Americans enter 2026 with a peculiar mix of ambition and anxiety. According to a new Vanguard survey, 84% of adults have set financial resolutions for the new year—the highest level the asset manager has recorded. Yet Bankrate's annual Financial Outlook Survey tells a different story: 32% of Americans expect their personal finances to worsen in 2026, the most pessimistic reading since the firm began tracking sentiment in 2018.

Welcome to the financial resolution paradox, where hope and fear coexist in uneasy tension.

The Resolution Rebound

Vanguard calls it a "financial resolution rebound." After 75% of Americans fell short of their saving and spending goals in 2025, most are ready to try again. The optimism is striking: 82% of respondents say they feel somewhat or very confident in their ability to achieve their 2026 financial goals.

The top resolutions for 2026, according to Vanguard's survey of 1,010 adults:

  • Build an emergency fund: The most popular goal, reflecting lessons learned from recent economic volatility
  • Use a high-yield savings account: Americans are finally waking up to the power of earning 4-5% on their cash
  • Pay down debt: Also identified by Bankrate as the single most common financial goal (21% of respondents)
  • Increase retirement contributions: The new $24,500 401(k) limit provides more room to save
  • Budget more carefully: 12% of Americans say better budgeting is their primary goal

"Despite the majority falling short of their goals in 2025, Americans remain resilient and optimistic about their financial futures. The key is turning that optimism into action."

— Fiona Greig, Global Head of Investor Research and Policy, Vanguard

The Pessimism Problem

Bankrate's survey offers a more sobering perspective. The 32% of Americans who expect their finances to worsen represents a significant increase from last year, when only 26% expressed similar pessimism. Meanwhile, only 34% expect their financial situation to improve—down from 44% the previous year.

What's driving the gloom? The top concerns include:

  • Continued high inflation (78%): Even as official inflation measures have moderated, many Americans still feel squeezed by prices that remain far above pre-pandemic levels
  • Actions by elected representatives (55%): Policy uncertainty—from tariffs to taxes to potential government shutdowns—is weighing on consumer confidence
  • Economic uncertainty (22%): Cited by all generations as a barrier to achieving financial goals
  • Insufficient income: Particularly acute for Millennials (22% cited this as their biggest obstacle)

The Generational Divide

Different generations face different challenges, according to the Vanguard data:

Baby Boomers

Their biggest concern is unexpected expenses (29%). With many Boomers on fixed retirement incomes, a surprise car repair or medical bill can derail even the most careful budget.

Gen X

The "sandwich generation" struggles with competing priorities—saving for retirement while potentially supporting both aging parents and adult children.

Millennials

Insufficient income (22%) tops their list of obstacles. Despite being in peak earning years, many Millennials are still catching up from the Great Recession and struggling with housing costs.

Gen Z

Living beyond their means (15%) is their most common challenge. The youngest adult generation has grown up with social media showcasing aspirational lifestyles that often exceed realistic budgets.

The Support System Factor

One encouraging finding from the Vanguard survey: 83% of Americans say they have someone to confide in about finances. This represents a significant shift from earlier generations, when money was often considered a taboo topic.

The "loud budgeting" trend that emerged in 2025—openly discussing financial constraints and priorities with friends and family—appears to have gained traction. Partners and spouses remain the most common financial confidants, followed by family members and close friends.

Five Money Moves Experts Recommend

Given the optimism-pessimism divide, financial advisors are recommending practical steps that can help regardless of how the economy performs:

1. Automate Everything

Set up automatic transfers to savings and investment accounts on payday. You can't spend what you never see.

2. Build the Emergency Fund First

Aim for three to six months of essential expenses in a high-yield savings account. This single step can prevent most financial emergencies from becoming financial disasters.

3. Attack High-Interest Debt

With credit card rates averaging over 20%, paying down card balances offers a guaranteed return that beats most investments.

4. Max Out the Match

At minimum, contribute enough to your 401(k) to capture any employer match. It's free money you're otherwise leaving on the table.

5. Track Spending for One Month

Before creating a budget, simply track where your money actually goes. Most people are surprised by the results.

The Motivation Factor

What's driving Americans to set financial goals in the first place? According to Vanguard, the top motivators are:

  • Keeping up with the cost of living (26%): Practical necessity remains the strongest driver
  • Being prepared for emergencies (24%): Recent economic volatility has reinforced the importance of financial cushions
  • Achieving specific goals: Whether buying a home, retiring early, or funding education
  • Reducing financial stress: The psychological benefits of financial security

The Bottom Line

The gap between Americans' financial aspirations and their expectations reveals a nation grappling with genuine uncertainty. High inflation has eroded purchasing power. Housing costs remain elevated. And policy uncertainty—from potential tariff wars to tax changes—makes planning difficult.

Yet the near-universal embrace of financial resolutions suggests something important: Americans haven't given up. They're still setting goals, still trying to improve their situations, still believing that their choices matter.

Whether 2026 delivers the "resolution rebound" that Vanguard predicts or the disappointment that many Bankrate respondents fear will likely depend on factors both within and beyond individual control. The economy may cooperate or it may not. But for the 84% of Americans with financial goals, the simple act of planning is already a step toward a better outcome.