Almost half of U.S. adults’ finances worsened in 2025, but the upcoming tax season could help struggling homeowners even more than usual, an Intuit Credit Karma survey released last month found.
The most common reason for Americans’ financial hardships in the past year was unexpected expenses, followed by decreased credit scores, falling behind on monthly payments like mortgages and credit card bills, and the inability to afford necessities like groceries, the survey said.
Next year’s tax refunds may help those people recover some of their losses, according to Intuit Credit Karma.
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“Despite some apprehension, the good news is a recent Piper Sandler study indicates that many filers can expect to see an increased refund or lower balance due, in some cases by as much as $1,000,” tax expert Lisa Greene-Lewis said in a statement.
A little less than half of survey respondents said they plan on filing taxes early to get their refund sooner, Intuit Credit Karma said.
“For many households, that’s the largest check they’ll see all year, which is why so many filers are eager to submit their returns as early as possible,” Greene-Lewis said.
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Looking back on their spending habits over the last year, 38% of people said that not saving enough money was their top financial regret, the survey found. Here are the other most common regrets:
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Making impulse purchases based on emotions: 28%
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Accumulating too much credit card debt: 21%
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Not caring enough about their finances: 18%
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Not saving for retirement: 14%
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Overspending due to pressure from friends or a partner: 14%
A little less than two-thirds of survey respondents have clear financial goals for 2026 and are planning on breaking their old spending habits, according to the survey.
The most common habits people want to break are:
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Impulse buying: 34%
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Not saving money: 33%
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Overspending on non-essentials: 31%
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Dipping into savings: 25%
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Carrying credit card debt: 24%
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Not budgeting or tracking expenses: 24%
