How to save money in 2026 and beyond

The contents provided on this page are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice. Consider your personal circumstances and objectives before making any financial decisions.

It’s coming up to the new year and you know what that means? A new chance to break your resolutions feel a bit more in control of your money. Because let’s face it, life is not going to stop throwing surprise bills at you.

Below are the best new financial habits to help with how to save money in 2026, build a buffer over time, and feel less stressed when the unexpected pops up.

However, if something does come up and you need a bit of extra cash to get you through until your next pay, Beforepay Pay Advance is here to help. Borrow up to $2000 (subject to eligibility) with zero credit checks and absolutely no hidden fees. What you see is what you get!

Jumpstart your money savings

It can be overwhelming to contemplate a financial strategy for the entire year. No stress (and no spreadsheets). Here are a few small moves that build up momentum fast.

Your quick-start money checklist

Today: Do a 10-minute bill audit. Check your utilities, internet providers, and insurance plans. Can you renegotiate or switch? Check out our blog on comparing and switching utility providers if you need a push in the right direction.
This week: Set up an emergency fund for a predictable surprise (car, health, school, home repair costs).
Next payday: Automate a small transfer into your emergency savings. The amount will depend on what is reasonable to your budget. Even $10-$20 adds up over time.
This month: Break out the 3-bucket budget planner (Needs, Life, Future You). We’ll get into this shortly.

Build small money habits

Big promises rely on everything going perfectly, which rarely (if ever) happens.

Think about the times you might have wanted to go to the gym after work, or do a chore, or run an errand, followed a few hours later by the desire to do anything but the thing. You have a bad day, you have other things to do, you get tired, or don’t feel like being social. It’s the same with money.

Small habits work because they help you spend less without feeling like you’re constantly missing out, and they’re much more likely to stick when your week gets busy or expensive. And the more you do it, the more likely it is that you’ll keep at it.

In fact, studies have been done showing that it takes around 66 days to cement a new habit. Not that long in the grand scheme of things.

Think of it like fitness: you can’t burn off a week’s worth of bad eating with one heroic gym session, but you can make a start with a daily 30 minute walk. Likewise, you may not be able to save $3000 in one go, but you might be able to do $30 every week.

How to save money if you live pay-to-pay

It can be tough to find the most impactful way to save when you are living from moment to moment. But it can be done.

Start by finding your quiet leaks — the expenses that don’t feel huge in the moment but add up massively over a year. You may even be able to afford it semi-comfortably at the time, but there could be savings awaiting you.

Here are a few of the highest-impact places Australians usually find savings:

Bills you can cut down
Many households save hundreds a year by switching or re-pricing insurance, internet, and utility providers. These aren’t ‘set and forget’ costs, and if you don’t check it, the companies certainly won’t. Do a check-in at least twice a year.
Groceries with a game plan
Food is still one of the biggest pressure points in household budgets. A list, a plan for dinners, a couple of cheaper brand swaps, and leaning on budget supermarkets can cut your weekly spend without cutting nutrition. For extra inspiration, we wrote a blog on 8 ways to trim your grocery bill.
Fuel and transport
Checking fuel prices before you fill up or even planning errands into one trip can save more than you’d think over a month. You could use a fuel checker app like Petrol Spy to ensure you’re getting the cheapest available price. For bonus info, check out our blog on 7 apps to help you find cheap petrol.

How to save money with the ‘real life’ budget planner method

Try this three-bucket approach in a budget planner (spreadsheet, notebook, or app):

Needs (the essentials)
Rent/mortgage, groceries, transport, utilities, minimum debt repayments.
Life (stuff that makes life good)
Kids’ activities, a night out, sport, streaming, takeaway, birthdays, little treats.
Future (savings + goals)
Emergency buffer, sinking funds, big purchases, aspirational goals.

You won’t need to track every cent you earn or spend—that’s just not practical—but you are making sure that enough money is going into each bucket to cover your expenses, letting you enjoy life, and work towards larger goals.

There are many great budget planners out there, but did you know that Beforepay has a budget tool? Group your money into buckets such as Groceries, Transport, and Shopping, and refine your budget over time with personalised insights based on how you spend.

Budget for the unexpected

When looking for how to save money, you must plan for the known unknowns.

Even if you don’t know exactly what will go wrong this year, it’s a fair chance that something will. And that is something you can prepare for.

How to save money with sinking funds

A sinking fund is a dedicated amount of money set aside for a specific expense, and it’s a great way to save money over the long term. You might already have sinking funds set up, with accounts for home repairs, rent etc. Here’s how we can sink more cash into these funds.

Pick 2–3 categories that regularly surprise your wallet, like:

Car repairs/rego
Medical and dental
School and kids’ costs
Pets
Home maintenance

Then set aside a small weekly amount into a separate savings bucket. Even $15–$30 a week per category adds up fast.

This habit is a powerhouse for saving money because it makes surprise expenses less surprising.

Don’t cut out joy, in order to save money

Going cold turkey on anything doesn’t last. Nor should it. So don’t try and cut everything you enjoy for the sake of saving, instead put a cap on your spending or swap out activities one week so you can enjoy them guilt-free the next.

Put a lid on your life bucket
Decide your weekly guilt-free spend. When it’s gone, it’s gone. Stick to this limit, but enjoy yourself.
Swap out one thing a week
One fewer takeaway, one home brand instead of name brand, one no-spend catch-up with mates.
Use a 48-hour rule for non-essentials
If you still want it tomorrow, cool. Half the time you won’t. We wrote all about the 48-hour rule and the benefits of waiting before slamming the ‘buy now’ button.

Sustainable spending beats extreme cuts every time.

Boost your income

In a world of hustle culture, grindsets, and bag chasing, it can be hard to see that small changes can lead to big gains. Here are a few options tailored for actual reality:

Make micro-earnings: marketplace sales, casual weekend shifts, small gigs, freelance work.
Stack those skills high: Complete short courses that could unlock higher pay in your field
Review the roster: For shift workers, one extra shift a fortnight adds up, especially on penalty rates. For full-time workers, you could also see if it’s possible to get paid overtime.

How to save money in 2026

If you take nothing else into the new year (except a food coma), take these:

Use a simple budget planner built around real life.
Add sinking funds for predictable surprises.
Automate small savings.
Compare and maybe switch utility providers twice a year.
Spend more sustainably, don’t cut out your joy.
Use short-term credit only with a clear plan.
Do a 10-minute weekly check-in.

None of these require a perfect income or perfect month. They just require you to start small, stay consistent, and give yourself credit for progress.

Because in 2026, saving money isn’t about being flawless, it’s about building habits that keep you steady even through turbulent times.

And if a surprise expense hits before payday, Beforepay is here to help you bridge the gap— Pay Advance is a loan for those days, not everyday.

See you in 2026!

Disclaimer: Beforepay Group Ltd, ABN: 63 633 925 505. Beforepay allows eligible customers to access their pay and provides budgeting tools. Beforepay does not provide financial products, financial advice or credit products. The views provided in this article include factual information and the personal opinions of relevant Beforepay staff and do not constitute financial advice. Beforepay and its related bodies corporate make no representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or reliability of the contents of this blog post and do not accept any liability for any loss whatsoever arising from the use of this information. Please read our Terms of Service carefully before deciding whether to use any of our services.