2025 is in the rearview mirror. So, how was it for your bank balance?
A new year brings the chance for change and all the good intentions of dramatically improving our lives, only we’ll definitely do it this time. Honest. Promise.
When it comes to financial new year’s resolutions, what’s the best way to go about it?
“Get uncomfortable with it,” says Cian Carolan, Director of DNG Financial Services, on the latest episode of the Money Talks podcast.
“We think we know what we’re spending our money on. We haven’t a clue until we write it down. Print out your bank statement for the last three months of 2025 and see what you actually did. Do something about it and put a plan in place.
“Don’t be worrying about these fancy-looking budgeting apps that you can download – it’s all nonsense,” Carolan continues. “Really get to know what you’re spending your money on. Get uncomfortable with it and you’ll want better for yourself in 2026.”
Carolan notes that nobody wants to log in to their bank account and see minus numbers, but it’s necessary to drill down and focus on what is often a two-pronged problem; what is costing you the most money, and what is potentially causing you the most anxiety.
“Rather than burying your head in the sand on it, it’s kind of looking and saying, ‘Okay, I’m not going to be able to pay that off in one or two months’, so let’s maybe set a more realistic goal by spreading that over the course of the first four or five months of 2026 and saying, ‘Well, I’d ideally like to go into the summer having paid that off’.”
For the full conversation with Cian Carolan and his tips for making realistic financial changes for the year ahead, check out the latest episode of Money Talks wherever you get your podcasts.
The content of this podcast is for information purposes and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation of any investment product