These Are the Top Financial New Year's Resolutions for 2025 — Plus the Most Likely Reasons People Will Break Them Americans are optimistic about meeting money goals, but two common obstacles might get in the way.
By Amanda Breen Edited by Jessica Thomas
Key Takeaways
- Three in 10 Americans reported making at least one resolution this year, per Pew Research Center.
- The most popular money-related resolutions differ considerably across generations, Motley Fool Money found.
Three in 10 Americans reported making at least one resolution this year, according to a survey from Pew Research Center. The most popular goals concerned health (79%) and wealth (61%), but one week into 2024, 13% of respondents had already veered off course, per the data.
A new survey from Motley Fool Money reveals an optimistic outlook on financial resolutions for 2025. Across 2,000 American adults sampled via Pollfish, 69% of respondents plan to set a money-related goal for the new year — and most of them (74%) are confident they will be able to achieve it.
The top two financial goals reported were paying off debt (24%) and saving for a significant milestone, such as the purchase of a home or car (14%). Saving for retirement, increasing income and building an emergency savings fund all tied for a distant third (9%).
The survey found that the most popular money-related resolutions varied considerably by generation. Paying off debt was the no. 1 priority for 15% of Gen Z, 28% of millennials, 26% of Gen X and 24% of baby boomers. Saving for a significant milestone took the top spot for 22% of Gen Z, 18% of millennials, 11% of Gen X and 6% of baby boomers.
Related: 5 Keys to Making Your New Year's Financial Resolutions Stick
Additionally, although the vast majority of respondents believe they'll achieve their 2025 personal finance goals, those who are less confident cite two common concerns: inflation (66%) and interest rates (49%).
Debt payoff is a worthwhile financial goal, but Her First $100K founder and Financial Feminist host Tori Dunlap cautions against the overly broad advice that young people should pay off all of their debt before they ever start investing.
"While I agree that high-interest debt like credit cards and certain other loans over 7% interest should take priority, you can still invest while paying off lower-interest debts like student loans," Dunlap told BIZ Experiences. "This is because the market, on average, has a return rate of 7% — meaning your money will work harder for you in the market than as an extra payment towards your debt."
