Americans are worried about their household finances heading into the future, with angst over rising debt, more layoffs, and high prices that are impacting their ability to save money for long-term goals like retirement.
Exhibit A is a new Allianz Life study showing that 48 percent of Americans are more stressed about money in 2025 than the year before, with 27 percent saying they’ve lost confidence in saving enough cash for retirement.
“When feeling financially stressed, long-term goals like retirement can be the easiest to sideline because you don’t feel it in your day-to-day life,” says Kelly LaVigne, VP of consumer insights at Allianz Life, in a statement. “But achieving long-term financial security takes time, and you may be better off consistently working toward retirement incrementally than trying to wait until you can devote a larger part of your budget to the goal.”
Take These Steps to Reboot Your Retirement Savings in 2026
The good news is that adults anxious about their ability to save enough money for retirement can use the new year to turn the page and re-energize their long-term savings. These action steps will help you get that plan rolling.
Know your cash flow
To get started on a refresh, people need to get familiar with their cash flow.
“You’ll need to know what is coming in, what is going out, and most importantly, where it is going,” Linda Grizely, a certified financial planner and financial wellness speaker, told NTD News.
Doing so can help uncover leaks, such as subscriptions that can be canceled or the realization that more money is going toward lower priorities. “From there, review savings and retirement contributions and increase them,” Grizely noted. “Automating increases in small increments can rebuild momentum without creating stress. Progress comes from consistency, not dramatic changes.”
Conduct a reality check.
Your retirement recharge plan should include a visit to the Social Security Administration’s website to check the amount you may be getting in benefits.
“Once you’ve found your estimated payout, compare that to the amount you have in savings, Rica Sandberg, consumer finance expert at BadCredit.org, told NTD News. “That includes what you have in designated retirement accounts, as well as the amount you have in checking and savings.”
The data will tell you whether or not you have enough savings to meet your retirement expenses and how much you’ll need to fill a retirement savings gap beyond Social Security. “When I was a financial counselor, I can't tell you how many seniors I met with who were trying desperately to make ends meet on Social Security alone,” Sandberg said. “For many people, it was extremely difficult.”
Max out your 401(k) contributions.
Take any spare cash lying around and steer it into your company 401(k) retirement plan. “In 2026, the limit is $24,500, but if you're reaching retirement age, you can add even more with catch-up contributions,” Sandberg said. “If you’re 50 and over, you can add another $8,000. In some cases, if you’re between 60 and 63, you can contribute $11,250 instead of the standard $8,000.”
Automate your retirement savings
Making retirement and savings contributions automatic is a great way to start your new financial year.
“People should try and automate as many financial decisions as they can,” Robert Johnson, professor of finance at Heider College of Business at Creighton University, told NTD. “Automating savings allows you to make saving money a habit, and habits, good or bad, develop over time. “
The biggest advantage of automatic plans is their behavioral underpinnings. “If you’re enrolled in an automatic savings plan, inertia and the inherent laziness of people tend to work in our favor,” Johnson said. “Once enrolled in an automatic savings plan, people tend to stay enrolled.”
Tackle debt
One major hindrance to retirement savings is expensive debt.
“If you’re revolving balances on loan and credit cards and the accounts have high interest rates, those financing fees are eroding your available cash to save, as are the payments,” Sandberg said. “Take a powerful look at what you owe and make a plan to repay it as fast as possible. You don’t want to take that debt with you into retirement, when your income is less than what you have now.”
Get Going Now
One common mistake struggling retirement savers make is waiting for the right moment before taking action. “We all know that moment will never come,” Grizely said. “Another error is avoiding retirement accounts altogether because the topic feels intimidating or too distant. Small, intentional steps are still forward motion.”
The views and opinions expressed are those of the interviewees. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. NTD does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. NTD holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.