Your 30-Day Financial Reset: Money Habits to Start the Year Strong

A new year brings a fresh start—and your money deserves one too. Whether you want to pay down debt, save more or finally feel in control of your day-to-day spending, small steps can lead to big change. Think of this as a 30-day financial reset: one simple action each day to build healthier money habits that last all year. If you miss a day, it’s OK! Add it to the end, double up or skip it completely. This challenge is meant to help you, not stress you. 

Let’s jump in! 

Week 1: Get Organized and Build Awareness 

The first step to taking control is understanding where your money is going. 

Day 1: Track every dollar you spend 
Write down everything—coffee, gas, groceries, etc. You might have to do this one over several days. Most people are surprised by what they learn. 

Day 2: Review your checking and savings accounts 
How much do you have? How much do you owe? Seeing the full picture gives you clarity. 

Day 3: Check your credit report 
Grab your free report at annualcreditreport.com. Look for errors and ways to improve your credit score.  

Day 4: Review your subscriptions 
Make a list, then cancel anything you haven’t used in the last 30 days. 

Day 5: Do a mini budget refresh 
Choose one category to reduce this month—takeout, online shopping, entertainment—whatever makes the most sense. 

Day 6: Skip impulse buys 
Walk away. Put the money you didn’t spend into savings. 

Day 7: Have an annual financial checkup 
Just like a physical, set aside one day a year to meet with a financial advisor and review retirement, insurance, savings goals and long-term plans. 

Week 2: Strengthen Your Savings Habits 

Day 8: Open or check your emergency fund 
Aim to have enough money in there to cover three to six months of expenses. Even if you’re starting with $20, every bit matters. 

Day 9: Automate your savings 
Set up automatic transfers to your savings or investment accounts each payday and treat it like a bill that you must pay. 

Day 10: Pick one short-term savings goal 
Weekend getaway? Car repair fund? New gadget? Choose one realistic goal and start putting money toward it. 

Day 11: Try a no-spend day 
No takeout, no quick Target run—don’t buy anything. You might be surprised how empowering it feels to hit pause on spending for a day! 

Day 12: Cook at home 
Raid your pantry, get creative and send the money you didn’t spend on takeout straight to savings. 

Day 13: Call and negotiate one bill 
Internet, phone, insurance or subscriptions—many companies offer loyalty discounts. It can’t hurt to ask! 

Day 14: Explore money-saving benefits 
If you have 1st Defense™ checking¹, tap into identity protection, telehealth services²* and discounts that help you cut costs. 

Week 3: Reduce Debt and Build Better Habits 

Day 15: List every debt, along with interest rates and balances 
Knowing exactly what you owe is the first step toward taking charge. 

Day 16: Create a realistic payoff goal 
Avoid extreme timelines. Slow, steady progress wins. 

Day 17: Consider whether consolidation makes sense 
A balance transfer, personal loan or home equity loan may help simplify payments and/or lower interest. 

Day 18: Set up automatic payments
Goodbye, late fees! Switch on autopay so your bills get paid without having to think about it.

Day 19: Uninstall or mute shopping apps 
Out of sight, out of cart. Your wallet will thank you. 

Day 20: Return or sell something 
If you’re not using it, convert it to cash, and apply the money towards debt or savings. 

Day 21: Celebrate progress 
Dance party, favorite snack, gold star sticker—do something to recognize what you’ve already accomplished. 

Week 4: Plan Ahead and Stay Accountable 

Day 22: Review your retirement contributions 
Can you afford to add more money? Even a 1% increase can make a big difference over time. 

Day 23: Write down your financial “why” 
What are you working toward? What will life look like a year from now? 

Day 24: Create an accountability system 
Significant other, family member, friend—share your goals with someone you trust and schedule check-ins. 

Day 25: Build next month’s budget 
Use everything you’ve learned this month to shape a smarter plan. 

Day 26: Set up alerts in digital banking 
Balance updates, withdrawal notifications, payment reminders—all help you stay on track. 

Day 27: Do a quick financial clean-up 
Toss old paperwork, delete unused apps and get rid of those receipts from 2010 that are filling up your email inbox. 

Day 28: Reassess your goals 
Look at what worked, what didn’t and what surprised you. Adjust your goals so they feel doable, not daunting. 

Week 5: Look Back and Look Ahead 

Day 29: Plan for the next quarter 
Think about tax season, vacations, bills and anything else coming up. A quick look ahead saves stress down the road. 

Day 30: Reflect 
Look at where you were 30 days ago compared to today. That’s real, sustainable progress that deserves to be celebrated! 👏👏 

30 Days Down, a Lifetime of Better Habits Ahead 

Congrats—you made it through your 30-day financial reset! Even if you missed a day or two, that’s OK. What matters is building momentum and creating habits that stick. Keep these small wins going, revisit your goals and remember: every step you take toward smarter money habits adds up to real, lasting progress. Here’s to a year of financial confidence, control and growth! 

*Registration/activation required.

¹Eligibility: Benefits are available to personal checking account owners and their joint account owners subject to the terms and conditions for the applicable Benefits. Some Benefits require authentication, registration and/or activation. Benefits are not available to a “signer” on the account who is not an account owner or to businesses, clubs, trusts, and/or organizations.

²Available for the account holder and their spouse/domestic partner and up to six (6) dependent children aged 2 and older. This is not insurance.