The 2026 money checklist
5 things to sort before the year begins
There’s something about the start of a new year that makes everything feel possible. But instead of waiting until January to get organised, a little prep now can make a big difference to how you start 2026.
Here’s your quick and practical checklist to kick off the new year feeling calm, confident and in control of your money.
1. Review your spending
Before you set new goals, it helps to know where your money actually went this year. Take ten minutes to look back over your 2025 spending. Most banking apps will show category breakdowns so you can see what areas quietly crept up.
Ask yourself:
• Were there any surprise costs?
• Any expenses that could go, like unused subscriptions or memberships?
• Did your everyday expenses increase more than expected?
If there’s an area where you’ve spent more than planned, that might be the one to keep a close eye on in the new year.
2. Set one clear goal for 2026
You don’t need to overhaul your whole financial life overnight. Just choose one thing you want to improve or change by the end of 2026.
It could be:
• Learning the basics of investing (we have courses that can help!)
• Investing your first $1,000
• Building a $2,000 emergency fund
• Paying off your credit card
• Sticking to a realistic spending plan
Keeping your goal specific and measurable gives you a clear target to work towards and makes it easier to celebrate progress along the way.
3. Make an action plan
Once you’ve chosen your goal, map out how you’ll actually make it happen. What do you need to do to make sure this happens? Will you set up an automatic transfer, watch a few investing tutorials, or use Jars in the Raiz app to stay on track?
The more you can automate or simplify, the easier it becomes to stick with it long term. Don’t forget to check in throughout the year to make sure you’re staying on track to achieve your goal.
4. Tidy up your accounts
Do you have old accounts, cards or buy-now-pay-later services you don’t use or no longer want? These can clutter your finances, make tracking harder and even cost you in unnecessary fees.
Do a quick audit:
• Close unused bank accounts or credit cards
• Cancel buy-now-pay-later services
• Cancel any unused subscriptions or memberships
Keep your main banking setup simple, with fewer accounts, fewer logins, fewer fees and less brainpower required to stay on top of things. This is also a great time to update passwords and check that any automatic payments are still relevant.
5. Get your life admin sorted
Money management isn’t just about numbers, it’s about being organised. Set reminders now that will pop up during the year for key dates like insurance renewals, car registration, tax time or rate changes. If you’ve had big life changes, make sure your super beneficiaries and insurance details are up to date too.
A bit of planning now saves a lot of stress later.
6. Simplify your super
If you have multiple super accounts, you’re likely paying multiple sets of fees, which slowly eat into your balance. Cleaning things up now can save you money and make it easier to keep track of your retirement savings.
Not sure where your super is or whether you’ve got more than one account? Log in to your myGov account, head to the ATO services, and look for the Super tab. You’ll be able to see all your funds in one place, including any ‘lost super’ that hasn’t been linked to you for a while.
Before you consolidate, take a moment to check what you might be giving up. Some super funds include insurance policies like life or income protection, and these can cancel automatically when you roll your money out. Make sure you understand the cover you currently have before moving anything.
If you are in need of a consolidation, or just comparing superfunds, check out Raiz Invest Super. It’s built to make investing for retirement simple and accessible, especially if you prefer a straightforward approach. You can learn more and see if Raiz Super is right for you at https://raizinvest.com.au/raiz-super
Now is your time to get a head start
Think of this checklist as your financial warm-up for the year ahead. A few simple actions now can set you up for a smoother, stronger 2026!
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Important Information
This blog has been issued by Instreet Investment Limited (ACN 128 813 016 AFSL 434776) as Responsible Entity of the Raiz Invest Australia Fund (ARSN 607 533 022) and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on such information, you should conduct your own review or consult a financial advisor before making a decision to invest. Please read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and any associated reference documents before making an investment decision. In accordance with the Design and Distributions Obligations, we maintain Target Market Determinations for our Funds. All documents can be found on the Raiz website www.raizinvest.com.au, or calling the Customer Support team on 1300 754 748. Please note that past performance is not a reliable indicator or guarantee of future performance. Historical returns, forecasts, and market commentary are provided for general informational purposes only. All investment carries risk and may result in loss of capital.
