6 money moves to make before 2026

Swiped Away

Imagine waiting for your “little treat” at a café and realizing the person in front of you paid less for the exact same thing — all because you used a different credit card. Not so sweet. But it could soon be the new normal because a recent settlement between Mastercard and Visa would let stores pass interchange fees — the processing costs merchants usually swallow — straight to you… or reject certain cards entirely. 

Though the settlement still needs court approval, it signals a bigger shift in credit-card culture. Annual fees are climbing, some perks require a decoder ring to redeem, and lots of people are asking whether premium cards are still worth it.

All of this is happening at a moment when many households lean on credit to bridge the gap between paychecks. The bad news: Studies have shown using credit cards can make you spend more. And while plastic (or metal) comes with benefits, like price protection and fraud safeguards, now’s a good time to do an audit to see what belongs in your wallet.

• Keep it simple Some people treat points like a part-time job (and honestly, it kind of is). For most people, one or two cards gets the job done. Prioritize benefits that actually matter, like price protection, and choose cash-back rewards for maximum flexibility. 

• Think twice about Buy Now, Pay Later BNPL comes with its own fine print. Multiple loans can stack up fast and be tough to track. Should you decide to go this route, stick to one or two items — not your entire holiday list.

• Set a card calendar Annual fees, intro APR expirations, and reward-redemption deadlines sneak up fast. Add renewal dates and promo expirations to your calendar so you’re not surprised by a fee… or lose points you already earned.

— Anna “Cracking Open My Piggy Bank and Paying With Quarters” Davies, writer

Read More

• Strategies for Paying Down Credit Card Debt

• Comparing Reward Cards? Add These to Your List

• 8 Smart Credit Cards for Holiday Shopping

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TOGETHER WITH VANGUARD

86%

That’s the percentage of people who say professional financial advice gives them more peace of mind, according to a recent survey.^† Turns out mindfulness isn’t just for your zen — it’s for your money goals, too. 

That’s why Vanguard’s Digital Advisor wants to help you chart a personalized path toward your unique goals. Whether you’re opening your first account or saving for retirement, their easy-to-use tools (like a debt calculator, emergency fund builder, and goal optimizer) help keep you on track. Bonus: Open an account with $100 and they’ll waive advisory fees for 90 days. Goals, meet your game plan.^‡

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Ready to Pop?

If “AI bubble” made an appearance at your turkey table, right between your blowhard uncle and your Gen Z cousins, you’re not alone. Economists are starting to get a little twitchy. Even Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, says that the current, trillion-dollar investment in AI has “elements of irrationality."

Translation: A whole lot of money is flowing into AI very fast, and not all of it is tied to products that are actually making money yet — which is what bubble talk is really about. And because many major companies now rely on AI, that kind of instability doesn’t just stay in Silicon Valley.

But I thought everyone was all in on AI? Yes, AI and large language models are making wild leaps. Still, building all that infrastructure is very, very pricey. And actually turning that innovation into profit is still TBD. 

OK… how does this affect me? Because so many companies now touch AI, your investments might, too. That includes index funds and retirement accounts — even if you’ve never bought a tech stock in your life. And if valuations cool off, anything heavily exposed to AI could see a ripple effect. Plus, if you work in a sector leaning hard into AI, shifts in spending or hiring could trickle down.

So, what should I do? Take a beat. New tech always brings new hype, as well as uncertainty. Your job is to stay calm, stay informed — and avoid taking investing advice from anyone who also tries to push their “cranberry sauce is a personality type” theory.

Cooler than Cool

Part of being money smart is knowing what’s worth the spend. 

Our commerce team tests it all — so you only see the picks that deserve your time and your budget. And because everyone spends differently, we pick three different price points to help you find what works best for you. 

This week… ice makers. Everyone else can keep singing about snow; the only frozen thing on my holiday wish list is a tray of perfect cubes. The kind that turns a sad seltzer into something café-adjacent and makes you look like the kind of hostess who definitely has her life together. Here are the ones actually worth the price tag.

The portable version: Igloo Automatic Ice Maker ($84.40+)

This little workhorse earns its footprint. It’s compact enough for an apartment countertop and portable enough to toss in the car for a weekend away. It spits out nine cubes in about seven minutes, lets you choose between small or large bullet ice, and politely shuts itself off when it’s full. It even self-cleans — which is more than we can say about most of our appliances. 

The classic: Magic Chef Portable Countertop Ice Maker ($129+)

Consider this the “set it and brag about it” option. It cranks out ice in seven minutes and can deliver up to 27 pounds in a day, aka party level production. You get two cube size options, a window so you can watch the magic happen, and alerts that tell you when to empty the bin.

The next level:  Luma Comfort Clear Ice Cube Maker Machine ($252.70)

If you’re the friend who actually measures out cocktail ingredients, this is your dream machine. The BPA-free design is simple to use: Turn it on, pick your ice, and wait for it to tell you when the cubes (and the water tank) need attention. It’s basically the barback your drinks cart has been waiting for.

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