Luckily, 2026 isn’t over just yet. If you set a financial goal at the start of the year, whether that was building your emergency fund, paying down debt or simply saving more money, there’s still time to make meaningful progress.
The key is turning that goal into a plan you can actually stick to. A clear savings strategy can help you figure out how much to set aside, where to keep your money and how to stay motivated along the way. And you don’t have to do it all on your own: The right budgeting tools and savings accounts can make it easier to track your progress and put your money to work.
Here’s what we recommend if you’re ready to create (or reset) your savings plan for the rest of 2026.
How to create a savings plan for the rest of 2026
Explore savings options to help your money go further.
No minimum deposit or balance requirement.
No limits on transactions.
24/7 customer support.
Be realistic
You probably won’t save an extra $20,000 by Dec. 31 — unless you pick up freelance work, take on a side gig or get a significant salary bump. And that’s OK. You can always work toward a bigger goal in 2027. For now, focus on setting a savings goal that’s realistic for your financial situation and the time you have left in the year.
Some ideas include:
- Save enough to cover one month of emergency expenses
- Set aside money for holiday spending
- Invest an extra $1,000 this year
- Pay down a specific amount of debt
- Build a starter emergency fund
Or choose something entirely different. The goal is to pick one specific, achievable target to focus on over the next three months. Setting realistic expectations can help you make meaningful progress without becoming discouraged if you don’t reach a more ambitious goal.
Review your income and expenses
Setting a realistic savings goal starts with taking an honest look at what’s coming in and what’s going out. A budgeting app like Monarch or YNAB can help you automatically categorize your expenses, giving you a clearer picture of how much you earn, spend and have available to save.
Both apps can connect to your bank accounts and credit cards, but they take different approaches to budgeting.
Monarch lets you categorize expenses, set spending targets, monitor your spending across different categories, create savings goals and track your progress toward them. You can also use it to monitor your net worth.
YNAB uses a zero-based budgeting approach, which means you assign every dollar you have to a specific purpose, including spending, saving or paying down debt. This can help you be more intentional about where your money goes and how much you can realistically set aside.
Monarch
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Standout features
Customizable transaction categories, net-worth tracker, investment portfolio tracking, financial forecasting
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Cost
$8.33/month (billed $99.99 annually); $14.99/month (billed monthly). Get 50% off your first year of Core Plan with code CNBC50
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Categorizes your expenses
Yes, but users can modify
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Links to accounts
Automatically syncs with bank accounts, credit cards, loans, retirement plans, investments and more at over 13,000 institutions
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Availability
Offered for both iOS and Android. Web version also available
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Security features
Maintaining only read-only access, Monarch utilizes AES 256-bit encryption and multi-factor authentication. It is SOC2 Type 2 certified and syncs accounts via Plaid, MX and Finicity.
Pros
- Seven-day free trial
- Easy-to-navigate dashboard with fully customizable reports and visuals
- Connects with more than 13,000 financial institutions
- Couples or partners can budget together in collaboration mode (each with their own login at no extra cost)
- AI Assistant lets you ask questions about your finances
- Can track property value via Zillow
- Ad-free experience
- Consistent product updates with new features added regularly
Cons
- No free version
- Subscription is more expensive than competitors
- Investment tracking is solid for most users but lacks advanced tools like retirement modeling, fee analysis or Monte Carlo simulations
- Recommendations in the “advice” tab are generic
- No undo feature when reallocating money across budget categories
You Need a Budget (YNAB)
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Cost
$14.99 per month or $109 per year ($9.08 per month). Users get 34-day free trial (College students get 12 months free)
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Standout features
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Categorizes your expenses
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Links to accounts
Yes, bank and credit cards
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Availability
Offered in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android)
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Security features
Encrypted data, accredited data centers, third-party audits and more
Pros
- Offers a 34-day free trial (college students get 12 months free)
- Designed to help users pay off debts and break paycheck-to-paycheck cycle
- Syncs to bank accounts and credit cards
Cons
- One of the more expensive options, with no free version
- Set-up can be laborious
- No bill tracking orbill payfeature,
Decide on a specific savings goal
Now that you have a clearer picture of how much you earn and spend each month, you can decide what you want to save for and how much you can realistically contribute. The key is to set a goal that fits your current financial situation rather than choosing an amount that could stretch your budget too far.
