Why Money Feels Harder in January — and What to Do About It
Jan 11, 2026
Every January, people tell themselves this is the year they’ll sort their finances out. But 2026 feels different. It’s not just that it’s January. It’s not just that it’s the aftermath of holiday spending. According to recent data, more people than ever before are actively seeking help with money this month—and not just those on lower incomes or government support.
There’s a widespread sense of strain. People who earn good money are still feeling anxious. People who thought they were fine are noticing a lack of savings, credit card balances creeping up, or just a constant hum of unease when they think about their financial future. Financial stress has reached a point where it’s not about whether you make enough. It’s about what happens to the money after it comes in. It’s about the gaps between intention and behaviour.
That’s what I’m seeing, over and over again. Not just in my work, but in conversations everywhere. People saying things like:
“I don’t know where all my money goes.”
“I should be doing better with what I earn.”
“I feel like I’m constantly treading water.”
They're behavioural patterns, and underneath them are the stories we tell ourselves about money: who we are, what’s possible, what’s realistic, what we’ve always done. These are hard to spot when you’re in the middle of it. Habits around spending, saving, avoidance, or control don’t just appear out of nowhere. They’ve usually been shaped over time—by upbringing, experience, and environment—and they become invisible until something forces us to take a closer look.
That’s what January does for many people. The contrast between where we want to be and where we are feels louder. But without the right tools and support, that discomfort can turn into shame or inertia instead of action. People try cutting back, doing no-spend months, or downloading an app. But without understanding why they’ve been doing what they’re doing, it rarely lasts.
One of the most powerful things you can do right now isn’t just to cut back—it’s to understand your financial behaviour. What’s driving your choices? What patterns do you keep falling into? Where are you feeling stretched or stuck, and what could shift if you looked at things differently?
If you’re feeling the weight of money stress this month, you’re not alone—and you’re not doing anything wrong. Financial anxiety doesn’t just go away by cutting out lattes or writing a new budget. It shifts when you start understanding your own patterns, giving yourself space to reflect, and building habits that actually work for you.
That’s exactly what I explore in my free WhatsApp channel. Short weekday audio notes on how finance shows up in everyday life—through mindset, wellbeing, and real-life decisions—not just spreadsheets.
Want bite-sized, real-life reflections to help you feel clearer and calmer about money? Click here to join.