What healthy money habits look like in 2026

Hearing the same worn-out money advice, like “cut the lattes,” can feel like a broken record. These financial tips, while well-intentioned, may not apply today. So, this year, it’s time to embrace more progressive money practices. 

It’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to experience unstable income and varying monthly expenses, especially in the early days. Plus, operating a business involves a range of financial tasks, including issuing invoices, processing payroll, and handling routine banking transactions. It’s no wonder that countless founders feel overwhelmed by the financial demands of running their own businesses. 

But, in 2026, with the rise of digital tools and shifting values, what actually counts as a healthy money habit, especially if you have inconsistent income? Here we’ll guide you through what smart modern money habits look like, how you can incorporate them into your daily practice, and which banking features could support you in your entrepreneurial journey.

There’s a ton of traditional money advice floating around, like  “set it and forget it,” “avoid subscriptions,” and “pay yourself first,” among others. While this may work for employees with steady paychecks, it’s not always sound advice for bootstrapping entrepreneurs with variable income and expenses. 

Let’s look at the “set it and forget it” rule, for instance. The concept of putting your finances on autopilot can actually introduce risk, especially when your revenue probably won’t remain constant. If you automate without understanding the pitfalls and making adjustments as your financial picture changes, you could end up in a cash-flow deficit. 

Being good with money means staying informed about your finances. Whether you’re a Gen Z founder or a Millennial mom-and-pop shop, by adopting healthy money habits, you’ll gain clear insights and feel more confident growing your business. Being able to adjust as your income fluctuates and expenses change can also help you stay in control in the current economy.

Learning how to build healthy money habits will help you achieve financial clarity without feeling overwhelmed. The following tips will support you in making informed financial decisions as your business evolves. 

1. View spending status in real-time 

There’s no need to rely on a gut check or guess the status of your company’s financial health. Looking at real-time transactions gives you visibility into your actual spending patterns. This helps you manage cash flow and address small issues as they arise, before they escalate into bigger problems. 

For example, a business owner can make it a habit to review employee expenses and approve reimbursements on a regular cadence. And, while examining the company’s expenses, they may identify rising material costs and decide to investigate more cost-effective alternatives.

2. Automate for stability and adaptability 

Automating your business workflows, like making payments or invoicing, helps your systems to stay consistent. However, your financial situation may evolve. If you set up automated tasks, be sure to check in periodically to adjust as your cash inflows and outflows change. 

For example, if you have a side gig with varying income, you could set up autopay rules to make credit card payments. With regular reviews, you’ll know to adjust the dollar amount to ensure it doesn’t exceed any limits. 

3. Tag money, rather than tracking it 

The traditional way of tracking every dollar can be cumbersome and tedious. Instead, tag transactions by purpose. This way, you can save time (and not get stuck monitoring every transaction) and instantly see where funds flow in and out. Organizing transactions into buckets can provide a holistic view of your company’s financial health. You could, for example, categorize your transactions by revenue, taxes collected, income earned, or expenses paid.

4. Switch from daily budgeting to monthly reviews 

You don’t need to budget every single day. Not only can it cause financial stress, but it’s also time-consuming. Consider taking a step back and replacing daily budgeting with monthly check-ins. Having a bird’s-eye view of your performance data gives you the opportunity to analyze patterns, identify trends, and create plans. 

Let’s look at the example of a store owner who sells gift baskets in a shopping mall. During their monthly check-in, they can review the past sales and adjust staffing and inventory plans for the upcoming holiday season. 

5. Focus on saving for freedom, as well as emergencies

Saving for emergencies is essential for small business owners. That’s because it’s preferable to tap into rainy-day funds when the situation arises, rather than rely on expensive credit to cover the hefty costs of, say, repairing equipment that has broken down. 

For the long term, focus on achieving freedom on your own terms. For example, some people want financial freedom, and others may focus on time freedom (the flexibility to control how you spend your time), or both. Perhaps someday you’d like to have an exit strategy to sell your business and retire. Or freedom may mean stepping back from your business to spend quality time with loved ones.

Building good money habits takes dedication, time, and effort. Innovative banking tools that provide visibility and flexibility can help you maintain these habits over the long term.

Here are several key tools and features that founders should consider integrating into their daily operations. 

Sub-accounts (or “envelopes”)

Opening sub-accounts (or “envelopes”) in your banking app can help you categorize your transactions. For instance, you can maintain separate sub-accounts to pay vendors, set aside taxes, or allocate payroll expenses. This eliminates the need for multiple accounts and makes it easier to allocate funds. This system prioritizes tagging over tracking, and simplifies how you use your money. In particular, couples or small teams running businesses could find that this structure increases financial transparency. 

Scheduled transfers with flexible overrides

Whether you’re distributing funds across accounts, scheduling recurring transfers, or maintaining a minimum balance, choose automated tools that can be adjusted as needed.The ability to modify auto-transfer rules is vital, especially for startups, since running a nimble operation requires a delicate balance between structure and flexibility.

Real-time transaction summaries

While monthly financial statements are helpful for a retrospective view, you can also look at a live transaction summary for instant clarity. Doing so gives you real-time awareness, which could be advantageous when you need to be nimble and stay ahead of your competition. Founders can use these financial summaries to understand cash flow, forecast financial performance, and make strategic decisions, such as hiring more employees or stocking inventory. 

Mobile-first design for check-ins

Business owners are often on the go, so you may be managing your finances between meetings. A user-friendly mobile app makes it easy to access accounts and check balances, review transaction history, and send invoices to clients. Choosing a well-designed banking app with seamless touchpoints can save you valuable time.

Old-school money advice is often outdated and may not apply to contemporary businesses. As you work toward forming healthy money habits this year, focus on developing smooth processes and choosing tools  that give you clear visibility and control over your organization’s finances. Whether you’re managing your money on your own or with a business partner, embracing the right banking tools can help you take your business to new heights. 

Discover how Mercury’s financial tools can help you maintain healthy money habits for 2026 and beyond.