Look for opportunities to free up money in your budget. Maybe there’s a subscription you can cancel (Rocket Money can help with that), a recurring expense you can reduce or a spending category where you have more flexibility. You may also find that you have more money left over each month than you realized. And if there isn’t much room in your budget to save, you may need to consider ways to bring in additional income to reach your target.
The goal is to find an amount you can consistently set aside without putting your other financial priorities at risk.
Rocket Money
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Cost
The basic plan is free. Rocket Money Premium is $7 to $14 a month with a 7-day free trial. Bill negotiation services cost 35% to 60% of the first-year savings, if the negotiation is successful.
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Standout features
Easily cancel unwanted subscriptions, track your spending and credit score, automate savings and get help lowering bills. Rocket Money Premium includes additional services like net-worth tracking, credit reports and a subscription cancellation concierge service
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Security
Rocket Money accesses transaction data via an encrypted token, uses Plaid API so user credentials are never stored, provides bank-level 256-bit encryption and hosts servers on Amazon Web Services
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Availability
Offered online and on both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android)
Pros
- Allows you to easily view and cancel unwanted subscriptions
- Offers a free version
- A+ from Better Business Bureau
Cons
- Nonrefundable bill negotiation fee can be up to 60% of savings
- Premium pricing varies
Open a dedicated savings account
Once you have a savings goal in mind and know how much you can realistically contribute each month, put that money in a dedicated savings account. Keeping your savings separate from your everyday checking account can make it easier to track your progress and avoid accidentally spending money you intended to save.
A high-yield savings account can also help your money earn more interest than it would in a traditional savings account. Two options to consider are the Marcus by Goldman Sachs® High-Yield Online Savings Account and the Live Oak Bank Personal Savings.
Don’t expect to earn hundreds of dollars in interest each month unless you have a substantial balance, but even a smaller amount of interest can add to your savings over time. Live Oak Bank Personal Savings has no minimum deposit or balance requirement, although you need to deposit at least $0.01 to earn interest. The Marcus account doesn’t charge monthly fees, overdraft fees or excessive transaction fees.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs High Yield Online Savings
Goldman Sachs Bank USA is a Member FDIC.
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Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
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Minimum balance
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Fees
No monthly maintenance, overdraft or excessive transactions fee
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Maximum transactions
No limit to the number of withdrawals or transfers you can make
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Checking account
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ATM card
Pros
- No minimum deposit, no minimum balance and no monthly fees, making it one of the most straightforward savings accounts to open and maintain.
- No limit on withdrawals or transfers, so you can move your money as often as you need without penalty.
- Earns a competitive APY with no conditions or hoops to jump through.
- Easy-to-use mobile app makes managing your savings simple from anywhere.
- Also offers no-fee personal loans through Marcus, a useful perk if you ever need to borrow.
Cons
- Higher APYs are available elsewhere, so it may not be the top pick if maximizing your rate is the priority.
- No checking account option, so you’ll need a separate account for everyday spending.
- No ATM access or debit card, making it best suited as a dedicated savings account paired with another bank.
Live Oak Personal High Yield Savings
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Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
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Minimum balance
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Monthly fee
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Maximum transactions
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Excessive transactions fee
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Overdraft fee
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Offer checking account?
Only a business checking account
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Offer ATM card?
Pros
- Strong APY
- No minimum deposit and low minimum balance
- No transfer limit
Cons
- No debit or ATM card
- No checking account offered
- No checks for deposits or withdrawals
Set up automatic transfers
Automatic transfers can make it easier to stay consistent with your savings by moving money into your savings account before you have a chance to spend it. Once you set up a recurring transfer, you don’t have to make the decision to save each time you get paid. Instead, the money moves automatically according to the schedule you choose.
You can typically set up automatic transfers through your bank’s website or app after linking your accounts. Consider scheduling the transfer for shortly after payday and choosing an amount that fits comfortably within your budget. Just make sure to check your account balances regularly so you don’t accidentally overdraw your checking account.
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