past spending by category, helping you set more realistic budgeting goals for 2026 — and stick to them.
If apps aren’t your thing: Many creditors and financial firms let you generate a summary of your last year’s spending if you poke around on their websites. You could save some money by downloading everything and building your own spreadsheet, but that also means holding yourself accountable to maintain the budget.
Don’t forget these costs: Most budget apps don’t include workplace deductions — like for health care, FSA or HSA contributions, or your 401(k). Be sure to factor in these important line items when sizing up your 2026.