Review what you learned in 2025 and put it to work in 2026.
What are you taking from 2025 into 2026? That question can make the difference between repeating old habits and building a year full of personal and financial achievements. ✨
Here are 6 tips to help you calibrate your budget and think about your goals for the new year.
Plan your future with Platea and Popular
This article is presented by Popular. Learn more on its Mi Futuro page.
Start here1. Point your goals in the same direction
The point of financial goals is to get what you want. If you want to take a trip or buy a house, your budget should reflect that. That doesn't mean you have to give up your small pleasures entirely. It's a matter of balance.
Define what you want, picture how good it will feel to reach those goals, and give yourself credit as you watch your savings grow.
2. Activate your secret plan
Saving doesn't have to feel like an impossible mission. The idea is to have a plan that works on its own while you keep living your life. Meet your two best allies.
Sometimes the spare change left over when you pay with your debit card can turn into real savings. When you enroll in this service, every debit card purchase is rounded up to the next dollar and the difference is automatically deposited into the savings account you choose. It's like a silent ally.
How does it work? You buy a coffee for $3.75; it rounds up to $4.00 and the $0.25 goes straight to your savings account. ☕➡️💵 Imagine the impact at the end of the month!
Activate it now! It's as easy and quick as going to popular.com/chat and typing "quiero activar Ahorro Directo" and submitting the requested information.
The best way to stay on track with your budget is to monitor it regularly. You can do that with Mi Banco alerts. When you're out shopping for gifts for your family, the app can notify you when your balance goes above or below a specific amount. It can also send you a notification when purchases are made with your cards and when payments are processed, among other types of alerts.
3. Get the most out of your credit cards
Earn and redeem points you can exchange for travel, cash or gift cards. Just remember to use them responsibly. Depending on how you manage them, they can be a great tool or an obstacle.
4. Don't have a rewards credit card?
When it comes to your credit, we want you to feel empowered to make your own decisions. A new 100% digital platform is now available where you can find out if you're eligible and see offers without affecting your credit!4
5. Plan with purpose
We don't only save for things we want. We also have to prepare for surprise expenses, like a car repair. A healthy balance includes both savings toward your goals and a solid emergency fund.
If you like to visualize your spending to understand how much you should save for those unexpected moments, use Popular's Hoja de Presupuesto Interactiva.
6. Prepare for retirement with purpose
Plan for the retirement you want, even if it seems far off. The earlier you start, the better it will be when the time comes. Through Retirement Snap5, the team of specialists at Banco Popular can help you plan and develop a retirement strategy, connecting your dreams with a real plan.
Make 2026 yours ✍️
Make sure your financial goals reflect who you are and what you value. Start today with small steps, and when the year closes, you'll feel proud of everything you've accomplished.
And remember: don't wait until the year ends to evaluate your progress. Regular check-ins will help you stay in control of your finances and adjust the plan when needed. Make it easy with the Money Check: una cita con tus finanzas guide.
Happy and prosperous new year! 🎆
The suggestions and recommendations contained in these articles are offered solely as financial guidance. Neither Popular nor any of its affiliates, subsidiaries or related companies is or will be liable for any special, direct or indirect damages resulting from the information contained in this article. If you require any type of advice related to this article, you should seek it from the qualified professional of your choice.
1Service offered by Banco Popular de Puerto Rico. FDIC member. The service applies to purchases made with your BPPR debit cards at point-of-sale (POS) terminals. Once enrolled, the service will take effect automatically. For more information, visit www.popular.com/servicios/como-funciona/.
2Service offered by Banco Popular de Puerto Rico. FDIC member. Alertas y Notificaciones por SMS is a free service that Banco Popular de PR offers its customers. Text message or data overage charges may apply depending on your mobile service plan. Check with your service provider to learn more about your plan. The purchase alerts service is available for individual credit cards and the Popular / AAdvantage® Visa Business card. At this time, authorized users and co-applicants are not eligible to enroll in the service.
3Credit products are subject to approval.
4Available through the digital platform only. Offers presented on the platform will be valid for a period of 10 days. When you enter your information to find out whether you are eligible for a credit card or an unsecured personal loan, a soft pull will be generated that will not affect your credit. By accepting the offer, you authorize Banco Popular to perform a hard pull of your credit report. This inquiry will appear on your credit report and may have an impact on your credit score. Applications completed at branches or by calling 1-888-724-3653 are subject to a hard pull of your credit report.
5SThe financial plan involves a fixed cost. The suggestions and recommendations included in the customer's financial plan are offered as financial guidance and without any guarantee as to the performance of any insurance or investment product that may be purchased in accordance with those recommendations. Investment and insurance products are not insured by the FDIC or any government agency, are not deposits or obligations of, nor are they guaranteed by Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, its subsidiaries and/or affiliates; they involve risk and may lose value, including the loss of principal invested.
6The information presented about the performance of a retirement plan is intended solely for educational purposes and should not be considered financial advice or a guarantee of future results. Keep in mind that investing in the markets involves inherent risks, and investment performance may vary depending on market conditions and the economy in general. Investment products available in a retirement plan are not insured by the FDIC, are not deposits or obligations of, nor are they guaranteed by Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, its affiliates and/or subsidiaries; they involve risk and may lose value, including the loss of principal invested.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
