Fit and frugal: 15 million Australians have a New Year’s Resolution for 2026
Aussies are heading into the New Year with a fresh perspective, according to new research by Finder.
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A Finder survey of 1,006 respondents revealed 71% – equivalent to 15.5 million people – have made a New Year's Resolution for 2026.
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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.
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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.
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Travel is still high on the list – 18% of Aussies are hoping to stamp their passports overseas in 2026.
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The search for 'the one' is on for 8% of Australians who have vowed to find love.
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Rebecca Pike, money expert at Finder, said the turn of the calendar is a powerful psychological reset.
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"A new year is like a blank page. It's the perfect time to sit down, look at where you are, and set yourself new goals.
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"Whether it's improving your health or venturing overseas, the secret to making your resolutions stick isn't to make a huge overhaul overnight. It's about small changes to your daily habits."
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Finder's research found a whopping 85% of Australians – equivalent to 18.5 million people – have set a financial goal for 2026.
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Saving more money (53%), spending less (32%), and reducing expenses (27%) are the top three financial goals Aussies have made.
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Many Aussies are looking to grow their wealth through investing (18%) and boosting their income by getting a second job or pay rise (16%).
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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.
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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).
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Pike said a few small tweaks to your budget can have a huge impact.
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"Taking control of your finances doesn't have to be overwhelming. A great place to start is identifying things you don't need or aren't using – think unused memberships or subscriptions – and cancel them right away.
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"Then have a look at the things you do need – whether it's your home loan, energy provider, or insurance – and make sure you aren't paying too much.
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"Even shaving a half percentage off your home loan can save you thousands of dollars, and there's as much as a $370-690 a year difference between the cheapest and most expensive energy plans in Finder's database," Pike said.
What are your New Year's resolutions for 2026?
| Improve fitness | 32% |
| Eat more healthy | 30% |
| Lose weight | 25% |
| Sleep more | 19% |
| Travel overseas | 18% |
| Be more sustainable | 12% |
| Work less / have a better work/life balance | 9% |
| Drink less | 9% |
| Find love | 8% |
| Renovate my house | 7% |
| Change my job | 7% |
| Take more risks | 7% |
| Volunteer | 6% |
| Start meditating | 6% |
| Smoke less | 5% |
| Quit smoking | 4% |
| Quit drinking | 4% |
| Quit gambling | 3% |
| Vape less | 3% |
| Quit vaping | 2% |
| Move interstate / overseas | 2% |
| Other | 1% |
| I'm not going to have any resolutions | 29% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,006 respondents, December 2025 |  |
What are your top financial goals for 2026?
| Save more money | 53% |
| Spend less money | 32% |
| Reduce expenses | 27% |
| Invest more | 18% |
| Build up an emergency fund | 17% |
| Find ways to increase my earnings (e.g. second job, get a pay rise, start a business) | 16% |
| Improve my overall financial literacy | 14% |
| Pay off my credit card | 10% |
| Pay off mortgage | 9% |
| Buy a car | 9% |
| Buy a home | 7% |
| Pay off my BNPL debt | 7% |
| Buy cryptocurrency | 6% |
| Save for a home deposit | 5% |
| Pay off other personal debt (e.g. student loan, personal loan, car loan, etc) | 5% |
| Stop using BNPL | 4% |
| Other | 2% |
| I don't have any financial goals for 2026 | 15% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,006 respondents, December 2025 | |
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Sources
Methodology
- Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker is a monthly recurring nationally representative survey of more than 60,000 respondents.
- Figures in this release are based on 1,006 respondents from December 2025.
- The Consumer Sentiment Tracker is owned by Finder and operated by Qualtrics.
- The survey has been running monthly since May 2019.
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