The money habits that matter in 2026 (and the ones holding you back)

Every January, I see the same thing. Business owners and households come in with big intentions around money. Save more. Spend less. Be “better” with finances this year. And while the motivation is good, intentions without direction rarely lead to real change. If there’s one thing I’ve learned after years of working with business owners, it’s this: financial habits only work when they’re tied to a clear outcome. Otherwise, you’re just staying busy and hoping it all works out.

So, as we head into 2026, I want to share the money habits I believe are worth building and the ones I see quietly holding people back.

Start with the end in mind

One of the most common questions I get is: “Should I pay down debt, invest, put more into super, or hold cash?”

The honest answer? It depends. Too many people focus on the options instead of the outcome. They jump straight to tactics without being clear on what they’re actually trying to achieve. If you don’t know where you’re going, you can’t measure whether what you’re doing is working.

Vague goals like “build wealth” or “achieve financial freedom” sound nice, but they don’t give you anything practical to work with. Clear goals do. They allow you to track progress, adjust strategy, and make decisions with confidence instead of guesswork.

Pay yourself first (yes, really)

This idea has been around for a long time, and for good reason. Most people pay everyone else first; suppliers, bills, subscriptions and then try to save what’s left. Usually, that’s not much. A simple but powerful shift is setting aside a portion of your income, even 10%, before anything else happens. When you do that consistently, something interesting occurs: you learn to live within the remaining balance. Where that money goes depends on your timeframes. Short-term goals need stability. Long-term goals can afford growth. But the habit itself is what matters most.

Get back to the basics

As finances become more complex, the fundamentals often get neglected.

I regularly see people chasing returns while ignoring the foundations:

• No emergency buffer
• Outdated insurance
• Estate plans that haven’t been touched in years
• Cash flow that “looks fine” but isn’t intentional

Cash flow, in particular, is everything. It feeds every other financial decision you make. You can earn good money and still feel stuck if your surplus isn’t being directed with purpose. Strong outcomes are built on strong foundations. Skipping the basics just creates cracks later.

The habits worth leaving behind

As income rises, spending tends to quietly rise with it. Subscriptions multiply. Direct debits pile up. Convenience becomes expensive. One of the simplest resets you can do at the start of the year is a direct debit audit. Ask yourself: Am I still getting value from this? Awareness alone can be powerful. When money becomes invisible, control disappears.

Confusing activity with progress

This is a big one. I see people constantly tweaking strategies, moving money, changing structures all in the name of “doing something.” But movement isn’t the same as progress. Without intention, activity just creates noise and often unnecessary costs. At the same time, refusing to adjust when circumstances change can be just as damaging. The key is not doing more, it’s doing the right things, for the right reasons, at the right time.

So what’s the takeaway?

Better money habits aren’t about restriction or perfection. They’re about clarity. When you understand where you’re going, why you’re doing what you’re doing, and how your numbers support that journey, confidence follows. That’s the difference between reacting to your finances and actually leading them. And as with most things in business, the real wins don’t come from doing everything, they come from doing what matters, consistently.

On the 19th February 2026, we’ll be running our Know Your Numbers with James Marshall seminar to help business owners step back, understand their numbers properly and build the financial habits that support long-term growth.

To claim your free ticket click here. 

Or enter this url into the browser https://www.eventbrite.com/e/know-your-numbers-with-james-marshall-tickets-1977847689682

As always, please reach out if there’s anything that we can help you understand better, assist you with or if there’s anything else that you’d like us to focus on next month.

Until next time, all the best.

James and the MWM Team