It’s easy to proclaim that you will do things differently at the start of a new year. Whether it is health and fitness goals, career changes, or money management, saying you are going to make a change is easier said than done. However, when it comes to your finances, there are some real and practical ways to stay on budget.
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Here are four budget-friendly habits you can implement in 2025, as well as expert commentary on how these strategies will make 2025 financially easy for you.
Automate Your Savings
Every time you get your paycheck, you can decide what to do with your money. If you are looking to build up your savings account, the best move is to automate your savings.
“Do 5% of your income in the beginning and then keep on increasing it,” said Ketti Rose, CEO of Wealthy Femme. “As simple as it sounds, ‘set it and forget it’ is the best way to remain consistent.”
This ensures that you are making savings a priority while removing the temptation to spend that money because it’s already taken care of for you. Automated savings provide consistency for your finances.
“Consistency is not easily attained, when attempting to make behavioral change. This is especially true with one’s finances,” said Elizabeth Rice, a prosperity planner with Goodwill Industries of Central Florida. “Financial change must be considered carefully and one’s goals and objectives must be clearly identified, to effectively devise a strategy to accomplish such.”
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Embrace a Wait To Spend Mindset
If you are thinking of making a major purchase, you might think it is best to act now before the offer or deal goes away. However, there is a strength in waiting and evaluating whether you really need to buy that product or service. Try waiting a few days, a few weeks or even a month before circling back to evaluate whether it is worth spending the money on it.
That way, you’ll be more conscious of your decision making, which can help you develop new habits around spending.
“Inconsistent and sporadic decision making rarely involves the opportunity to review and revise,” Rice said. “However, with repetition, creating a schedule to conduct evaluations and make changes, one’s decision making becomes more credible. This raises confidence and allows the development of new habits and behaviors that will help improve financial stability.”
Rose suggested that everyone try to set a “no-spend” day or week every month. “In the meantime, try to rely on what you have already — eat meals from your pantry staples, forgo ordering takeout, and use your imagination or your town’s local bulletin for free entertainment,” Rose said.
Implement Small Money Changes
New Year’s resolutions are meant to be big and bold. That said, oftentimes the end goals are pretty lofty and cannot all be accomplished in one swift action. Therefore, it’s better to start small and work your way up.
“Financial change is best implemented in small steps that are realistic and attainable,” Rice said. “As each goal is reached, it serves as motivation and encouragement to move onto the next step.”
Start with small changes. Want to stop spending so much money eating out? Try meal planning each week. Want to buy a new car or home? Create a financial plan toward a down payment. Have recurring subscriptions you never use? Figure out a way to cancel them.
For saving money on meals, Rose offered a few tips. “Build your meals around grocery store sales and pantry items you already have on hand. You can avoid midweek burnout and costly last-minute takeout by batch cooking on Sundays,” she said.
Don’t Try To Keep Up With the Joneses
Keeping up with the Joneses is so 2024. In 2025, all you need to keep up with is yourself and your family. While you might see others spending lavish amounts of money on trendy clothes, exorbitant vacations and luxury vehicles, you can live pretty happily on what you make and spend without going overboard.
It might be difficult to change your mindset and commit to saving rather than spending, but it can be done. Rice said those two components — a change in mindset and commitment — are key to getting ahold of your finances. “Together, with practice, they help build confidence in one’s ability and lead to consistency,” Rice said.
In 2025, Rose explained that the key to a budget-friendly year is to keep it lowkey. “When you automate savings, monitor spending and pursue small but steady victories, you become financially successful — and a whole lot less stressed,” she said.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 Budget-Friendly Habits Experts Say Will Make 2025 Financially Easy for You
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