As the year winds down and your calendar fills up with family, shopping, and last-minute “oh yeah, that’s still due” moments, it’s easy to push money planning to “later.” But mid-December is actually the perfect time to take control of your finances for 2026.
Right now, you’ve got a valuable combo in front of you:
- Fresh in your mind: what worked (and what didn’t) financially in 2025
- Year-end statements and tax documents on the way
- A little time to reset before the new year officially begins
Plan Your 2026 Finances
This is the moment to line things up so 2026 feels less reactive and more intentional. Pair this big-picture planning guide with our recent blog post, “Year-End Financial Checklist: Steps to Take Before 2026”, and you’ll have both the strategy and the step-by-step action items to start the year strong.
First Things First: Use Your Year-End Financial Checklist
Before you map out 2026, it helps to tidy up 2025.
In our companion post, “Year-End Financial Checklist: Steps to Take Before 2026”, we walk through key tasks like:
- Reviewing your 2025 spending and setting a realistic starting budget for 2026
- Checking in on your emergency savings and short-term goals
- Taking stock of your debts and upcoming payments
- Gathering documents you’ll need for tax season
Think of that checklist as your year-end “clean-up,” and this post as your “build what’s next” plan. Knock out the checklist items, then come back here to design your goals and systems for 2026.
Step 1: Look Back at 2025 with Your Statements in Hand
As December wraps up and early 2026 statements start to arrive, use them as a mirror for your financial year.
- Review your PDCU accounts: Look at year-end and recent monthly statements for your checking, savings, and loan accounts. Where did your money actually go?
- Spot the trends: Dining out, subscriptions, kids’ activities, online shopping, home projects—what added up more than you expected?
- Note the pain points: Were there months where things got tight? Did certain bills or times of year create stress?
- Celebrate the wins: Maybe you paid down a loan, built savings, or stayed current on everything all year. Write those down too.
These real numbers set the stage for better decisions in 2026—and help you avoid making a “perfect” plan that doesn’t match real life.
Step 2: Tie Your Goals to the Year Ahead (Not Just January)
Mid-December is when a lot of people say, “Next year, I’ll save more and spend less,” and then forget about it by February. Instead, give your 2026 goals clear targets and timelines.
Examples of strong, specific 2026 goals:
- “Build a $1,000 emergency fund by September 30, 2026.”
- “Pay off my PDCU Rewards Driven Credit Card balance by October 2026.”
- “Set aside $100 per month for holiday spending so December doesn’t crush my budget.”
- “Save for property taxes, car insurance, or back-to-school costs evenly throughout the year.”
Having a mid-December starting point gives you a head start: you can begin adjusting now, not several paychecks into the new year.
Step 3: Use a Simple Spending Plan Built Around 2026 Reality
With your 2025 numbers in front of you, build a 2026 spending plan that reflects how you actually live—not how you wish you lived.
Start With the Basics
- List your income: Paychecks, side income, benefits, and any regular deposits.
- List your fixed bills: Rent or mortgage, utilities, insurance, loan payments, subscriptions, childcare.
- Estimate variable spending: Groceries, gas, personal spending, entertainment, and those “it’s only $20” purchases.
- Add your goals as line items: Treat saving and debt payoff like non-negotiable bills to yourself.
If more is going out than coming in, this is your sign to scale back on optional expenses, look for savings in subscriptions or habits, or explore whether a debt consolidation or refinance could help simplify payments. PDCU may be able to help review options for you.
Step 4: Use December to Get a Head Start on Tax Season
Future-you will be very grateful if you don’t leave tax prep to the last minute.
- Start your document folder now: Create a safe place (physical or digital) to collect tax documents as they arrive—from employers, financial institutions, and other sources.
- Watch for tax forms early in 2026: Forms like income statements and interest or dividend statements typically arrive after year-end. Keep an eye on your mail and online accounts, including PDCU, for those notices.
- Review 2025 contributions: Look at what you contributed to retirement accounts, health savings accounts, or other tax-advantaged accounts and talk with a tax professional about options and deadlines for your situation.
This is also a good time to talk with a tax professional or financial advisor about how your 2026 goals line up with your tax picture. For specific tax advice, always consult a qualified tax advisor.
