If you're feeling financially bruised after 2025, you're not alone. Almost half of U.S. adults saw their finances take a hit last year, but there's a potential bright spot on the horizon: tax season might actually be your friend this year.

According to a survey from Intuit Credit Karma released last month, the financial struggles were real and varied. The biggest culprit? Unexpected expenses, which have a nasty habit of showing up at the worst possible times. Following close behind were decreased credit scores, falling behind on monthly obligations like mortgages and credit card payments, and the increasingly common challenge of affording basic necessities like groceries.

Here's where things get interesting. Those tax refunds you'll be filing for could pack more punch than usual. "Despite some apprehension, the good news is a recent Piper Sandler study indicates that many filers can expect to see an increased refund or lower balance due, in some cases by as much as $1,000," said tax expert Lisa Greene-Lewis in a statement.

That's not chump change, especially for households that took financial hits last year. Greene-Lewis points out that for many families, their tax refund represents the largest single check they'll receive all year. No wonder nearly half of survey respondents said they're planning to file early to get that money in hand sooner rather than later.

What Keeps Americans Up at Night

When survey respondents looked back at their spending behavior over the past year, the regrets piled up. Topping the list was not saving enough money, which 38% of people identified as their biggest financial misstep. The other major regrets paint a picture of emotional and impulsive financial decisions:

• Making impulse purchases based on emotions: 28%
• Accumulating too much credit card debt: 21%
• Not caring enough about their finances: 18%
• Not saving for retirement: 14%
• Overspending due to pressure from friends or a partner: 14%

The Fresh Start Effect

There's something about a new year that makes people want to turn things around, and this year is no exception. Nearly two-thirds of survey respondents have set clear financial goals for 2026 and are determined to break their old spending patterns.

The habits people most want to kick tell you a lot about where Americans are struggling financially:

• Impulse buying: 34%
• Not saving money: 33%
• Overspending on non-essentials: 31%
• Dipping into savings: 25%
• Carrying credit card debt: 24%
• Not budgeting or tracking expenses: 24%

So how do people plan to actually make these changes stick? The strategies are refreshingly practical. More than half of respondents (51%) said they'll make a budget and actually stick to it this time. Beyond that, 35% want to improve their credit scores, 30% plan to replace emotional spending with healthier coping mechanisms, and 21% are looking to technology—personal finance apps and even AI tools—to help them manage their money better.

The takeaway here is pretty clear: Americans know they've gotten off track financially, they understand what went wrong, and they're ready to do something about it. Whether those resolutions survive past February remains to be seen, but at least this year's tax refunds might give people a running start.