Family funds are constantly battered from an endless cavalcade of expenses: energy bills, childcare costs and eye-watering inflation. As a result, saving can feel like playing whac-a-mole financially, every hard-earned win swiftly undone by another expense.
Despite this, Britain is becoming a nation of savers. According to Barclays’ January 2026 Consumer Spend research, 51% of people overall plan to cut discretionary spending such as takeaways and beauty treatments.
Whatever your goal, it helps to take a step back and look at your overall finances first, says Sian McIntyre, head of savings and insurance at Barclays.
“The best way to start saving is by taking a closer look at your day-to-day spending. Tools such as Barclays Budget Planner can highlight any discretionary spends that could be trimmed, such as takeaways, coffees or streaming subscriptions. Think of it as spring cleaning for your money – it clears out what you don’t need.”
It’s essential to set and prioritise clear goals, ranked by urgency, she says. “Think of it like building a house. Lay the foundation first with an emergency fund, then work towards the bigger dreams.
“Think of your emergency fund as a safety net, not a piggy bank,” says McIntyre, who advises putting aside three to six months of essential living costs if possible – or longer if you’re self-employed (eight to 12 months) – but what matters most is getting started with an amount that feels manageable for you.
The Barclays Rainy Day Saver1 account in the Barclays app2 offers the highest instant access interest rate on the first £5,000. Anything above £5,000 could be paid into the Blue Rewards Saver1 where you’ll earn a higher interest rate in months you don’t make withdrawals. These accounts could help build a buffer for the unexpected, while encouraging good saving habits along the way.
“The earlier you start saving, the more you’ll benefit from interest,” says McIntyre. “The best way to start is setting up a dedicated goal in the Savings Goal3 feature in the Barclays app2, to help you track progress and stay motivated.”
Another option is setting up an automated payment to come out on payday into your savings account, meaning you stick to the plan, rather than spending.
Next, it’s time to set medium-term goals, such as a holiday, followed by long-term goals like buying a new property. Many savers choose tax-efficient options like ISAs because you can save £20,000 each tax year without paying tax on the interest, helping your money work harder. Barclays also has options where family/friends can help you buy your first home, without losing their savings long term, such as Barclays Mortgage Boost4 or its Barclays Family Springboard Mortgage4.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
With the right tools and strategies in place, families can start transforming their nest eggs into the things they really want – such as the UK families here …
Our wedding
Alice, 33, SEO account manager, Cardiff
“My fiance and I are saving for our 2026 wedding, which will cost about £18,000 – a huge amount for a single day! We’ve worked out that we’ll need to save about £1,000 each month until June.”
Explore how Barclays can help you plan for your big day
Relocating to south-east Asia
Damian, 33, and Pasan, 37, both teachers, Hertfordshire
“This year, we’re saving to move to south-east Asia: maybe Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand or Vietnam. We want to give a good quality of life for our one-year-old twins. Because we’re both teachers, they’ll get free education in the schools where we’d work. Relocating is complex. We’ve got two dogs, plus a whole load of board games. We know it’ll be worth it though.”
Our first family home
Estelle, 43, PR and visibility consultant, Leicestershire
“In 2026, my savings focus is putting £5,000 towards a deposit on our first home. As a self-employed parent of two teenagers, saving isn’t always easy, so I’m intentionally setting aside small, consistent amounts each month, as well as cutting subscriptions and lowering energy bills. It’s about creating long-term stability for my family and turning years of hard work into something tangible.”
Using the features in the Barclays app2 you can set yourself a savings goal3, and track your spending
A pilgrimage to Mecca for hajj with my mum
Sadiq, 30, product manager, London
“I’m saving for hajj [the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia that millions of Muslims aim to complete once in their lifetime]. Costs have risen sharply in recent years, from about £3,000-£4,000 a few years ago to nearly £10,000 now. I’d also love to take my mum, which doubles the amount I need to save!”
A family trip to Italy
Paul, 42, company director, Manchester
“In 2020, our planned family trip to Rome and the Amalfi coast was cancelled due to the pandemic. Since then, the rising cost of living has made it difficult to justify rebooking. Six years later, we’re now planning for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure by budgeting for guided tours, cookery classes and centrally located accommodation.
“We’ve set up a high-interest savings account for the holiday. We’re more than halfway there already and it feels inspiring. It’s also a great way to bring our kids – who are eight and 11 years old – into conversations about delayed gratification and the importance of skipping smaller purchases to save for the bigger goal.”
Feel money confident with Barclays – learn more
1 You need to be 18 or over to access this product or service using the app. T&Cs apply, available to Blue Rewards & Premier Banking customers only.
2 You need to be 11 or over to use the app. T&Cs apply.
3 You must have a Barclays or Barclaycard account, have a mobile number and be aged 16 or over to use the Barclays app. Terms and conditions apply.
4 All mortgages are subject to application, financial circumstances & borrowing history. T&Cs apply.