¡Feliz Año Nuevo, familia!
The holiday lights are coming down, the last of the tamales have been cleared from the fridge, and the energy of the new year is officially in full swing. While many people wait until the flowers bloom in April to start their “Spring Cleaning,” we know that for our community, waiting isn’t an option. If we want to build a legacy in 2026, the heavy lifting starts right now.
Last month, we talked about the “New Year, New Hustle.” Today, it is time to look at the gears behind that hustle. We are diving into a financial audit—a deep clean of your habits—to ensure that the money you work so hard for stays where it belongs: in your pocket and your future.
Why January is Our Most Important Month
In the United States, January is often the “make or break” period for financial stability. According to data from the Federal Reserve, credit card balances traditionally spike in the fourth quarter due to holiday spending. For young Latinos, this can be even more complex. We often balance the cost of living in the U.S. with the cultural joy of regalos for our siblings and parents, or even sending support to our primos back home.
However, statistics from the Pew Research Center show that the Latino community is one of the fastest-growing economic forces in the U.S. To harness that power, we have to move from just “earning” to “managing.”
The 2026 Financial Audit: What to “Sweep Out”
Think of your bank statement as your home. Over a year, it gathers “dust”—small, recurring expenses that we stop noticing but that eventually clog our path to wealth. Let’s start the cleaning:
- The Subscription “Clutter”: Research shows that the average American spends over $200 a month on subscriptions, often vastly underestimating the total. Check your statements for streaming services, apps, or memberships you haven’t used since last summer. Cancel them today.
- The Convenience Leak: We live fast-paced lives, and delivery apps are tempting. However, those service fees and tips add up. If you audit your January transactions and find that 20% of your income went to food delivery, that is a clear signal to adjust your route.
- High-Interest Dust: If you carried a balance from your December celebrations, the interest rates (APR) on your credit cards are working against you. Make a plan to sweep this debt away first; it is the most effective “investment” you can make this month.
Building a Budget for the Whole Familia
In our culture, “individual” success rarely exists in a vacuum. Our financial goals often include our family. To make your 2026 budget stick, you need to account for both your U.S. reality and your cultural values:
- Define Your “Non-Negotiables”: Is it a trip to see your grandparents? Is it helping a younger brother with college books? Put these in your budget first. When these goals are visible, it becomes much easier to skip the “superfluous” daily spending.
- The 50/30/20 Rule: Try to align your income so that 50% goes to Needs (rent, utilities), 30% to Wants (dining out, hobbies), and 20% to Savings and Debt Repayment. For us, the “Needs” category might include family support—and that is okay, as long as it is planned for.
- Track the “Small Wins”: Every time you choose to cook at home or find a better rate on your car insurance, you are cleaning your financial house.
Adjusting Your GPS
Journalism and data tell us that most resolutions fail by the third week of January because they are too restrictive. If your budget feels like a cage, you won’t stay in it. A real audit is about optimization, not deprivation. We want you to enjoy your life in the U.S. while ensuring that your colchón (emergency fund) is growing every single month.
As we navigate this year together, remember that you don’t have to have all the answers right away. Learning how to manage money in a complex system is a marathon, not a sprint.
If you find yourself looking at your bank statement and feeling overwhelmed, or if you have a specific question about how to categorize your expenses, we have your back. Our app features Gabi, your Financial Guardian, who is ready to help you navigate these waters. Whether you are wondering about the best way to tackle a credit card balance or how to start your first savings goal, you can Ask Gabi anything, anytime. Remember, Gabi is the “judgment free zone” for all of your financial questions! No question is too small when it comes to your future.
Let’s make 2026 the year we stop guessing and start growing!
GabrielTeam
