Financial goals to set for 2025
Make this the new year you set money targets that really pay off

With a new year comes new plans and new responsibilities and, if you're going to keep all of those on track, some new spending and saving habits, too.
While reassessing your finances "may not seem as exciting" as other turn-of-the-year resolutions, better financial wellness is "often closely connected to your physical and mental health", said wealth-management firm Morgan Stanley.
And the "good news" is that bettering your financial status "might be easier than you think". Just by following a few simple steps, you could find yourself on a much firmer money footing by this time next year.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Pay off debts
Repaying any debts should be "your priority" if you are keen to turn your finances around in 2025, said The Times Money Mentor.
Start by putting your debts in order of priority, with debts "that could cost you your home, or land you in court" at the very top.
Next comes the "most expensive debt". Interest paid on credit cards, loans and overdrafts are "often much higher than the interest earned on savings", said MoneySavingExpert, so if you can pay off these debts with savings, "you'll usually be better off".
Free support for those who are in debt is available through charities such as StepChange and Turn2Us. They can also provide practical help and information for tackling income shocks and financial insecurity.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create a budget
Once debt is tackled, creating a "financial roadmap" – by setting a budget – is the best way to progress towards your goals in 2025, said Forbes.
Making a budget "will take a little effort" but it "gives you control over your finances", said the government-backed money-and-pensions advice service MoneyHelper. It will provide a "quick snapshot" of income and expenditure, so you know when you can spend and when you need to rein it in.
To "avoid going into the red", work out how much you usually spend every month on items such as household bills, rent, food, travel and leisure. This can be done through any of the free budgeting apps, or on a simple spreadsheet.
Whatever your goals in 2025, a budget is a key to prioritise your spending, whether that's on a "big purchase, paying off debt, or investing in your future", said Forbes.
Start a rainy-day fund
"What will you do if you encounter an unexpected expense or loss of income?", said financial-services company Truist. Such an event could derail your financial plans for 2025, so having a "financial safety net" could "do wonders for your peace of mind".
Unexpected expenses such as "a broken washing machine or boiler" may crop up at some point in 2025, so having access to extra funds is a good idea, added MoneyHelper.
Building up an emergency fund can take some time but the aim should be to have "at least three months' essential outgoings" available in a rainy-day account.
"Every little bit helps", said Truist, and you can make it easier by "paying yourself first" and setting up a direct deposit or automatic transfer to your emergency fund once a month.
Check your subscriptions
As January comes around, health-focused New Year resolutions, like going to the gym, are likely to figure large. If this is a personal goal for you, "keep an eye out now for any zero joining fees or cut-price subscriptions that may be better than the one you're already on", said The Independent.
You may also have other subscriptions you are no longer using, but are still paying for. "Ditch" the subscriptions that are "little used" by going back through your bank statements: this will help identify payments "you could get rid of or renegotiate".
Consider investing
"Saving alone won't make you rich", said Forbes. So, for those who are looking to boost their wealth significantly, investing could be the way to go.
Perhaps the most "powerful tool for wealth creation" is compound interest, where investors earn returns on their original investment and its "accumulated returns", meaning their money snowballs over time. Of course, it should be remembered that investment involves risk, and investors may get back less than they put in.
Investing does not only have to be for the here and now. People "often underestimate" what they need for retirement, so taking steps to "boost your pension" is important, said The Times Money Mentor.
A good "rule of thumb" is to pay into your pension each month the percentage of your salary, pre-tax, that is "whatever age you are now, divided by two".
When saving into a pension, you should "try to balance your needs today with your future needs", said MoneyHelper. Workplace pensions can help, as "your employer will usually contribute too", but even a private pension provides "one of the most tax-efficient ways to save". With basic-rate taxpayers "automatically" receiving 20% relief from the government, many will consider this a sensible way to plan for the future.
Rebekah Evans joined The Week as newsletter editor in 2023 and has written on subjects ranging from Ukraine and Afghanistan to fast fashion and "brotox". She started her career at Reach plc, where she cut her teeth on news, before pivoting into personal finance at the height of the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis. Social affairs is another of her passions, and she has interviewed people from across the world and from all walks of life. Rebekah completed an NCTJ with the Press Association and has written for publications including The Guardian, The Week magazine, the Press Association and local newspapers.
-
September 1 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday’s political cartoons include Labor Day picnic, branding strategy, and more
-
What is Tony Blair's plan for Gaza?
Today's Big Question Former PM has reportedly been putting together a post-war strategy 'for the past several months'
-
When does autumn begin?
The Explainer The UK is experiencing a 'false autumn', as climate change shifts seasonal weather patterns
-
Should you downsize for retirement? Here's what to consider.
The Explainer Moving to a smaller place may seem easier, but there are also some real benefits to staying put
-
What to do if you want to move but don't want to give up your low mortgage rate
the explainer 30-year mortgage rates are currently averaging 7% — and homeowners who secured rates closer to 3% during the pandemic are reluctant to sell their homes
-
Is hands-off investing the way to go?
The Explainer In many cases, your money might be better off left alone
-
What to know before turning to AI for financial advice
the explainer It can help you crunch the numbers — but it might also pocket your data
-
Should you add your child to your credit card?
The Explainer You can make them an authorized user on your account in order to help them build credit
-
How will the new Repayment Assistance Plan for student loans work?
the explainer The Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) will replace existing income-driven repayment plans
-
What taxes do you pay on a home sale?
The Explainer Some people — though not many — will need to pay capital gains taxes upon selling their home
-
What is an upside-down car loan and how do you get out of it?
the explainer This happens when the outstanding balance on a car loan exceeds the vehicle's worth