9 Money Moves to Make Before January 1st That Save $3,000+ in 2026

The ball hasn’t dropped yet, but your wallet is already bleeding if you skip these moves. With only 26 days left in 2025, these nine actions are 100% legal, take less than an afternoon each, and together can easily put $3,000–$7,000 back in your pocket next year. Most people will do zero of them and wonder why their tax refund disappeared.

Do them in order. Start tonight.

1. Boost Your 401(k) to the 2025 Max — Save Up to $5,170 Instantly

The 2025 limit is $23,500 (or $31,000 if you’re 50+). Every extra dollar you contribute before December 31 reduces your taxable income dollar-for-dollar. If you’re in the 22% bracket, maxing the remaining space in your 401(k) right now is like getting a 22% instant bonus from the IRS — plus whatever your employer matches. Log into your payroll portal tonight and crank the percentage for the last 2–3 paychecks of the year. People making $100k who do this before December 31 typically save $3,000–$5,000 in taxes alone.

2. Fund an HSA for the Triple Tax Free $4,150–$8,300

Health Savings Accounts are still the best deal in the tax code. 2025 limits: $4,150 individual / $8,300 family (+$1,000 catch-up if 55+). You get an above-the-line deduction now, the money grows tax-free forever, and withdrawals for medical expenses are never taxed. Even if you’re healthy, dump the max in by 12/31 — you can reimburse yourself decades from now with receipts you save. A family contributing the full $8,300 in the 24% bracket saves $1,992 in federal tax immediately.

3. Harvest Every Losing Stock — Wipe Out $3,000 of Regular Income

Sell any investment showing a loss in a taxable brokerage account before the ball drops. You can offset all capital gains plus up to $3,000 of ordinary income ($1,500 if married filing separately). Example: You have $8,000 in losses? Harvest them all. That’s $3,000 off your salary income (worth $660–$1,110 in tax) and $5,000 carries forward to kill future gains. Do it by December 29 to guarantee settlement by year-end.

4. Open and Fund a Backdoor Roth IRA Before the Window Closes Again

Congress keeps threatening to kill this, but as of December 2025 it’s still wide open. Contribute $7,000 ($8,000 if 50+) to a traditional IRA (non-deductible), then immediately convert to Roth. You pay little or no tax on the conversion if you have no other pre-tax IRA money, and all future growth/withdrawals are 100% tax-free forever. Takes 15 minutes at Vanguard or Fidelity. Do it before markets close on December 31.

5. Prepay January Expenses That Are Still Deductible

Property taxes for January 2026? Pay them in December 2025. State estimated tax due January 15? Pay it December 30. January mortgage payment? Pay it December 30 (interest portion is still 2025 deductible if you itemize). These moves can push thousands into 2025 deductions while rates are still favorable.

6. Use the New “No Tax on Tips & Overtime” Rule One Last Time

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made qualified tips and overtime pay tax-free through 2028, but the IRS just clarified that only amounts received in 2025 count for the 2025 exclusion. If you’re in a tipped job or get overtime, talk to your employer about shifting December overtime into the last paycheck of 2025 instead of the first of 2026. Servers and drivers are quietly saving $1,000–$4,000 with this single conversation.

7. Bunch Charitable Gifts and Use Appreciated Stock

Standard deduction in 2025 is $14,600 single / $29,200 joint. If you’re close to itemizing, push 2026 planned gifts into 2025. Even better: donate shares of stock or ETFs that have big gains. You avoid capital gains tax entirely and still deduct fair market value. Donating $10,000 of stock bought years ago at $3,000 saves the long-term capital gains tax plus gives you a $10,000 deduction — easily $2,500–$3,500 in total tax savings.

8. Switch Amazon Prime from Monthly to Annual Tonight

If you’re one of the 41% still paying $14.99/month, you’re throwing away $83 a year. Switch to the $139 annual plan before your next monthly charge hits again — Amazon refunds the prorated monthly amount instantly. Takes 60 seconds in your account settings.

9. Do a Lightning-Fast Subscription Audit with a Free Tool

The average household has $1,644 in unused subscriptions. Use Rocket Money, Trim, or your bank’s own subscription tracker (Chase, Capital One, and Bank of America all added free ones in 2025). Cancel everything you haven’t used in 60 days. Readers who did this last week reported finding $89–$327/month. That’s $1,068–$3,924 back in your pocket for 2026 with zero lifestyle change.

Total realistic savings if you do all nine? Conservative estimate: $3,400–$7,800 in 2026. Aggressive but doable: $10,000+.

You have 26 days. Pick the three easiest ones and start tonight — your January self will send you a thank-you text you’ll actually believe.

Which one are you doing first?