Step 5: Automate Savings and Bill Payments Before January Rushes In
Mid-December is the perfect window to adjust your systems before the year gets busy again. Automation helps you stick to your plan without depending on willpower every payday.
With People Driven Credit Union, you can:
- Set up automatic transfers from your PDCU checking account to savings right after payday.
- Create separate savings “buckets” for specific goals—emergency fund, holidays, vacations, home projects—so you can see progress clearly.
- Use digital payments and transfers to handle bills and person-to-person transactions from your phone or computer.
Set these up now, and by the time February rolls around, your plan will already be running in the background.
Step 6: Make a 2026 Plan for Debt Instead of Just Payments
If debt has followed you through 2025, make 2026 the year you give it a strategy instead of just sending minimum payments.
Two approaches to consider:
- Debt Snowball: Focus on paying off your smallest balance first while making minimums on everything else. Once that’s gone, roll its payment into the next smallest balance.
- Debt Avalanche: Target the highest-interest rate first to reduce the total interest you pay over time.
PDCU may be able to help you explore options like personal loans or consolidation to bring high-interest balances under one roof with a structured payoff plan. Approval, terms, and conditions are based on creditworthiness and other factors.
Step 7: Strengthen Your Emergency Fund Before the Next Surprise
If 2025 threw you any curveballs—car trouble, medical bills, job changes—you already know how valuable a cushion can be.
For 2026, consider:
- Starting small: Aim for a starter emergency fund of $500–$1,000 if you’re beginning from scratch.
- Leveling up over time: Over the next few years, work toward three to six months of essential expenses.
- Keeping it separate: Use a dedicated savings or money market account at PDCU so your emergency fund is available—but not mixed in with everyday spending.
Even if you can only automate a small monthly transfer today, starting in December means one more payment is in place before 2026 even begins.
Step 8: Use PDCU’s Digital Tools as Your 2026 Financial Command Center
Instead of juggling paper statements and mental math, let your accounts and digital tools do the heavy lifting.
- MyPDCU app and mobile banking: Check balances, move money between accounts, and monitor spending from anywhere.
- Alerts and notifications: Set up alerts for low balances, deposits, or transactions so you’re not caught off guard.
- Digital payments: Use PDCU’s digital payment options to pay bills or send money securely to friends and family.
As 2025 closes and 2026 starts, these tools help you stay connected to your money without logging into multiple platforms or sorting through stacks of paper.
Step 9: Plan for the Big Things Coming in 2026 and Beyond
Mid-December is also a good time to zoom out and ask, “What big events are coming up in the next few years?”
You might be planning for:
- Buying your first home or upgrading your current one
- Replacing a vehicle or financing a classic car, RV, or other specialty vehicle
- Education expenses for yourself or your family
- Retirement planning and long-term savings
PDCU offers savings accounts, certificates, and loan options designed to support these milestones. For longer-term planning, consider speaking with a financial professional who can help you think through timelines, risk tolerance, and the right mix of tools. For investment or tax guidance, always consult the appropriate licensed professional.
Step 10: Make Money Check-Ins a Habit in 2026
Finally, don’t let money be a “once-a-year” topic. Build simple check-ins into your 2026 routine:
- Monthly: Review your budget, track progress on savings and debt goals, and adjust where needed.
- Quarterly: Revisit your larger goals. Has anything changed—job, income, family needs—that calls for an update?
- Yearly (next December): Use your statements and our year-end checklist to reset again and plan for 2027.
These small check-ins help you stay ahead of problems instead of reacting to them after they show up in your account balance.
How People Driven Credit Union Can Help You Start 2026 Strong
You don’t have to design your 2026 financial plan alone. As a member-owned credit union, People Driven Credit Union is here to walk beside you, not just lend to you.
We can help you:
- Open and organize savings accounts for specific goals
- Review loan or refinancing options that may better fit your budget
- Set up automatic transfers, digital tools, and alerts to keep your plan on track
- Connect you with financial education resources for every stage of life
Mid-December is the ideal time to take that first step. Before the new year officially arrives, you can already be moving toward a more confident, intentional financial life.
Contact People Driven Credit Union today or stop by one of our branch locations to talk about your goals for 2026.
Loan approval, terms, and conditions are based on individual creditworthiness and other factors. This information is for educational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Please consult your tax, legal, or financial professional regarding your specific situation.
