YOUR MONEY TOOLBOX
fEBRUARY 2026
Fresh Start Finances: Budgeting for the New Year
A Financial Wellness Reset for 2026
The start of a new year brings the perfect opportunity for a financial reset— a chance to reorganize your budget, tackle debt, and make your savings goals a reality. And for 2026, Curry Construction is excited to introduce a new free employee benefit: the Ramsey SmartDollar financial wellness program. SmartDollar gives employees access to proven tools, videos, and step-by-step guidance to help build long-term financial health.
As you set your goals for the year, now is the time to take control of your money, set a realistic budget, and build habits that reduce stress and support your family’s future.
Start 2026 with a budget you can stick to
SmartDollar teaches that a budget is your roadmap — not a restriction, but a plan for making your money work for you. A great place to begin is understanding what a budget really is:🔗 What Is a Budget?
From there, create a zero-based budget, where every dollar is assigned a job before the month begins. Include all major categories such as groceries, utilities, transportation, insurance, and savings. For help breaking down monthly costs, try these resources:
- 🔗 Monthly Expenses to Include in Your Budget
- 🔗 Budgeting for Groceries
- 🔗 Average American Monthly Expenses
- 🔗 Common Monthly Expenses
- 🔗 How to Determine Budget Percentages
A budget doesn’t have to be perfect— it just needs to be consistent. SmartDollar reminds us that reviewing and adjusting the first few months of the year helps your budget become more accurate.
Paying Off Debt: Build Your Momentum with the Debt Snowball
If debt has been weighing on your shoulders, a new year is the ideal time to build momentum. SmartDollar’s Debt Snowball method helps create quick wins and long-term motivation. Start by listing your debts from smallest to largest. Pay minimums on everything, then attack the smallest balance with intensity.🔗 How to Work the Debt Snowball
Each victory builds confidence — and that momentum makes a big difference when your motivation naturally dips later in the year.
To help set clear financial goals, SmartDollar also offers practical guidance:🔗 Setting Your New Year’s Goals
Create Realistic, Achievable Savings Goals
Whether you’re saving for emergencies, car repairs, travel, or long-term stability, every plan begins with intentional habits. SmartDollar encourages starting with a small emergency fund, then building toward saving 10–15% of your income once debt is paid off.🔗 How Much of My Paycheck Should I Save?
If saving has been difficult in the past, consider identifying any habits that may be getting in your way:
🔗 Money Habits We Need to Break
And for anyone who feels stretched thin already, SmartDollar offers guidance on what to do if you consistently run out of money before the month ends:🔗 Running Out of Money: What to Do
Small improvements — even 1% better each month — make a big difference by year’s end.
Quick Builder’s Budgeting for the new year checklist
- Review your 2025 spending so you can build a clear starting point.
- Create a zero-based January budget using SmartDollar’s budgeting tools
- List all debts from smallest to largest and begin the Debt snowball
- Set 1-3 realistic savings goals you can track throughout 2026
- Identify spending habits to break and replace them with healthier ones.
- Adjust your grocery, fuel and utility categories to reflect current costs
- Prepare for irregular expenses like vehicle repairs, healthcare, or holidays
- Track your spending weekly to stay aligned with your goals
- Celebrate small victories— every step forward matters.
A new year brings a fresh financial start — and you don’t have to do it alone. With the launch of the Ramsey SmartDollar program, every Curry Construction employee now has free access to tools that can transform their financial future. Take advantage of the resources, create a plan that works for your life, and let 2026 be your strongest financial year yet.
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