New Year’s resolutions 2026

More than 15 million Australians have set a New Year's resolution for 2026

They're easy to make and even easier to break. New Year's resolutions are in for 2026 and Aussies are keener than ever for a fresh start.

We conducted a nationally representative survey of 1,006 respondents to find out what goals Australians have set for the year ahead.

How many Australians set New Year's resolutions?

Our research revealed 71% of Australians – equivalent to 15.5 million people – have set a New Year's resolution for 2026.

Women (78%) are more likely than men (63%) to set goals for the new year.

New Year's resolutions are also more popular with younger generations. Only half (39%) of baby boomers have set themselves a resolution. This is compared to 88% of gen Z and 86% of millennials.

What are the most common New Year's resolutions?

Physical health is the top priority for the nation, with almost 1 in 3 (32%) aiming to improve their fitness, 30% planning to eat healthier, and 25% vowing to lose weight.

Australians are also looking for a bit of zen, with 1 in 5 (19%) planning to sleep more, 9% pledging to have a better work/life balance, and 6% will start meditating.

Travel is still high on the list – 18% of Aussies are hoping to stamp their passports overseas in 2026.

The search for 'the one' is on for 8% of Australians who have vowed to find love.

What are Aussies' financial goals for 2026?

Finder's research found a whopping 85% of Australians – equivalent to 18.5 million people – have set a financial goal for 2026.

Saving more money (53%), spending less (32%), and reducing expenses (27%) are the top three financial goals Aussies have made.

Many Aussies are looking to grow their wealth through investing (18%) and boosting their income by getting a second job or pay rise (16%).

Property remains on the agenda, with 9% hoping to pay off their mortgage, 7% planning to buy a home, and 5% hoping to save for a deposit.

Financial freedom and paying off debt are also important for the year ahead, with 14% of Australians wanting to improve their financial literacy, 10% planning to pay off their credit card, 7% pledging to pay off their BNPL debt, and 5% saying they will pay off other personal debt (e.g. student loans, car loans, etc).

How many people stick to their resolutions?

Setting unrealistic goals is a recipe for failure, and unfortunately, most New Year's resolutions end up being abandoned.

Research from the University of Scranton found just 8% of people achieve their resolutions, and even less conservative estimates put this figure at a dire 20%. According to global research conducted by Strava, January 12 is the date you are most likely to break your resolution.

How to stick to your resolutions

Be specific. You can't achieve your goal if you don't know what it means! Instead of saying you're going to "eat better", figure out what this means to you. Maybe your goal is to eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day or replace soft drinks with sparkling water. Being specific will help you stick to your goal and track your progress.

Be consistent. Nobody is perfect, and it's okay to fall off the bandwagon every once in a while. The important thing is that you get back on track and keep looking forward. Getting down on yourself or dwelling on your lost progress will only make achieving your goal more difficult in the long run.

Take it one step at a time. You can't go from zero to hero straight away. If you're struggling with the money basics, becoming a share trading whiz might not be the best resolution for you. Focus on learning how to budget, and set up a dedicated savings account if you haven't already. Money management apps like the Finder app can make it easy to see all your money in one place and figure out where you could be saving money.

Written by

Graham Cooke

Head of Consumer Research

Graham Cooke is Finder’s Head of Consumer Research, overseeing data analysis on consumer spending and saving habits. He is a passionate advocate for financial literacy and consumer rights, regularly appearing on major TV networks like ABC News and 7 News, and contributing to top outlets like Yahoo Finance and Money Magazine. Graham holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Physics, as well as Tier 1 and Tier 2 certifications (RG 146) that comply with ASIC standards. See full bio

Graham's expertise

Graham has written 59 Finder guides across topics including:

• Home loans and the housing market
• Credit cards & personal finance
• Finder Awards
• Retail economics & FMCG
• Travel
• Finder's RBA Cash Rate Survey, Consumer Sentiment Tracker, Cost of Living Pressure Gauge and Property Investment Index

Co-written by

Joshua Godfrey

Senior Insights Analyst

Joshua Godfrey is a Senior Insights Analyst at Finder, specialising in data analysis and identifying emerging trends through the Consumer Sentiment Tracker, a monthly survey on Australians' financial attitudes. He has authored Finder’s 2024 Wealth Building Report and 2025 First Home Buyer Report which have been widely quoted in top media outlets like the AFR and news.com.au. With a Bachelor of Business in Finance and Marketing and a Diploma of Creative Intelligence from UTS, Josh is passionate about uncovering patterns in consumer sentiment and exploring how they influence the future of finance. See full bio

Joshua's expertise

Joshua has written 40 Finder guides across topics including:

• Data and analytics
• Money trends
• Data journalism