Forget New Year’s Resolutions: Build Everyday Money Habits That Last

Forget making New Year’s resolutions that are bound to fail — real change happens through small, consistent actions.
With Mydoh, you can empower your kids and teens to build financial confidence and good money habits that last a lifetime.

Every January, we turn the omnipresent “should” list into New Year’s resolutions that never quite seem to stick. That’s because real change doesn’t happen overnight — it’s built through little everyday habits. Instead of chasing resolutions that fade fast, what if we focused on everyday money habits: the small, repeatable actions that turn into healthy habits?

Why New Year’s Resolutions Fall Short

New Year’s resolutions seem great in theory, but they’re usually built around broad, sweeping outcomes — “save more money” or “be smarter with spending” — which don’t actually tell anyone what to do on a Tuesday afternoon at the convenience store.

For families, resolutions can also feel too adult-oriented and easy to let slip once families return to their routines. Instead of focusing on lofty one-time goals, focus on establishing manageable everyday habits for your family. With Mydoh, your family can learn to monitor and manage money in a way that works for you.

Everyday Money Habits Families Can Build Together

Just like brushing your teeth, loading the dishwasher, or packing school lunches, money habits are built through repetition. When conversations about money seem natural, kids and teens start to see managing money as another daily practice that becomes a part of everyday life:

Turn Allowance into a Learning Tool
Teach balance, budgeting, and responsibility by having kids divide their weekly allowance into spending, saving, and giving categories. For example, they might save for a new toy, spend on a treat, and set aside a small amount to donate to a cause they care about.
Set Savings Goals
Help your kids dream big and set exciting savings goals. Use the 50/30/20 budgeting rule to teach them smart money management. Encourage your teen to save for something they want, like a new gadget or outing, and make it fun by gamifying their saving strategy. Celebrate their progress — it’s about the journey and the valuable lessons they gain.
Track Spending
Kids often overlook how quickly small purchases add up. A tool like Mydoh helps them track spending, understand where their money goes, and start conversations about prioritizing what really matters.
Talk About Money:
Make money conversations a regular part of family life — discuss budgeting, saving, and even your money mistakes and lessons learned. Open conversations help kids feel more confident about managing their own finances.
Celebrate Wins:
When your kids hit a savings goal or make a smart financial choice, celebrate! A high-five, special treat, or a savings boost on the Mydoh app reinforces positive habits and shows that good money management is something to be proud of.

Bonus Tips for Parents

As everyday habits grow, many families also start thinking about the future — from short-term savings to longer-term goals.

If you’re exploring ways to set your family up for what’s next, take advantage of limited time offers and open an RBC Signature no limit account to simplify your finances and start saving for your family’s goals. Enjoy up to $48 credit card annual fee rebate and more perks* when they open an RBC Signature No Limit Account. Terms and conditions apply.

Start Building Everyday Money Habits Today

Forget the pressure of New Year’s resolutions. Real change happens through small, consistent actions. With Mydoh, you can empower your kids and teens to build money habits that last a lifetime.

Download Mydoh today and start building better money habits with your family.

*To take advantage of this offer, you must be a resident of Canada and age of majority by June 1, 2026 and you must not have an existing Personal Banking Account with Royal Bank of Canada or any of its deposit taking subsidiaries at the beginning of the “Promotional Period” on January 14, 2026, or in the prior five year period, and otherwise comply with the terms of the offer. As a sole or joint owner of an RBC Signature No Limit Banking (SNL) account and the primary cardholder of one of the eligible credit cards listed below, the annual fee of that eligible credit card will be fully or partially rebated (depending on the credit card you choose), every year, as long as your eligible card remains in good standing and you remain an SNL account owner. Additional cardholders (co-applicants and authorized users) do not qualify for the annual fee rebate, even if they are also owners of an SNL account. Only one credit card annual fee rebate per SNL account is allowed, which means that if you own a joint SNL account and each co-owner is also the primary cardholder of an eligible credit card, only the primary owner of the SNL account will be entitled to the credit card annual fee rebate. Other conditions and restrictions apply. Rebates that apply to eligible credit cards are: 1) $48 rebate (annual fee fully rebated) for: RBC ION+ Visa card, 2) $39 rebate (annual fee fully rebated) for: Signature^® RBC Rewards Visa and WestJet RBC Mastercard cards, or 3) $35 rebate (annual fee partially rebated) for: RBC Avion Visa Infinite, RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege, RBC Avion Visa Platinum, RBC Rewards Visa Preferred, RBC US Dollar Visa Gold, RBC British Airways Visa Infinite and WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard cards. If you already have an SNL account, the rebate will be applied at the time you open your eligible credit card account. If you open your SNL account after you have opened your eligible credit card account, the rebate will be applied at your next annual renewal and won’t be applied retroactively. Other conditions and restrictions may apply. Royal Bank of Canada reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time, even after acceptance by you. For full details including defined terms visit rbc.com/lunarnewyear

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This article offers general information only and is not intended as legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. While the information presented is believed to be factual and current, its accuracy is not guaranteed and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the author(s) as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or its affiliates.