7 Small Changes That Could Have a Big Impact on Your Finances in 2026

7 Small Changes That Could Have a Big Impact on Your Finances in 2026 It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. APY = Annual Percentage Yield. Image source: Getty Images You've heard the big-money advice that gets tossed around. Sell your car. Move in with a roommate. Become a 5-star chef overnight and homecook all your meals for cheap. Yeah... those changes might help -- but they're not always realistic for everyone. And honestly, they require a ton of sacrifice most people aren't ready for. Well I'm here to tell you that smaller moves can still go a long way. Here are seven little moves you can make in 2026 that can stack, compound, and help move the money needle in your life. 1. Move your cash to a higher interest account If you've got any cash still sitting in a big bank account (like BofA, Chase, or Wells Fargo) it's likely earning 0.01% APY. That's pennies in interest every year. Instead, if you move that money over to a top high-yield savings account (HYSA) offering 4.00% or more, you're looking at 400X the interest. Let's say you've got $5,000 in savings: At 0.01% APY = $0.50 in a year At 4.00% APY = $200 in a year That's free money just for switching accounts. And if you don't have cash savings yet, opening a new account is still a great move to help you save more. Even building up a $500 emergency fund is a huge step, and it's easier when the money lives in a separate account, not attached to your spending. Compare today's top high-yield savings accounts here. 2. Keep tabs on your credit score Your credit score is a super important part of your financial life. It affects your car insurance rate, mortgage eligibility, and the interest you'll pay on loans. The higher your score, the less you usually pay. Most credit cards offer free credit monitoring tools, and they're super easy to use. You'll get alerts if anything changes, plus a snapshot of how your score is trending over time. 3. Double-check your credit card rewards This one hit me recently. After a quick budget review I realized my wife and I were dropping hundreds on Amazon orders -- household stuff, kids' supplies, last-minute gifts, etc. So I picked up Amazon's Prime Visa and now earn 5% cash rewards on every Amazon purchase. That's real cash rewards on spending I'm already doing -- plus there's a killer welcome offer right now if you're a Prime member. Moral of the story: match your card to your current spending habits. A quick review of the top rewards cards can help you find one that earns you hundreds more in rewards next year. 4. Open an IRA and automate transfers By far my fave retirement account is a Roth IRA. It lets you stash money away to grow tax-free, and when you take it out in...

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