Most people enter the New Year with grand plans for fitness or mindfulness—this time, however, it’s all about finances. Fresh research shows that more than four in five Brits (82%) have pledged to tackle their money matters in 2025 as their top New Year’s resolution, with the under-40s leading the charge at a whopping 95%.
But why so much urgency? Well, one in four Brits (25%) say they always start January in a money panic. Longer waits for payday (53%), festive overspending (36%), and big bills arriving just after the celebrations (29%) all feed into that nagging sense of financial dread.
Still, it’s not all gloom and doom. A similar proportion (81%) are actively hunting for ways to save, while close to two in five (39%) plan to set specific monetary goals for the year.
And these cutbacks aren’t limited to shelving the takeaway menu—37% are vowing to cook at home more often, 32% are snapping up supermarket own-brand goods, 31% are swiping reward cards, and 29% are scouring the internet for promo codes.
Notably, nearly a third (28%) plan to unplug devices when not in use, and 17% say they’ll declutter wardrobes to cash in on second-hand platforms like eBay or Vinted.
For a lot of people, 2025 feels like the right time to give their finances a proper once-over, avoiding nasty surprises by keeping track of where every pound and penny ends up.
Will Davies, Ford Money’s Chief Deposits Officer, says making money management a priority this January can help people feel more secure throughout the year.
“As cost-of-living pressures mount, it’s no surprise that one in three Brits are swapping their typical New Year resolutions to focus on their financial health instead.
With the festive season behind us, January is the perfect time to set out your financial goals for the year. Our free Money Rituals Planner is a great tool to help you set these goals and get a clear picture of your financial situation, which will not only help to ease the stress of unexpected costs but also guide your spending on things truly matters to you.”
Unsurprisingly, more than three in five (61%) reckon that younger generations are shouldering the heaviest financial burden right now, though 30% say everyone is feeling the squeeze.
In fact, 37% admit they’ve struggled to save, and one in five (21%) aren’t entirely sure where all their cash ends up—underscoring the need to keep a closer eye on day-to-day spending.
| Way to Save Money | Percentage of Brits |
|---|---|
| Cutting down on eating out | 37% |
| Buying supermarket own brand food | 32% |
| Using club/reward cards | 31% |
| Looking out for discount codes | 29% |
| Unplugging electrical devices when not in use | 29% |
| Putting on an extra layer rather than turning on the heating | 27% |
| Shopping around for a cheaper energy tariff | 20% |
| Reselling items on eBay, Depop or Vinted | 17% |
| Creating a weekly food budget | 17% |
| Buying second hand/vintage clothes | 17% |
| Cancelling TV subscriptions | 15% |
| Starting a side hustle | 15% |
| Limiting takeaways to once a week | 14% |
| Taking a homemade coffee to the office | 14% |
| Keeping a loose change jar | 13% |
| Having a cull of apps subscriptions | 13% |
| Buying food in bulk | 12% |
| Doing ‘no-spend’ days | 12% |
| Reducing holidays abroad | 12% |
| Planning holidays during off seasons | 12% |
| Cycling rather than driving | 10% |
| Making bread and other treats | 10% |
| Growing your own veggies | 9% |
| Home haircuts | 9% |
| Home hair dying | 7% |
As living costs rise and surprise expenses loom large (56% name this as a top stressor), it’s easy to see why 16% want to get better at managing money but aren’t sure how to begin.
Starting small—like cancelling a few unused apps or tracking spending for a few weeks—might just give you the momentum you need to turn your 2025 finances around. A bit of savvy budgeting now can mean a calmer year ahead.