In 2025, almost half of Americans feel worse off financially due to unexpected expenses, according to a Credit Karma survey. Economic challenges like tariffs, high inflation, and government shutdowns led to financial stress, impacting spending habits for two-thirds of respondents.

Many Americans regret not saving enough in 2025, with 38% wishing they had saved more. Setting up automatic transfers to savings accounts after each paycheck and starting small with savings can help improve financial stability.

Over a quarter of Americans regret letting emotions drive their purchasing decisions in 2025 and want to break the habit of impulse buying in 2026. Implementing a 24-hour cooling-off period for non-essential purchases and tracking spending patterns can help curb impulse buying.

More than one in five Americans wish they had relied less on credit cards in 2025 due to high interest rates. Strategies like using the avalanche or snowball method to pay off debt and seeking debt consolidation or financial counseling services can help manage credit card debt.

As Americans reflect on their 2025 regrets, taking simple steps like budgeting, saving, and avoiding impulsive spending can lead to financial improvement in 2026. Implementing systems to avoid past mistakes can make a significant difference in achieving financial goals for the new year.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: The top 3 money regrets that haunted Americans last year. How to avoid them in 2026