The end of the year is a good time to pause and check in. Between the festive rush and the year ahead, simple actions can help you stay in better control and be more confident with your money. Here are 12 ways to help keep your finances steady and your goals on track.

1. Check your goals. Stay aligned with what matters

Take a few minutes to look at what you’re aiming for. Do your financial goals still fit your life now? It’s easy to drift, so this is a chance to recheck your direction and make sure your investing still reflects what matters most.

2. Review your investments. Make sure they still fit you

Look over your portfolio and see if it still aligns with your goals. If your time frame, income or priorities have changed, small adjustments now may help keep you balanced and moving in the right direction.

3. Start simple. Invest broadly with less effort

If you want a simple way to invest across different asset classes and markets, you could consider a diversified ETF. They offer a mix of investments through one ETF, helping you to stay focused on the bigger picture without having to make ongoing investment decisions.

4. Spend smart. Enjoy the festive season without the stress

This time of the year can get expensive, fast. Set your limits early, focus on what matters, and avoid spending just for the sake of it. Small decisions now can keep your finances on track well into the new year.

5. Avoid debt. Protect your progress

It’s easy for credit card bills to grow over summer. Spend what you can repay in full and avoid paying unnecessary interest. The goal isn’t to cut back joy, it’s to keep your progress moving forward.

6. Stay consistent. Small steps can make a big impact

Investing regularly helps you build habits that last. Even small amounts can add up over time when you stay the course. Progress comes from time in the market, not timing it.

7. Make it automatic. Keep your money working quietly

Consistency builds confidence. Setting up automated investments helps you to keep adding money to your portfolio without needing to remember each time. With Auto Invest, you can start from as little as $200 per fortnight, month or quarter, and adjust whenever you like.

8. Track your money. See where it really goes

Check your spending and saving habits. A simple review can reveal opportunities to save more or invest more. Awareness gives you control and helps your choices feel deliberate, not reactive.

9. Stay balanced. Smooth the ride when markets move

Investing across regions and assets can potentially steady your returns over time. Balance gives you resilience through ups and downs, and it can make sticking to your plan easier.

10. Reinvest your returns. Let compounding do the work

Keeping your earnings invested  offers the chance to earn more themselves. Compounding works quietly in the background, and the longer you let it happen, the higher the potential returns.

11. Give a smart gift to your little investor. Build habits early

Friends and family can gift straight into your child’s account. A small top up now can help your child learn how good money habits start small and grow with time.

Explore Vanguard Kids Investing Accounts

12. Keep learning. Confidence builds knowledge

The more you learn about investing, the more confident you’ll feel. Ongoing learning can help you make better decisions and stay focused through changing markets.

By Vanguard