The start of a new year has a way of making us pause and reflect — especially when it comes to our finances. After holiday spending, rising costs of living, and the realities of everyday expenses, many of us find ourselves asking the same question:
On a recent episode of the Wallet Wisdom Podcast, host Brett Christiansen sat down again with Savannah Girmscheid to talk about setting realistic financial goals, avoiding burnout, and using simple tools to create momentum — not frustration — in 2026.
Their conversation was a reminder that financial wellness isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress.
Watch: https://youtu.be/vTiBX4NckRc?si=JQp0ibslFl6_Xn7o
Many people start the year with the best intentions, only to lose steam a few months in. According to Savannah, the issue usually isn’t motivation — it’s how goals are set.
“The real key in goal setting is to make it achievable, attainable,” Savannah shared. “You don’t want to set a goal — or too many goals — and become discouraged when you’re just not able to achieve all of them.”
Brett agreed, admitting he’s been guilty of setting goals that were either too ambitious or too numerous.
“What ends up happening is throughout the year, I just keep failing and then I get discouraged and I’m like, ‘Forget this. What’s the point?’”
The takeaway? Less is more. Focus on one goal at a time, make it realistic, and build momentum instead of overwhelm.
Before setting goals, Savannah recommends understanding where you currently stand — and that’s where a financial wellness assessment can help.
A financial wellness assessment is a short tool that helps you understand your overall financial health by breaking it into clear categories.
“It’s a really quick way to identify where you’re at in each area of your finances,” Savannah said. “It takes less than three minutes.”
The assessment breaks financial health into four core areas:
Are your expenses lower than your income? Are bills paid on time?
Do you have an emergency fund? Are you saving consistently?
Is your debt manageable? Are you using credit responsibly?
Do you have insurance coverage and retirement savings in place?
“What I love is that you can celebrate your strong areas while clearly seeing where you need to focus next,” Savannah shared. It’s a really quick way to identify where you’re at in each area of your finances,” Savannah explained. “It takes less than three minutes, and it generates a numerical score for each of those four areas.”
Instead of one vague number, you get a clear snapshot of your strengths — and your opportunities.
“I love that you’re able to quickly see where you’re doing well and celebrate that,” Savannah said. “But it also helps you identify the first goal you might want to set.”
Each category represents a different aspect of financial wellness:
Savannah emphasized that borrowing isn’t about avoiding debt altogether.
“It’s more about what’s comfortable for you and whether you’re healthy in that area,” she said.
This personalized approach helps people avoid comparison and focus on what actually matters for their situation.
Once you have your results, Savannah suggests a simple rule:
“Take that lowest score and set a financial goal around it.”
That’s exactly what she did herself.
“My save score was the lowest because I didn’t have a fully funded emergency fund,” Savannah shared. “So I set a goal around rebuilding that to three months of living expenses.”
She gave herself a clear timeline — July 1 — and a realistic monthly contribution.
“If I stick to that six‑month timeline, then I can move on to my next goal.”
This approach keeps goals focused, achievable, and flexible when life inevitably happens.
What Are SMART Financial Goals?
To move from intention to execution, Savannah recommends using SMART goals:
Specific
“Writing down a goal makes you 42% more likely to actually achieve it,” Savannah noted.
For her emergency fund goal, that meant:
Identifying the savings gap
“I wrote it down, put it on my fridge, and every month I check in to see if I’m still on track.”
Not all financial goals are tied to a purchase or a number. Sometimes, the real motivator is peace of mind.
“For me, it’s knowing that if my car breaks down or I have a major expense, I don’t have to worry about putting it on a credit card,” Savannah said. “That reduction in stress is huge.”
Brett echoed the importance of visual reminders — whether that’s a written goal, a picture, or even a “financial mood board.”
“When you know what you’re working toward, it becomes easier to say no to the little things.”
One of the strongest themes from the episode was the power of involving others.
“Just knowing you’re not alone in it is incredibly important,” Savannah shared.
Accountability doesn’t require sharing every financial detail — just the goal itself.
“If the people you spend time with know what you’re working toward, it’s easier to make choices that support it,” she said.
Whether it’s a spouse, friend, or family member, shared awareness can turn individual goals into collective success.
Financial wellness isn’t static — it’s something you revisit.
“Even if your score only goes up by a couple points, that’s still huge progress,” Savannah said.
Retaking an assessment throughout the year can help reinforce wins, recalibrate goals, and keep motivation high.
Brett emphasized that access to education matters:
“The whole point of a financial assessment is not to make anybody feel bad — it’s to give you the information to take action.”
Free financial wellness tools, educational resources, and goal‑tracking platforms help individuals and families across Michigan and Florida build healthier financial habits — regardless of where they’re starting.
Start by assessing your current financial health, identify one priority area, and set a realistic SMART goal with a clear timeline.
It’s a short evaluation that scores your spending, saving, borrowing, and planning habits to help guide goal‑setting.
Monthly check‑ins are ideal, with a full reassessment every few months to track progress.
Many financial education tools are available for both members and non‑members at no cost.