New Year’s Resolutions for 2026 – Retire by 40
Happy New Year!!! 2026 is here, and it’s time to start over! Isn’t it great to have this opportunity every year? Last year was not a good year for the RB40 family, but I am optimistic for 2026. This year will be better.
First of all, I can’t believe I’m 52 years old. Several friends have told me that I look the same, but I disagree. I feel older and stronger than 5 years ago. Well, that’s life. I want to go on long trips and have lots of adventures, but RB40Jr is a freshman in high school. We are tied to the school system for a few more years. When he went to college, Mrs. RB40 will go a long way. We’ll be hunting for a few more years. Stability is important for children.
For now, we still have a lot to do. Let’s set goals for 2026. This will be my guide for the year. The key is to track goals on a spreadsheet and review the status monthly. That way, I would know what goals to work on. Today, I’m going to share some tips about goal setting and my goals for 2026. Check them out below.
Setting goals
Years ago, I had certain expectations and set the right goals for myself. This worked well for me because I was able to accomplish many things on my list. I find that setting expectations doesn’t work for me. I can’t reach it, and I’m discouraged. My style is slow and steady. Shooting the moon is probably best for younger people, though.
Here is my approach to New Year’s Goals.
- Set achievable goals for yourself – Don’t shoot for the moon unless you have a very good record of high success. Most of us will be disappointed and give up hope.
- Make specific and measurable goals – New Year’s resolutions need to be more specific. Don’t make vague goals like saving more or eating healthier. You can’t keep track of them, and you’ll forget about them in April. A better goal would be to maximize your 401(k). That is measurable. You also need to find a way to get there. Will you be increasing your 401(k) contribution soon? You need a plan, or it will be very difficult to achieve these goals.
- Write them down and track your progress– Write down your goals and put them where you will see them. The refrigerator door is a good place for many people. Personally, I set my goals here at Retire by 40 and update the spreadsheet every month. This has worked very well for the past 15 years. Everyone gives me motivation to improve. I have made great progress with my finances and personal life since I started blogging. It’s delicious.
- Academic scale – These days, I list my goals for the New Year in terms of education. It works well. 90% are still A-. It’s encouraging, and I feel good about the result.
New Year’s Resolutions for 2026
Here is my score sheet. It’s simple and useful. I can see my progress at a glance, and it’s easy to review every month.
Financial Terms
Sell Rentals
My biggest goal for 2026 is to sell our rental condo. Our tenant broke the lease and left earlier than we expected. That’s fine with me because I want to sell this unit. I fixed a few problems and touched up the paint. Next week, I will call the seller and put it on the market. I am optimistic this year because the interest rate is lower than last year. If it doesn’t sell in the spring, I will lower the price.
Part 2 of this goal is to prepare our duplex for sale by 2029. There are a number of things that need to be addressed here. I will refer the seller to give us an idea of what to do first. Also, I plan to ask our tenant to move out in 2027. RB40Jr is older now, and needs more space. I believe that turning the duplex into our primary residence will also help increase taxes when we sell.
Prepare withdrawals and taxes
The year 2026 will be the first year of full retirement for Mrs. RB40. Our income will be very low. However, we will have income from our investment. There will be condo rental income, dividend income, stock sales, pension income, and real estate crowdfunding. I have to sell some stocks to take advantage of the long-term profit bracket. The tax rate is 0% if your taxable income is less than $98,900.
This topic is very complicated. I need to work on it more. There are many moving pieces.
Help file Mrs. RB40 for mother’s Social Security benefits
I think the mother of Mrs. RB40 is eligible for spousal benefit. Her father has Social Security Benefits, and they have been married for 18 years. Her mother contacted the Social Security office about 15 years ago, but they said she has no benefits. This seems wrong to me. I need to take him to the Social Security office and apply for benefits. It won’t be much, but he should get something. He is 75 years old. He was a teacher and has a pension. His job did not pay into Social Security.
Total cost +10%
I have been tracking our value since 2006. It’s great to see the progress over the years. This year, I would like to see 10% gains. At this point, everything depends on the stock market, and there is not much I can do to influence this goal. I will track it down and keep my fingers crossed.
I am somewhat optimistic about 2026. The AI revolution is still underway. Who knows how it will go? We may have another good year before the bubble bursts.
Health Goals
It lowered my triglyceride level
At the last physical, my triglyceride was 486 mg/dL. That is very high. I had this problem for a long time, but medication helped control it. My new primary care doctor told me to go on a low carb diet, and we’ll see what happens next time. My goal is to get it down to 150.
Unfortunately, I don’t know how to cut back on carbs. I need to do some research. Here are a few things to get you started.
- Stop buying chips and chocolates. Opt for sugar-free trail mixes and nuts instead…
- Swap rice and bread for something else. Quinoa for everyone…
- Take a walk every day. This is impossible…
Help move Mrs RB40’s father
We need to move the father of Mrs. RB40 took him to the assistants’ quarters. Mrs RB40 does a lot of work. I will provide moral support for this policy. Mrs. RB40 will spend a lot of time in California working on this transition. I will be in Portland with RB40Jr most of the year.
My father has also been having health problems recently. You work with a doctor on a treatment plan. I’m going to Thailand this summer to see if I can help with anything.
Happy Goals
Pottery is profitable
Last year, I made about $600 on pottery. That’s enough to trigger a 1099. I might run pottery as a business to offset the cost. FYI, I spent over $600 on classes and materials. By 2026, the goal is to be profitable! (That’s what the IRS needs to see if I want to write off the expense.) It’s a business, not a hobby.
Meandering into full retirement
This year, I plan to retire more and work less. This means less blogging and delivery driving.
Last year, I struggled to write a new blog post every week. I’ve been blogging for 15 years, and it’s almost time to move on. Blogging isn’t as fun as it used to be. Blog traffic continues to decline due to AI and Google. However, I am not ready to give up blogging completely. This year, I will commit to writing a new post at least once a month. I can write more if I have something to share. Thank you for your support over the years. I really appreciate you.
Also, I plan to spend more time in Thailand when our son goes to college. This summer, I will start the process there. I will see an optician to get new glasses, get my teeth cleaned, and maybe get some physical therapy. This is to establish a basic health record in Thailand.
Happiness level > 8
I’m a happy guy by nature so this should be easy. Life has been pretty good these past few years.
Until 2026!
That’s right! These are my goals for 2026. I will update the spreadsheet once a month. This is the key. If you don’t track your goals, you will forget them. This is a guide to what I would like to accomplish this year. Good luck everyone!
What are your goals for 2026? Happy New Year and good luck!
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