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.
A Finder survey of 1,006 respondents revealed 71% – equivalent to 15.5 million people – have made a New Year's Resolution for 2026.
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.
Rebecca Pike, money expert at Finder, said the turn of the calendar is a powerful psychological reset.
"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.
"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."
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).
Pike said a few small tweaks to your budget can have a huge impact.
"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.
"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.
"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 | |
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.
Ask a question