9 Financial Goals for Teens in 2026

Beyond studying for exams or participating in extracurriculars, high school is also the time to start thinking about your money management skills. You may already have a part-time job for everyday expenses, like school supplies, snacks, and college prep tests, but planning for your financial future is just as important. Read these nine financial goals for high school students, shared by students who have been accepted or are currently attending colleges and universities across the U.S.

1. Create a budget

Budgeting is one of the most practical skills you can learn as a student. Unlike advanced calculus, a budget is something you’re sure to use in your daily life. When you run into an unexpected expense or a tricky financial situation, you’ll be grateful for the strong foundation you built early on. Scott, a student from Palm Beach Atlantic University, describes why tracking his money is a top goal:

“The primary financial goal that I am trying to accomplish in 2026 is to simply know where every dollar in my life is going. This is an important goal for me because I have not done this in the past…The idea behind all this budget talk is that if I can have a stable budget, then I would be able to calculate a rough and exact amount of money I spend every year. This will help me to plan for nice things in the future and have the true security of knowing that I am not going to run out of money, especially before I am able to obtain my degree.”

Scott K. Palm Beach Atlantic University

2. Improve your financial literacy

Building financial habits is like building muscle; you have to practice in order to grow stronger and more confident. Listening to money podcasts, reading trusted financial blogs (like 1st Financial Bank USA’s blog), and following reputable money advice accounts on social media can all help improve your financial literacy. A student from West Chester University highlights her desire to deepen her money knowledge:

“I have saved many social media videos on financial literacy since becoming aware of it, but I always wanted to understand it more thoroughly and have full confidence in my knowledge of the topic. This brings me to my goal for the new year: to actively gain a deeper understanding of finances. I want to learn about the purposes of different bank accounts, like a high-yield savings account, IRA, money market account, etc. I want to grasp their differences and purposes so I can understand how to utilize each one effectively. I believe understanding them more in-depth will aid me in being able to have financial security when I'm older.”

Tomi O. West Chester University

3. Save up for college

It can be hard to grasp just how much you’ll need to save for college. Setting aside thousands of dollars, especially if you haven’t ever saved that much before, can feel overwhelming. Luckily, breaking down the sum into small steps can make the long-term goal feel more achievable and help you stay motivated. Freja from Cedarville University outlines the strategy she’s using to reach her goal:

“My first major financial goal is to save enough money for my first year of college. This includes merit scholarships from the college I want to attend, outside scholarships, and hard earned money from working. I would like to avoid taking out large loans that I will need to pay back in the years to come. Because of my financial position, I am also limited in the amount of federal loans I can take. My ability to go to college next year hinges on my ability to save and make enough money.”

Freja M. Cedarville University

4. Build a strong emergency fund

Emergencies rarely come with a warning. Your car might break down, or your running shoes could wear out at the worst time. Maybe, you’ll get the chance to compete at the state level and need money for the trip. Whatever the circumstance, planning ahead for unexpected expenses is a smart money habit to have. Desiree, a student at Nebraska Methodist College, reflects on why being prepared matters:

“In 2026, I hope to accomplish a financial goal of building a strong emergency fund. This goal is important because it will give me peace of mind for covering different situations such as medical bills, car repairs, or having to take time off from work. I want to get myself out of the consumer mindset and into a saving mindset for 2026. In a world where overconsumption is glorified, I want to focus more on only buying what is essential and what I need, instead of what I want. I plan to achieve this by setting a target for myself and using different tools to stay on track. Having financial security in 2026 with an emergency fund will better my life.”

Desiree B. Nebraska Methodist College

5. Find a job

One of the first steps toward financial independence is to start earning your own income. Whether it’s a part-time job, a summer position, or selling items you no longer use, bringing in money can help you grow your checking and savings accounts. Belmont University student Milena explains why finding a steady paycheck is her goal as a student:

“2026 is going to be a year of change for me. I’ll be studying music full time, I’ll be living in a new state, I’ll be surrounded by new people. I’ll be on my own for the first time in my life. In order to smooth the transition, my goal is to find a consistent job…It’s time for me to find ways to take initiative in my life and the first step is to find my own way to make money.”

