Veterans: Start 2026 With a Plan That Works for You
Take an honest look at where you’ve been financially and where you want to go in 2026; we're here to help.
This time of year, it’s easy to feel like you're running on fumes. You're juggling holiday expectations, financial stress, and maybe even thinking about all the things you meant to do in 2025. Before setting big goals for the new year, let’s take a breath and look back. Sometimes the best way to move forward is to pause and reflect.
Veteran Saves is closing out the year with a different kind of message: no guilt, no pressure, no perfection. We’re simply encouraging you to take an honest look at where you’ve been financially and where you want to go in 2026.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Run Your Financial AAR (After-Action Review)
Veterans know the value of a good AAR. Let’s apply that same mindset to your money. What worked? What didn’t? Did you hit your savings goals? Were there curveballs like PCS moves, job changes, or medical bills?
2. Get an Honest Look at Your Financial Picture
You can't improve your financial health if you don’t know where you stand. Take a few minutes to jot down what you own versus what you owe. This is your starting point. Your Day 1 for 2026.
3. Decide What You're Leaving in 2025
Not every financial habit deserves a spot in the new year. Did impulse spending get the best of you? Did you skip automating your savings or rely too much on "I’ll catch up next month"?
This is your chance to leave those patterns behind and reset.
4. Set a Realistic, Repeatable Goal
Skip the vague resolutions. Instead, pick one solid, realistic goal. Something like:
- Start small with what you can. Even $5 or $10 set aside from each paycheck can add up over time if it’s automatic.
- Pay off one credit card using the snowball method
- Build a $500 emergency fund by July
Make it measurable and make it make sense for your living situation.
Tools to Help You Reflect & Reset
If you missed these helpful Veteran Saves resources, now is the perfect time to revisit them:
- Six Steps to Building a Spending and Savings Plan: A clear, Veteran-first guide for starting or restarting your savings journey. Access it here.
- On-Demand Workshop: Increase Your Credit Score in 90 Days: Watch when it works for you. No fluff, just practical steps that move the needle. Watch the workshop.
Let 2026 Be the Year You Move With Intention
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about clarity. You don’t have to wait for a new year to make changes, but if you’ve been looking for a sign to reset, this is it.
Ready To Get Started?
The Veteran Saves Pledge is a simple way to get started. When you take the pledge, you’ll get reminders and tools that help you stay focused on your goals, not anyone else’s timeline.