TikTok made me do it (...and I’m saving money?)

2025 was a whirlwind of a year when it comes to personal finance. 64% of Americans decided to finally do something about their money situation because of TikTok.

P.S. Want to fix your 2026 finances? Newsletter readers get $100 off our money coaching plans ‘til the end of January 2026. Just mention this email and book a free 1-hour call here.

Your savings strategy is now algorithm-driven.

In 2025, financial advice shifted from traditional sources to your TikTok feed. Nearly three in five people took money tips from FinTok, turning 60-second videos into actual financial decisions.

The trends that dominated 2025:

📌 Low-budget living (30% tried it) became the year's most popular approach. Think intentional spending, finding cheaper alternatives, and cutting expenses that don't add real value to your life.

📌 Side hustle sprints (20%) turned spare time into extra income. These weren't long-term business plans. They were quick cash injections from freelancing, reselling, or gig work.

📌 "Girl math" (17%) rationalized purchases by breaking down cost-per-use or treating returns as "free money." Entertaining? Absolutely. Financially sound? That's debatable.

📌 Loud budgeting gained serious traction by normalizing one simple thing: saying "I can't afford that" without shame or elaborate excuses. It addressed the real social pressure to overspend just to keep up.

📌 Cash stuffing brought envelope budgeting into the smartphone era, with people physically dividing their paychecks into categories.

What you should prioritize for 2026:

Not every viral trend deserves your time. Here's what's worth focusing on.

👉 Start with loud budgeting. Being upfront about your financial limits stops the spending spiral before it starts. This isn't about being cheap. It's about refusing to go into debt to maintain appearances.

👉 Build a side hustle if your main income can't cover rising costs. In 2025, this shifted from optional to necessary for many households. Whether it's freelancing, gig work, or monetizing a skill, additional income streams became the difference between treading water and getting ahead.

👉 Try cash stuffing if digital spending feels invisible. When money exists only as numbers on a screen, it's easier to lose track. Physical cash creates friction that digital payments remove, and sometimes that friction is exactly what you need. But make sure you're not just saving cash, as this won't earn interest that actually grows your money.

👉 Skip "girl math" entirely. Rationalizing purchases might feel good in the moment, but it doesn't change the actual impact on your bank account. If the goal is to save money in 2026, this trend works against you.

👉 Make low-budget living your default, not your fallback. The people who saved money in 2025 didn't just cut expenses when things got tight. They questioned every purchase before it happened. That mindset is what separates viral content from actual financial progress.

Not sure which money approach to take? We can help you figure out your first step this year. Book a call here. We’re offering $100 off our money coaching plans ‘til the end of January 2026.

The biggest financial mistake isn't a bad investment or overspending. It's staying in a situation you've outgrown because change feels too risky. Here's why that thinking needs to shift:

64% of Americans are considering a financial resolution for 2026, up from 56% who reported having one for 2025. That's a significant jump in people deciding to actively change their money situation.

The top three priorities stayed consistent year-over-year:

✅ 44% want to save more money

✅ 36% plan to pay down debt

✅ 30% intend to spend less money

But the underlying motivations reveal the pressure people are feeling.

The money stress is real: 31% describe their relationship with money as stressful, and 55% feel overwhelmed by personal finances. For younger generations, the numbers are even higher. 64% of Gen Z and 68% of millennials feel overwhelmed.

33% of people had significantly less money in 2025 due to rising everyday prices, with women more likely to experience this than men (36% versus 29%).

Yet there's cautious optimism mixed in. More than two-thirds (70%) see themselves in a better or similar financial situation than the same time last year.

What actually works: Among those who successfully kept their financial resolutions in 2025, the top reasons were: the goal was realistic and easy to maintain long-term (27%), the financial goal was clear and specific (26%), and it felt good to make progress (27%).

Translation: aggressive plans that require perfect execution don't stick. Sustainable changes do.

The top concerns for 2026:

🤔 Rising everyday prices (45%)

🤔 Unexpected expenses or financial surprises (31%)

🤔 Rising healthcare or insurance costs (28%)

If you're filing taxes for the first time in 2026, you're navigating a system with new rules and higher stakes.

The basics haven't changed: the IRS typically begins processing returns the last week of January, though the official start date hasn't been announced yet. Employers must provide W-2 forms by January 31, and the filing deadline remains April 15.

New deductions and credits for:

✅ Eligible tipped employees

✅ Those who worked qualified overtime

✅ Those paying interest on a qualified car loan

These stem from recent tax legislation that could reduce your federal tax liability if you qualify.

What first-time filers need to do:

✅ Check your withholdings to avoid owing a large amount. Even small jobs, freelance gigs, or holiday work can affect your tax return.

✅ Research tax deductions and credits. They can save hundreds or thousands of dollars. Deductions lower your taxable income, while credits reduce the amount of tax you owe.

✅ Don't rely solely on social media or AI chatbots for tax advice. Consult with a reputable accountant, especially after major tax legislation.

Payment changes to know: The IRS began phasing out paper tax refund checks on September 30, 2025. For tax year 2025, the IRS will request banking information on all tax returns to issue refunds via direct deposit or electronic funds transfer.

If you claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit, the IRS cannot issue refunds before mid-February. This applies to your entire refund, not just the portion associated with these credits.

The takeaway: Tax filing isn't about maximizing every possible deduction through aggressive strategies. It's about understanding what you qualify for, having your documents organized, and filing accurately the first time.

If your situation involves multiple income sources, gig work, or you're unsure about new deductions, spending money on professional help now can save you from expensive mistakes later.

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