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Sky News request

Journalist: Jess Sharp, Sky News

ended 18. December 2025

Hello 

Hope you're having a good day!

I'm working on a piece for the Sky News Money blog about money habits we can take into the new year to improve our finances. 

So, can you tell me your top money new year's resolutions (e.g. make the most of your cash ISA, boost your salary sacrifice etc), how to implement them and how they will help, please?  

Many thanks

Jess 

4 responses from the Newspage community

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Editor
Scott Gallacher
Director at Rowley Turton
The holiday period is a good time to go back through your bank statements and see where your money is actually going, rather than where you think it’s going. Once you have that clarity, you can make a conscious decision to live within your means.

That usually means cutting out unnecessary spending – things you don’t really need and that don’t genuinely add enjoyment to your life. Look out for streaming subscriptions or gym memberships that you no longer use, despite your good intentions.

With those savings freed up, the priority should be either paying down high-interest debt or building an emergency fund, ideally held in a cash ISA. Having a financial buffer gives you resilience and stops unexpected bills pushing you back into debt.

If you can keep to your budget, this simple step will set you up for financial success not just for 2026 but for the rest of your life.
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Editor
Antonia Medlicott
Founder & MD at Investing Insiders
If you always pick a Cash ISA over a Stocks and Shares ISA, and particularly if you max out your allowance, revisit your strategy this year. Although the reduction to the Cash ISA allowance won’t take effect until April 2027, don’t delay the conversation if you'll be affected.

The government has ruled out workarounds like transferring funds from Stocks and Shares ISAs into Cash ISAs once the change happens, so now is the time to explore your options.

Investing won’t be right for everyone, but unless you're saving solely for short-term goals, investing could open up better potential returns, and 2026 will see a big push from the government to get more of us considering it. That means there will undoubtedly be a push on education including free resources and help getting your questions answered. If you've shied away from investing either because it feels too complicated, or you're worried about managing the risks, 2026 is a good year to explore what it’s all about.
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Patricia McGirr
Founder at Repossession Rescue Network
Most money tips assume spare cash. In today’s economy, many households are just trying to stay upright.

The most useful New Year resolutions are not about optimisation, they are about stability. Start by building slack before chasing growth. A small cash buffer, even £500, matters more than ISAs if one unexpected bill could tip you into debt. Slack buys breathing space.

Next, automate progress. Increase pension or salary sacrifice the moment pay rises. Set bills and savings to leave just after payday. Willpower fades. Systems do not.

If you are already behind, face it early and without shame. Write down what you owe, to whom and at what cost. Speak to lenders before problems escalate. Silence is what turns wobble into crisis.

Finally, aim for steady, not perfect. Consistency beats intensity. In a tough economy, getting back on track is about control and momentum, not deprivation.
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Rohit Parmar-Mistry
Founder at Pattrn Data
Your best financial resolution isn't a savings goal, it's a system upgrade. Most people run their finances like bad legacy software: bloated and inefficient. You need to replace willpower with two core habits.

First, embed a habit of monthly 'System Maintenance'. We bleed cash on 'Subscription Sprawl', zombie subscriptions for apps and services we forget to use. Don't just check your balance; audit your statement line-by-line. If you haven't used a service in 30 days, kill it. This regular clean-up is the easiest pay rise you’ll get this year.

Crucially, adopt the '24-Hour Protocol' to counter the 'Buy Now Pay Later' (BNPL) trap. BNPL is designed to make debt frictionless; your new habit must be to re-introduce friction. If you want a non-essential item, wait 24 hours. If you can’t pay upfront, your personal economy can't afford it. Delete the apps and stop letting slick interfaces trick you into spending future earnings.