Photo : STEPHEN YU on Unsplash |
I have a few plans for 2026. Real estate, of course, and you can’t have a real estate project without a down payment. That means savings, which means a budget. This year more than ever, I’ve decided to double down on my savings, and I’m sharing my main strategies for getting there:
- getting clear on your goals (clearly defining your “why”)
- preparing well and structuring your tracking for the whole year
- having a game plan for when your motivation dips
Let’s dive into the 2026 action plan.
Finding your “why”
This is definitely the most important step. Having a clear goal is essential, but knowing why you set that goal is even more important. Because there will inevitably be times when the motivational boost of the first few weeks fizzles out, I regularly take the time to clearly articulate and re-articulate my “why”—to visualize the exact reason I set this goal for 2026.
So, I regularly and vividly visualize (thanks, Le Bon Coin) the kind of beautiful Haussmann apartment I’ll be viewing when I reach the house-hunting stage, or the lovely house brimming with potential once it’s renovated. It’s highly effective when I find myself hesitating over a new pair of shoes or that absolutely-essential-amazing-handbag-that-goes-with-literally-everything.
On a more serious note, I see real estate as an essential pillar of future income, and therefore, of freedom. It means being able to choose to work less at an age when I might have other desires, and having the time to help out loved ones who might need it.
And at the risk of drawing all sorts of comments, I genuinely believe it’s a way to positively impact the housing situation in France. It allows me to offer well-maintained, pleasant, and reasonably priced apartments for long-term rental, renovate places that need it, hire local craftsmen, and surround myself with professionals who provide genuine value.
It’s also a way to build wealth to pass on. Material wealth, of course, but also a mindset—a way of taking charge to create your own future. What image do I want to project to my daughter? Probably that of an enterprising, determined mom who takes control of her future, so that maybe she can draw inspiration from it and interpret it in her own way.
More than a material and financial goal, I have a lifestyle goal. I want to be able to choose where I live without it being dictated by the job market, decide how much time I spend on projects that matter to me, and have the freedom to clear my schedule at the last minute if needed.
So, whenever I find myself staring at a truly gorgeous pair of shoes, I just run through these thoughts in my head. My priorities sort themselves out, and my monthly budget is much better off for it.
Preparing well and structuring your tools
Another winning strategy is optimizing how I track my budget for the year. The easier, faster, and more enjoyable the process is, the higher the chances I’ll stick to it.
So, I spent some time at the end of 2025 tweaking my budget template for 2026. I fleshed it out a bit, added some clear and motivating charts, and above all, I made sure I’d have as little to modify each month as possible. Everything is pre-set for the whole year—all I have to do is sit down with a cup of tea, and I’m good to go.
If you want to follow along on this little adventure with me, you can download my file here.
This is my third year using this Google Sheet, and I’ve reached a pretty refined version. Not too complicated, but detailed enough to give me a solid overview of what’s happening in my accounts every month.
By preparing and setting up all my tools at the start of the year, I know I’ll only have to invest a few efficient minutes to stay on track. Plus, it’ll be pretty to look at
I use my template alongside the free version of the Bankin app (not sponsored!), though another app could certainly do the trick just as well. The app lets me pre-group my expenses by category, which I then plug into my spreadsheet.
I find it incredibly motivating to watch my goals materialize throughout the year, and I highly recommend using these kinds of tools.
As soon as the documents are ready, I proactively schedule a monthly meeting with myself in both my Google and paper planners—sometimes even two, just to make sure I don’t lose track of my spending.
These budget meetings usually take place right at the start of the month, on the first weekend, once the previous month is officially closed out and my paycheck has hit my account. I treat these meetings with the exact same discipline I would in a professional setting or with someone else.
Switching into production mode
The third strategy I’m testing this year: creating rather than consuming. Swapping a night of binge-watching shows, movies, or online shopping for a night of blogging, video editing, or brainstorming future articles. It could also be a gym-and-sauna combo night, sewing, or playing board games. Basically, any activity that shifts me from consumption mode into production mode.
The results are quite striking and go well beyond just hitting my personal finance goals: I sleep better, I’m in a noticeably better mood, I feel like I fit two days into one (in a good way), and I truly feel like I’ve made the most of my day.
Given that many of us spend several hours outside of work passively staring at screens, it makes you wonder how much creative potential is lost to social media every single day…
This month, instead of watching movies or shows in the evening, I sewed some dish towels, listed all my daughter’s outgrown clothes on Vinted, launched this blog, and started brainstorming another online project. In short, things that will definitely bring me more value than a night of TV—even though you have to know how to enjoy those from time to time, too.
Bonus strategy: Make it public!
Enfin, petite stratégie bonus dans laquelle vous jouez pleinement un rôle si vous lisez ces lignes: make it public! Rendez vos objectifs publics. Pas forcément sur internet, mais ne serait-ce qu’en parler à un ami proche, votre partenaire, vos parents ou enfants.
Making a goal public increases the likelihood of achieving it.
You’re making a commitment, and it becomes a lot harder to sweep it under the rug at the first sign of difficulty or drop in motivation.
We all care about what others think, and choosing a supportive, close person to share your goal with can only increase your chances of success. They will almost certainly ask you for updates, and you’ll be proud to say you’re sticking to it.
Conclusion
I hope this post helps you kickstart your 2026, or gives you some ideas to optimize your approach if you’re already a budgeting pro.
I’ll see you next month for a quick recap of how January went 🙂
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