Welcome to your January financial cleanse – sage your checking account, light a candle for your savings, and let’s expose the money red flats we’ve all been ignoring like they weren’t sending us 17 texts in a row.

2026 is the year we stop treating our account like a fling we only check on when we’re feeling brave. Let’s get into the red flags (aka the “we are NOT doing this anymore” list).

1. I’ll start saving next month

No you won’t. You said that last month. And the month before that. Let’s break the cycle

Fix: Set up an automatic transfer – event it’s $10 a month. Make it so brainless that Past You does the work for the Future You.

2. Mystery charges you’re too scared to click into

If you card statement has more suspense than a thriller movie…

Fix: Do the big scroll once a month:

• Cancel the free trials you forgot about
• Nuke subscriptions you don’t use
• Find out who keeps charging you that $4.99

3. Treating your credit card like it’s fake money

Swipe, swipe, swipe – we love a little tap-to-pay delusion until the statement hits like a jump scare.

Fix: Use one card for essentials and one for fun money. OR If you’re in your responsible era – Apple/Google Pay on only ONE card.

4. Zero Savings and 100 vibes

The soft life is not so soft when your checking account gives you anxiety every time you log in.

Fix: Start an Oh Fun Fund, give yourself a goal of $500 first, then 1 month of expenses.

5. Money advice from That One Friend who is always broke

You know exactly who. The one who says “just put it on Afterpay” like it’s financial strategy.

Fix: Take advice from people who have the results you want – not the aesthetic.

6. Financial icks you’re ignoring

Green flags we want in 2026:

• Pay bills on time
• Has a budget (even a chaotic one)
• Doesn’t flex money they don’t have
• Saves at least something
• Talks about money like an adult

Red flags to avoid:

• My credit score is private biz
• Says investing is a scam
• 67 Klarna payments
• Their Venmo history is public (why??)

7. Not knowing where your money actually goes

You think you know, but you don’t. Your transactions know the truth.

Fix: Track your spending for a week. Just one. It will humble you and heal you at the same time.

8. Pretending tax season isn’t coming

January is a delulu season; April is the reality season.

Fix: Start a tiny tax folder now – screenshots, PDFs, that one random W-2 from a job you quit after 2 days.

9. Acting like Future You will handle it.

The Future You is tired. Future You wants a nap. Help them out. This year, let’s choose green flags:

• Spending with intention
• Saving without suffering
• Not letting your money give you the ick
• Being your responsible main character era

2026 is the year you become the friend everyone goes to for money advice – not the friend who says “I swear I had the money yesterday.”