Milena A. Belmont University

6. Invest in your business

If you have a side hustle, one of your long-term financial goals may naturally be turning it into a full-fledged business. High school and college can be an ideal time to build your reputation, strengthen your skills, and grow a loyal client base. Jeremiah, a student from VCU, breaks down how he’s turning his student side hustle into a lasting financial success:

“My financial goal for this coming year is to expand my barber clientele and tools before and while attending college. For the last two years I have cut hair at home for people from my high school. I have been saving money to attend college and purchase the items I may need while I am in high school…If I am able to earn enough scholarships and grants to cover the next four years then, the $12,000 I have saved over four years will be a great jump start for opening my business once I graduate. Not many people are able to start a business from my community, especially having a financial head start on a dream.”

Jeremiah T. Virginia Commonwealth University

7. Apply for scholarships

There’s no doubt that college is expensive. Even if your parents opened a savings account for your education when you were born, the funds still may not cover the full cost. That’s why many students desire to receive as much in scholarship money as possible, including opportunities like the $2,000 1st Financial Bank USA Financial Goals Scholarship. A student from Muskingum University shares her plan to pay for college:

“In 2026, my financial goal is to get $10,000 in scholarships. This goal is important to me because it will help myself and my parents out tremendously with the cost of my college education. I plan on applying for scholarships, keeping my GPA up to obtain merit scholarships and continue to work and save to meet my goal. My parents have supported me endlessly through travel sports, athletic training and providing me with what I need to succeed in life. This would be my way of giving back to them. I have watched them work very hard to provide for my brothers and myself.”

Riley O. Muskingum University

8. Get a head start on retirement

When you’re in high school, retirement probably feels like a distant concern. While long-term savings goals for retirement might seem unnecessary or even intimidating, starting early allows you to take advantage of compound interest. This can grow your funds significantly over time. Aidan, a student at UNC Wilmington, explains how he’s getting a head start on his retirement goal setting:

“Every conversation about finances with an adult in my life returns to a common point: ‘I wish I had started saving sooner.’ What seemed like forever away, in their eyes, suddenly appeared in front of them, and they were behind, too late, not ready. Their advice to me is simple. Start now. And with that in mind, my financial goal for 2026 is to max out a Roth IRA and invest those funds. My personal finance class has taught me the incredible power of compound interest. Working toward maximizing my Roth IRA account each year now, as an 18-year-old, is important to me because I’m starting my financial journey at the beginning of adulthood, and that will give me years of compounded interest on my investments and earnings.”

Aidan A. University of North Carolina Wilmington

9. Make saving more fun

Saving money can sometimes feel routine, especially when you transfer the same amount from your checking account each month. To make the process a little more exciting, you could try creative savings challenges suggested by students. A student from the University of Puerto Rico emphasizes how she’s using short-term goals to make her saving more fun:

“Ever since I was a little girl, I have always had a crayon piggy bank in my room. I loved saving every penny I found or was given, and I did this so passionately that people knew I was collecting pennies for my crayon and started giving me their spare pennies to help me fill it in. Saving was exciting for me, and I was consistent without thinking about it. I still do this with my pennies, but saving bigger amounts of money became harder...I realized that I was saving money without intention, and it felt different from how fun it was to look for pennies back then. My goal this 2026 is to create that same excitement to saving money. I plan to start with creating an emergency fund, setting an achievable goal, breaking them into milestones, and rewarding myself for completing them.”

Isabel N. University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras

The best time to start building your financial confidence was yesterday; the second-best time is now. The key takeaway is to start by setting a financial goal that matters to you, and make sure it’s a SMART goal: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound. Even with class, prom attire shopping, and piano lessons on your schedule, there’s always room to take the first step toward your financial goals today.