New year, new savings habits: simple ways to save in 2026

If you like to keep track of your balance, this could be a good way for you to save. At the end of the day or week, you round your balance down and move the spare change into savings.

For example, if you have £151.36 left, you move £1.36 into a savings account. It may not feel like much, but over time, it’ll add up.

Many banking apps make this easy — you can move money in seconds. It’s a gentle way to build a savings pot without feeling the strain.

When you get paid, it can be tempting to wait and see how much is left to save at the end of the month. A lot of the time you’ll find there’s not much!

Instead, why not move a small amount into your savings straight after pay day? Even £20 a month can help build a habit. Once it is safely stashed away, you’re less likely to spend it.

Doing this first makes saving feel like a priority, not an afterthought.

Cash can disappear quickly. Small spends can add up without us noticing.

Instead of spending every penny, why not pop any extra change into a jar or pot? Watching it fill up can feel great. And when the pot is full, you can pay it into a savings account or spend it.

Turn everyday cash into something more meaningful for the future.

This is a simple way to guide how you use your money. You split it into three parts.

·       50% goes on needs. This includes bills, food, travel and debt repayments.

·       30% goes on wants. Meals out, treats or holidays.

·       The remaining 20% goes into savings.

This is only a guide to show you how it could work. You might find another split works better for you – like 60/20/20. The key is to find your perfect balance.

Life is full of twists and turns. Costs can appear when you least expect them.

An emergency fund can help cover these moments. This could be car repairs, home issues or family events. Many people aim for three to six months of essential expenses as an emergency fund.

You don’t need to reach this amount straight away. Saving a little each month can still bring peace of mind.

And you never know, hopefully you will never need your emergency fund. It can become your sunny day fund instead, turning grey skies into feelgood moments.

If your income goes up, you’ll often find your spending rises too. This is known as lifestyle inflation.

You may choose to enjoy some of that extra money. But you could also send part of it to savings. This can help you reach bigger goals faster.

Saving extra income can create options for the future. It could support long-term plans or larger purchases later.

ISAs offer a great, tax-free way to save and make the most of your money. You can save up to £20,000 into ISAs each tax year*

There are five main types of ISAs. They all have different features, depending on what you’re saving for. Take a look at our Making sense of ISAs guide to find out more.

Saving is easier when you have a clear goal. So, you could open separate savings accounts for different aims. One for holidays. One for home projects. One for the future.

This helps keep your savings on track. For example, you may think twice about taking money from your holiday fund to buy a takeaway.

Many of us pay for subscriptions and services that we no longer use. For example, TV streaming services and gym memberships… According to government figures¹, unwanted subscriptions cost families £14 per month per subscription and £1.6 billion a year in total. Take a look at yours and ask yourself, ‘do I still need these?’

For energy, mobile phone and broadband tariffs, it may be a good idea to see if there are cheaper options out there. If you manage to save some money, send this to your savings.

Doing this once or twice a year can make a real difference.

Some days cost more than others. That’s normal. To balance this out, you could try no-spend days. On these days, you spend nothing or as little as possible.

It is like a fast for your budget. It can help you save more without feeling restricted all the time.