2026 Financial Guide — Relate Realty

Your 2026 Money Playbook

Navigate the Economy.
Keep More of Your Money.

Three areas. Practical moves. Real savings.

A Note from Relate Realty

At Relate Realty, we understand that day-to-day expenses can be both overwhelming and difficult to navigate. But this shouldn't stop you from working on your plan to buy a home. Everyone can use some perspective — so we've put together a short guide with tips on how to save money in three major areas.

🛒 Food & Groceries

🚗 Auto Expenses

📺 Streaming & Entertainment

$879

Average monthly spend on dining out. Cooking at home costs ~$4/meal vs. $13+ at a restaurant — replacing 3 takeout nights/week saves $200–$350/month.

📦

Buy in Bulk

Warehouse stores slash per-unit costs. 36% of Americans already shop this way.

🏷️

Go Generic

Store brands are often identical quality, 20–40% cheaper.

🔖

Stack Deals

Combine loyalty apps, weekly circulars, and digital coupons.

🍽️

Meal Plan Weekly

A list prevents impulse buys and mid-week delivery orders.

♻️

Reduce Food Waste

The average household wastes 30% of food. Leftovers save $1,000+/year.

🧊

Batch Cook & Freeze

Weekend prep eliminates "nothing to eat" moments that trigger delivery.

Refinance your car loan

If your credit has improved or rates have dropped since you financed, refinancing could lower your payment significantly.

Check your credit score

670+ typically qualifies for the best rates.

Know your payoff amount & car value

Check Kelley Blue Book. If you owe more than it's worth, refinancing may be difficult.

Shop multiple lenders

Apply within 14 days — it counts as one credit inquiry. Compare banks, credit unions, and online lenders.

Focus on rate, not just payment

A longer term lowers payments but costs more over time. A 2–3% rate drop can save hundreds.

$74/mo

Average savings for borrowers who refinanced to a lower rate — Navy Federal Credit Union data.

Cut your insurance bill

Rates rose 12% in 2025. Here's how to push back.

Shop Around AnnuallyComparing 3+ quotes saves a median $461/year.

Bundle Home + AutoOne insurer for both cuts premiums 15–30%.

Raise Your DeductibleGoing $200→$500 saves 15–30% on coverage.

Ask About DiscountsSafe driver, military, anti-theft — most aren't auto-applied.

Try Pay-Per-MileUnder 500 mi/month? Programs like SmartMiles save 40%+.

Drop Old CoverageIf car value is less than 10× your annual premium, reconsider full coverage.

Other quick wins

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Stay on top of maintenance. A $40 oil change prevents a $4,000 repair.

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Check tire pressure monthly. Proper inflation improves fuel efficiency up to 3%.

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Use GasBuddy or Upside to find cheaper gas or earn cash back on every fill-up.

Average American household · per month

$69

Streaming (avg 4 subscriptions)

$284

Movies, events & concerts

Audit your subscriptions. Cancel anything you haven't used in 30 days. Most people underestimate how many they're paying for.

Switch to ad-supported tiers. Netflix, Disney+, Max, and Peacock all offer cheaper plans — the savings are real.

Rotate, don't stack. Watch one service, cancel, then switch. You don't need all of them at once.

Check your carrier bundles. 55%+ of Americans get subscriptions through phone plans — often cheaper. Call and ask what's included.

Buy event tickets early. Prices spike near the date. Presales save 20–40%. Use Gametime or SeatGeek for last-minute deals below face value.

Go dark entirely — even temporarily. If homeownership is the goal, consider cutting all non-essential entertainment for 3–6 months. Canceling every streaming service and pausing discretionary entertainment frees up $300–$400/month that can go straight toward a down payment. It's not forever — it's a sprint with a finish line.

The math on going all-in

Cut $353/month in entertainment.
Save $4,236 in a year.

That's a meaningful chunk of a down payment — without changing your income at all. Add food savings on top, and the path to homeownership gets significantly shorter. The biggest financial gains don't always come from earning more — sometimes they come from spending less, on purpose, for a season.

$4,236

Saved in 12 months by cutting average entertainment spend — before interest or investment growth.

Whatever you trim, put it somewhere it grows. These accounts are easy to open online — no advisor needed.

High-Yield Savings

4–5% APY

Open in minutes at Ally, Marcus, or EverBank. FDIC insured, no minimums.

CD (Certificate of Deposit)

4.5–5.2% APY

Lock in a guaranteed rate for 6–24 months. Compare at bankrate.com.

Roth IRA

Tax-free growth

Up to $7,500/year in 2026. Open at Fidelity, Schwab, or Vanguard.

401(k) — Get the Match

Free Money

Contribute enough to get your employer match — that's an instant 100% return.

Pro tip: Automate savings on payday. Even $50/week becomes $2,600 by year's end — plus interest.