MoneyNerd is here to keep you informed, confident and ready for whatever the economy throws your way.
In this week’s edition:
NerdWallet’s 7-Day Financial Challenge is here.
Money resolutions from the Nerds — and how they plan to keep them.
NerdWallet’s economist considers what could be in store.
Nerdy money tips for the new year.
Video: What’s coming in 2026?
Take NerdWallet’s 7-day financial challenge
You don’t need a year to keep a resolution. In fact, if you have seven days to spare, you can reset your finances.
NerdWallet’s 7-Day Financial Reset gives you one simple step each day to trim subscriptions, protect your credit, boost savings, and more — so by the end of the seven days, you’ll have a clearer picture of your money and how to make it work harder in 2026.
Here’s the first challenge from personal finance writer Lauren Schwahn.
Cancel subscriptions you don’t need
You’ve probably noticed that subscriptions are getting more expensive. Netflix, HBO Max and Disney+ all raised prices in 2025.
If you’re signed up for multiple subscriptions, that’s a solid chunk of cash you’re already committing to spend this year. The cheapest monthly plans for just those three streaming services add up to more than $350 a year. And that’s assuming the prices don’t increase again.
It’s not just movies and TV. There are subscriptions for music streaming, audiobooks, retailers, food delivery, fitness and so on. How many services are you paying for? Are they all must-haves? Probably not.
That’s why we’ve decided to make canceling unnecessary subscriptions this week’s first money challenge.
Here’s how to do it:
Make a list of your subscriptions. Check your credit card charges to find all of the services you have and how much they cost. If you’re an Apple user, you can also manage subscriptions on your iPhone or iPad.
Decide which services aren’t worth keeping. Maybe Netflix isn’t so appealing now that you’ve finished “Stranger Things,” or your freezer’s overflowing with steaks that you can’t use up fast enough.
Sever those subscriptions. Log in to your online account for each membership and look for a cancel option. You can Google “cancel [service name]” to find instructions. You can also use the NerdWallet app’s subscription and bills feature to view and cancel subscriptions.
Once you’ve trimmed subscriptions, think about how you might put the money you’ll save to better use. Pay down some holiday debt. Pad your emergency fund. Start saving for something else. The choice is yours.
Want to see more financial reset challenges? Download the NerdWallet app to get started.
Nerd resolutions for 2026
Making resolutions about your finances? Piece of cake! Unfortunately, it’s hard to keep them. In July, when NerdWallet did its 2025 mid-year check-in — a survey of over 2,000 adults, conducted online by The Harris Poll — on the progress Americans were making on their financial goals, about half of goal setters (45%) were not on track to hit their biggest money goal or were unsure of where they stood.
One reason it’s difficult to keep a resolution is that they're usually vague, unachievable or difficult to measure. This year, consider the SMART method — goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound.
Specific: Define what you want in exacting terms.
Measurable: Decide how you’ll track progress on a regular basis.
Achievable: Ask yourself ‘what’s possible?’ and consider any limitations you may have.
Relevant: Clarify why you want to achieve your goal.
Time-bound: By when do you plan to complete your goal?
In the spirit of committing to change, here’s what NerdWallet’s personal finance Nerds are resolving to do in 2026.
Kate Ashford, writer and spokesperson: I want to put my teens in charge of more of their own budgeting. They’re constantly asking for things — I want to bump their allowances and put them in charge of more categories of spending, like clothing purchases, while helping them think through how to make good decisions. I’m hoping this will give them some incentive to spend mindfully.
Amanda Barroso, lead writer and content strategist: Start a portfolio of ETFs. I’m looking to diversify my portfolio and set my future self up for success, which looks like the ability to travel, make meaningful home improvements, and help my kids financially.
Pamela de la Fuente, managing editor: No more mindless spending! In our interview with Katia Chesnok, she said all that clutter around your house used to be money. That made me think. I started at the holidays. No more cute little stocking stuffers (looking at you, fuzzy socks at Dollar Tree). I’m going to TRY to be more mindful about every cent.
Karen Gaudette Brewer, head of content: My family has several milestone birthdays coming up over the next few years, and it’s a good moment to set up sinking funds for all the various ways we plan to celebrate. Even if plans change, having the money socked away makes it more likely fun will happen!
Courtney Neidel, managing editor: I want to try a ‘sticker savings challenge’ this year. You pick something to save money on each week and mark it on a chart. Once you’ve completed the task — making coffee at home or putting money into savings — you mark the week complete with a fun sticker. My two-year-old daughter LOVES stickers, so this is a financial resolution she can join!
