Over the last few years, our life has been a mix of incredible travel opportunities and very real, very expensive responsibilities.

We’ve been able to take trips we once thought were completely out of reach — thanks to points and miles — but we’ve also had major house expenses, rising costs, and moments where financial flexibility mattered more than booking the next trip.

So as we look ahead to 2026, we’re doing something intentional.

We’re resetting — not because we failed, but because seasons change.

This year isn’t about doing more.
It’s about doing what actually makes sense now.

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1. Rebuilding Our Emergency Fund (Because Real Life Happens)

Let’s start with the least exciting — but most important — part.

Our emergency fund took a hit.

We had several large, unexpected house expenses, and that’s exactly what an emergency fund is for. But once it’s used, it needs to be rebuilt — and for us, that comes before any new financial strategies.

An emergency fund is simply money set aside to protect you when life throws a curveball:

• Home repairs
• Medical expenses
• Job changes
• Unexpected travel or family needs

It’s not glamorous. It doesn’t earn rewards or points. But it buys peace of mind — and right now, that’s the priority.

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2. Why We’re Slowing Down on New Credit

If you’re newer to points and miles, it might seem like people are constantly opening new credit cards. And while that can be part of a strategy, it’s not something that needs to happen all the time.

Here’s the key context:
About 80% of our 2026 travel is already booked.

That means flights and hotels are already covered using points we earned in previous years. Because of that, there’s no urgency to earn more right now.

So instead of opening accounts at the faster pace we did during years with big expenses, we’re intentionally slowing down and planning to open just 4–5 total this year between my husband.

Slowing down:

• Gives our credit profile time to rest
• Keeps spending aligned with real expenses
• Allows us to be more selective

This isn’t a step backward. It’s a sign that the long-term planning worked.

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3. What the New Chase Ink Rules Mean (In Plain English)

If you’ve heard people talking about “new rules” around certain business cards and felt confused — you’re not alone.

Here’s the simple version.

Business cards that earn flexible points used to be a very easy way for families to build large balances quickly. Recently, the language around approvals, eligibility, and timing has changed. That doesn’t mean these cards are bad — it just means the strategy requires more intention.

Because of those changes, we’re being more selective and focusing on the points that:

• Fit our travel style
• Are easy for us to use
• Stretch the farthest for our family

For us, that means prioritizing points that work well for Hyatt hotel stays.

Hyatt has a smaller footprint than some hotel brands, but when it works, it works really well — especially for families. The value per point is consistently strong, the award pricing is more predictable, and we already know which properties fit our travel habits.

This year, it’s not about earning every point possible.
It’s about earning the right points.

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4. Keeping Retirement Contributions Steady (Even During a Reset)

One thing that isn’t changing at all? Retirement.

Our Roth contributions are already set up, and we’re keeping them on autopilot.

A Roth account allows you to contribute money now, let it grow, and withdraw it later tax-free. The biggest benefit here isn’t perfection — it’s consistency.

Even in years where other financial goals take priority, retirement stays steady in the background. We’ve learned that doing something consistently is far more powerful than trying to time things perfectly.

Inside our Roth accounts, we keep things simple. We invest primarily in low-cost index funds rather than trying to pick individual stocks or time the market. Index funds spread our money across many companies, keep fees low, and remove a lot of the stress and guesswork from investing.

For us, this approach supports long-term growth while letting us stay consistent — even in years where we’re focused on other priorities.

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5. What an HSA Is — and How We’re Using It Long Term

Once our emergency fund is fully rebuilt, our next focus will be increasing contributions to our HSA.

If you’ve never heard of an HSA, you’re not behind — most people aren’t taught about this at all.

An HSA (Health Savings Account) is available to people with eligible health insurance plans, and it’s one of the most powerful long-term financial tools out there because it offers triple tax advantages:

• Money goes in tax-free
• It can be invested and grow tax-free
• Withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are tax-free

Inside our HSA, we invest the funds rather than letting them sit in cash, with a focus on growth-oriented, low-cost investments so the account has the best chance to grow over time.

But here’s the part that most people don’t realize — and the reason we’re being very intentional with ours.

How We’re Using Our HSA Strategically

We pay many of our medical expenses out of pocket now, and we save the receipts.

Every doctor visit.
Prescriptions.
Dental work.
Vision expenses.

Why? Because as long as the expense was qualified and happened after the HSA was opened, we can reimburse ourselves at any point in the future — even decades later.

That means our HSA can continue to grow and compound for years, untouched.

Using the HSA Between Retirement and Medicare

One of our long-term goals is to use our HSA to help cover health insurance premiums during the gap between retirement and Medicare eligibility.

That window — when you’re retired but not yet on Medicare — can be expensive. Having an HSA that’s been growing for years gives us flexibility and options during that transition.

So when we talk about increasing HSA contributions, it’s not about squeezing every dollar in right now. It’s about building a future buffer — one that’s tax-efficient and purpose-driven.

Stability first.
Then optimization.

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6. Cleaning Up Auto-Pays and Subscriptions (The Hidden Money Leak)

This is the least strategic and most practical step — and it’s overdue.

Subscriptions we signed up for and forgot about.
Data plans we don’t really need.
Small monthly charges that quietly drain money.

Before doing anything new, we’re auditing what’s already leaving our accounts. Every dollar we stop wasting can be redirected to what actually matters — travel, savings, or simply breathing easier.

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What This Reset Is Really About

This isn’t about pulling back from travel.
It’s about balance.

Travel and stability can coexist.
Planning and joy don’t have to compete.

This season is about sustainable progress — not flashy moves.

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I’d Love to Hear Your 2026 Plan

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re thinking about 2026 too — even if you haven’t said it out loud yet.

Your goals might be:

• Traveling more
• Traveling less
• Paying something off
• Rebuilding savings
• Trying points and miles for the first time
• Slowing down and resting

All of it counts.

What’s one thing you’re focusing on in 2026?
I’d love for you to share in the comments or shoot me a DM on Instagram.

You’re not behind — you’re just in a different season.