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!
1. Jumpstart your savings with quick wins
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: Set up sinking funds for your top 3 unexpected expenses (e.g. car repair, home maintenance, medical etc).
2. Automate small money saving 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. It’s the same with money.
Avoid unconscious procrastination by automating small deposits to your accounts, whether it’s your savings, an emergency fund, or a financial goal. Set it for the day after you get paid, or whenever is convenient for you. Think of that money as already gone and inaccessible (if able); what’s left in your pay is what you have to use. Unless a relevant emergency arises.
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 if your week gets busy or expensive. And the more you do it, the easier it is to 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.
3. Save more money by finding your quiet leaks
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.
4. Do a 14-day no-spend sprint
A 14-day no-spend sprint is a set amount of time where you either focus on buying just the essentials or target a single category you think you’re spending a bit too much money on (such as iced coffees with extra whipped cream and a light dusting of cinnamon sugar).
It may not seem like rocket science—after all, not spending money is a great way to save money—but you’d be surprised how little expenses can add up over a short period of time. In those two weeks you can not only save a fair bit, but reset habits and prove that you don’t need to go without in order to save money.
Here’s how to get started:
- Pick a single category: Choose one thing you feel you spend too much on, but can live without for at least 14 days. Examples include: takeaway coffee, Ubers, food delivery, after-work cocktails.
- Set your rules: Note down what’s off-limits, what’s acceptable, what swaps you’re permitted to make, what are fair exceptions to the challenge. E.g: you can only catch an Uber if it is past a certain time at night or there is literally no other option. By noting them down, you are making them tangible and real.
- Track your spend: Every time you avoid a purchase you would have made, record the amount you would have spent. Dealer’s choice on where you record it, just make sure you do.
- Transfer the savings: On Day 15, add up the total amount you saved by not spending, and transfer it into your savings account. Celebrate your accomplishment, maybe with a low-cost reward.
- Think back on the challenge: What was easy? What was difficult? Do you want to do it again with a different item? Do you want to extend the time or reduce it? Can you go for a month next time?
Though it is important to remember that essentials and emergencies don’t count as part of the challenge. If you need something you need it.
5. Set up sinking funds
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. Prepare for those unexpected costs using 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.
And if you really want to step up your budget planning game, Beforepay has a budget tool with personalised spending insights. Group your money into buckets such as Groceries, Transport, and Shopping, and let the Beforepay app track how much you have left in each category. Download the app to start creating your budget.
6. 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. - Set yourself a Little Treat Day
Give yourself one day a week, fortnight, or month where you do something solely for you, as a reward for all your hard work saving. Make it intentional, make it an occasion, make it something to look forward to, but still keep it within your limits. You’ve done well, so treat yourself. - 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.
7. Find small ways to 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.
7 tips for saving money in 2026
If you take nothing else into the new year (except a food coma), take these:
- Hit the ground running with quick finance wins.
- Automate small savings.
- Locate and patch your quiet leaks.
- Do a 14-day no-spend sprint.
- Set up sinking funds for predictable surprises.
- Spend more sustainably, but don’t cut out your joy.
- Boost your income through marketplace sales, freelance work, or upskilling.
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.
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.
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