6 fast ways to simplify your finances in 2026 – JS

By Tommy Tindall, NerdWallet

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Managing money doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming.

Still, about a third of Americans (32%) feel anxious about their finances going into 2026, according to a new NerdWallet survey.

You got this. If you focus on the little things and do them consistently, you’ll feel great about your financial life, says Lisa Eaton, accredited financial counselor and founder of Firm Footing Financial Planning in Seattle.

We’ll make it easier and give you six ideas to help you think less about money in 2026, in 10 minutes or less.

1. Automate your fixed expenses

The problem with adulting is there are too many decisions to make in a day. Alleviate many of those about money by automating the no-brainer expenses.

You might already have your mortgage or rent come out automatically, but what else can you set and forget?

Eaton says automate as many fixed expenses as you can to save time, thought and reduce the risk of being late. Water, electricity, trash, cable and phone are all bills better paid on autopilot. The next time you sit down to pay these, select the automatic payment option.

Use your bank’s “bill pay” feature to keep them all in one place.

2. Automate your savings, too

What about the bill to yourself? You won’t miss it if you make adding to your savings automatic.

“This takes about 10 minutes, to set up a weekly or monthly transfer from checking to savings,” Robert Finley, a certified financial planner in Chicago, said in an email interview.

The same NerdWallet study found that 46% of Americans want to save money for emergencies in 2026. Start with whatever you can spare. Make it $20, $50, $75 or whatever jibes with your budget right now.

“Even small, consistent amounts add up, and once it’s automated, it’s completely hands off,” Finley said.

3. Consider a HYSA

As you build up your nest egg, a high-yield savings account is a good place to park some of your money. The best HYSAs usually offer an interest rate higher than traditional savings accounts.

Find an institution you like and feel comfortable with, and consider opening an account. A balance of $10,000 could net you an extra $400 per year at an annual percentage yield of 4%, for example.

4. Investigate index funds

If you have money you’d like to invest, you can keep fees down and your approach simple, says Eaton.

“My baseline advice on investing is most people do really well with low-cost index funds,” she says.

Index funds mirror the performance of a stock market index, such as the S&P 500. When you invest in index funds, you’re putting money into many companies, instead of buying stock in just one.

To get started, Eaton suggests opening a brokerage account if you don’t have one.

“Pick your first index fund and automate $10 a month from now until whenever.”

5. Sever a subscription. Or two.

All that paying yourself first may mean you need to find room in your budget.

Are the Bluey episodes your kids have watched 16 times on Disney+ still worth the monthly price? Can you cancel Peacock, Paramount+ or Fox One after you’re done watching football?