Americans feel slightly better about their financial situation over the next 12 months than they did a year ago, and fewer have postponed spending decisions over the past year for financial reasons.
Yet, less than half of respondents to a recent survey from the AICPA expressed positivity about their financial situation and ability to spend, providing an important reminder about the value of money management during National Financial Literacy Month in April and beyond.
“When it comes to your money, you don’t need to be perfect, you need to be consistent,” says Carrie Sinnett, senior manager-personal financial planning at the AICPA. a news release. “Understand where your money is going, set attainable goals, and use the tools you find personally helpful to get you on the path to a positive financial future.”
A Harris Poll of 2,091 U.S. adults conducted in March found that 36% feel very much or somewhat better about their financial situation for the next 12 months than for the past 12 months, up from 33% in last year’s survey. Thirty-seven percent felt neither better nor worse (the same as in 2025), while 27% felt very much or somewhat worse (3 percentage points less than in 2025).
More than half (55%) said they have delayed at least one purchase or plan in the past year for financial reasons, down from 61% a year earlier. The youngest Americans delayed purchases most often: 70% of those aged 18-34 said they had done so, while 66% of those aged 35-44 said; 60% of those aged 45-54; 48% aged 55-64; and 32% are 65 years of age and older.
“The optimism seen in the fiscal outlook for 2026 is encouraging; however, the reality of rising prices highlights the need for Americans, especially those aged 18-34, to prioritize their financial well-being,” Sinnett said. “Consumers can use Financial Literacy Month as a starting point for taking charge of their finances.”
Sixty-nine percent of respondents attributed the higher cost of goods and services to delayed spending, similar to a year ago (61%). One-third of respondents said they have postponed vacations, and 16% reported delaying purchasing a home.
The AICPA offered four tips from CPAs for National Financial Literacy Month.
De-stress yourself, move from ‘Budget’ to ‘Awareness and Control’
Budgeting can seem restrictive, but if you reframe it as “understanding where your money is going so you can take control of it,” it’s more empowering and feels less like a punishment. Often, the struggle with money management is not knowing what to do. They are feeling overwhelmed and avoiding the issue. Starting small can make a big difference.
make a plan
Before changing anything, keep track of every dollar going out for a week. Seeing patterns is the first step toward control. List all of your income sources, then use an app or paper and pencil to outline your fixed expenses (housing, insurance, loans, child care, utilities) and your variable expenses (groceries, eating out, shopping, travel, memberships). Track your spending without judgment for at least a month to get a clear, honest picture of your spending patterns.
choose a pain point
Do you see any surprises in your lists? Is it credit card debt? Eat out? Services that renew automatically? Maybe it’s small daily or weekly purchases that eat up your take-home pay. Don’t try to fix everything at once. Identify one area – like eating out or credit card debt – and focus your energy on it for 30 days. Your financial behavior should be sustainable.
Set spending to match your financial priorities
Whether your goal is to pay off debt, save, or create more flexibility in your life, your actions should reflect what matters most to you. Work to make financial habits not restrictive, but purposeful. Consider automating savings transfers from your paycheck to make this as painless as possible.
Helpful articles on topics like budgeting, debt, filing taxes, teaching kids about money, and more can be found here AICPA’s Financial Literacy Resource Webpage.
— To comment on this article or suggest another article, contact Brian Strickland Bryan.Strickland@aicpa-cima.com.