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New Year Money Reset: A January Checklist for Aussie Households
26 October 2026 · SlateAndTally
January in Australia is a tricky money month: Christmas is just paid for, school's about to start, and the summer bills arrive. A quick reset helps.
1. Tally Christmas
What did you actually spend? Note it for next year's plan.
2. Check for leftover debts
Credit cards and BNPL from December. Make a payoff plan. See the debt payoff planner.
3. Back-to-school costs
Uniforms, shoes, books, devices. See our back-to-school guide.
4. Cancel what you don't use
Free trials that rolled into paid subscriptions over the holidays.
5. Set three goals
One saving goal, one debt goal, one habit. Write them down.
6. Start next Christmas now
A small amount each pay from January makes next December easy. A$25 a fortnight is A$650 by December. Example figures only.
General information only, not financial or tax advice.
FAQ
When should I do a money reset?
The first weekend after the holidays works well.
What if I overspent at Christmas?
Make a plan to pay it off. It's fixable.
Is this financial advice?
No.
Try it in an app
Debt Payoff (A$25, one-off): See your debt-free date, compare avalanche vs snowball, and log every payment.
Back to School (A$19, one-off): Every kid’s list, estimated vs actual cost, a shopping checklist and how much to put aside each pay.
Money HQ (A$59, one-off): Your whole money life in one browser app: payday-aware budget, bills calendar, savings goals, debt payoff and net worth.