Kim Palmer, writer and spokesperson: Make an extra mortgage payment. With a relatively high mortgage rate, I would love to make an extra payment with the ultimate goal of paying the mortgage off early and reducing the total interest payments.
Lauren Schwahn, senior writer and content strategist: Do a ‘no-spend’ challenge. A few years ago, I participated in a no-spend month and wrote a column about my experience. I saved about $500 by cutting out nearly all non-essential purchases. Life has gotten more expensive since then, and I still have a DoorDash problem. It’s time to get back into better spending habits.
Tommy Tindall, lead writer and content strategist: Treat my own home repairs like a side hustle! I’m always on the hunt for a side gig. I’ve tried making videos for YouTube, helping small businesses with marketing and driving for DoorDash. This year I’m making it my mission to be a better DIYer instead. Rather than bust my hump to make a couple extra bucks, I’m going to broaden my skills to save thousands on home stuff. I’ll learn to fix the pesky plumbing and electrical issues plaguing my house, and handle the landscaping on my own. We paid $900 bucks for Spring mulch one year. Never again!
Insights: The economy in the year ahead
(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images News via Getty Images)
The U.S. economy (let alone the global economy) is a massive system of moving parts. And while I wish I could keep tabs on every aspect throughout the coming year, that’s simply not feasible. Here are a handful of metrics I’ll be watching, in no particular order:
1. Housing availability. Shelter inflation is slowing, but in order to “solve” the problem of unaffordable housing, more housing must be available. This is a supply issue; there simply aren’t enough homes. This problem was growing well before 2020 and 2021, but the lock-in effects of ultra low mortgage rates during those years have exacerbated it, making homeownership less and less attainable, particularly for younger and first-time buyers.
2. Electricity prices. The proliferation of AI data centers is driving an increase in the demand for electricity. And with rising demand generally comes rising prices. This is just one hot button economic issue when it comes to this new age of AI, and it’s certainly one that could impact the communities where data centers are located, and beyond.
3. Layoffs. There are many important metrics in measuring the health of the labor market, but layoffs is one I’ll be keeping a close eye on. Current cooling in the labor market is thought to be due to a combination of labor supply issues (driven in part by immigration policies) and demand issues (driven by economic uncertainty and businesses actually struggling). If we see layoffs rise in the official federal data, it will be a clear sign the demand issues are pressing, which would be cause for overall economic concern.
4. Debt delinquency rates. The share of delinquent consumer debt balances has been climbing for the past two years. And the share of credit card balances that are seriously delinquent is especially notable. As households become overextended on debt, they become less able to weather economic and financial shocks. Financial resiliency is particularly important in times of economic uncertainty.
5. Health of federal statistics. We depend on the consistent, high-quality work of federal statistical agencies for the accurate analysis and successful management of the economy. But these agencies are underfunded, understaffed and under growing criticism that jeopardizes their independence and credibility. My hope is that hiring will resume this year in these critical agencies and that they will be funded to afford modernizations.
6. Consumer sentiment. Consumer sentiment can be predictive — when people feel bad about the direction of the economy, they may change their spending and saving behavior, ultimately shaping the economy. But it’s also valuable for the sake of gauging consumer readiness for economic turmoil. I believe the sour consumer sentiment of 2025 will last well into 2026 because people are responding to how things feel, regardless of what the economic statistics say.
7. Economic growth. OK, choosing this one to watch is admittedly kind of cheating, because it’s a measure that does a lot of work. Economic production, as measured by GDP, captures in a single number much of what we need to know about the economy. Yes, it lacks nuance (a single number is never good at capturing that), but 2026 GDP data and its components will begin to tell the story of how trade and immigration policies established in 2025, as well as AI, will impact the direction of the overall economy.
Nerdy money tips for the year ahead
Reach your financial goals faster with extra income. You can boost your income by self-publishing an e-book, selling on Etsy and more — all without leaving home. Learn more from personal finance writers Tommy Tindall and Amanda Barroso.
Cut your car payment. Explore options like refinancing or trading your current car for a leased one to free up more room in your monthly budget. Auto Nerd Shannon Bradley explains four ways to lower your car payment.
Build an emergency fund, no matter your income. Saving three months' worth of expenses creates a financial buffer that can help keep you afloat in a time of need without having to rely on assets or loans. Banking Nerd Margarette Burnette tells why an emergency fund matters.
What’s coming in 2026: Inflation, interest rates, and your money
It’s officially 2026 — and that means it’s time for a Financial Reality Check. In this video, we’re breaking down inflation, interest rates, and your money — because 2026 could look very different from 2025.
Your MoneyNerd team:
Courtney Neidel, Anna Helhoski, Rick VanderKnyff.
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Until next week,
