Finance Expert Recommends Monthly 'Money Date Night' to Transform Your Finances
Brian Brynes, director of personal finance at Moneybox, has revealed a surprisingly simple strategy that could significantly improve your financial situation for years to come. As part of Financial Planning Week, Brynes advocates for establishing a monthly 'financial date night' – a dedicated evening where individuals or couples review their finances in a structured yet relaxed manner.
Creating a Safe Space for Financial Review
This innovative approach involves setting aside time, perhaps with a partner or simply with a comforting drink, to systematically examine income, expenditure, and financial goals. Brynes emphasises that these regular money check-ins create a safe and open environment for taking stock of your complete financial picture. The sessions allow for setting and reviewing both short-term and long-term objectives, opening new accounts when necessary, and getting to grips with retirement planning.
For younger individuals and couples, Brynes highlights how this practice helps build and embed positive money habits from the outset. Each monthly session can focus on different topics, ranging from establishing emergency funds to calculating potential monthly investment amounts.
For those in mid-life and beyond, these regular reviews play a crucial role in monitoring existing savings, ensuring money continues working effectively, and sense-checking retirement plans against changing circumstances.
Research Highlights Changing Savings Habits
This advice arrives alongside revealing research commissioned by the savings and investing platform, which surveyed 2,000 UK adults. The study found that 11% opened a Cash ISA and 8% opened a Stocks & Shares ISA for the first time in 2025, indicating shifting attitudes toward savings vehicles.
Brynes stresses that regardless of whether someone is a first-time saver or experienced investor, everyone benefits from what he terms a regular 'money MOT' across all financial accounts. This comprehensive review helps households track interest rates, identify better financial returns, and ensure savings and investments remain aligned with both immediate and future goals.
The Power of Regular Financial Check-Ins
"Putting aside a bit of time, either on your own or with a partner, to look at your money can make a huge difference to how in control you feel," Brynes explains. "Having simple things written down, like what's coming up this month or what you're saving towards, helps turn vague intentions into something more concrete."
He notes that with interest rates, bills, and everyday costs changing rapidly, regular financial reviews have become more important than ever. However, Brynes reassures that these sessions needn't be dull or time-consuming – even brief check-ins can help identify opportunities and build confidence about future financial steps.
Focusing on Long-Term Planning
The research further revealed that one in ten adults (11%) plan to increase their pension contributions in 2026. Brynes highlights that regular money check-ins provide the perfect opportunity to assess long-term planning. He suggests reviewing current workplace pension contributions, tracking down old pension pots from previous employers, and considering consolidation to gain clearer insight into pension performance and fee structures.
Brynes strongly emphasises building a solid savings foundation before pursuing more complex financial goals. A healthy cash buffer earning competitive interest can cover unexpected costs and provide valuable peace of mind. For the 25% of adults who identified building a rainy-day fund as a top financial goal for 2026, he recommends Cash ISAs as particularly useful options offering both flexibility and tax efficiency.
Matching Goals with Appropriate Savings Vehicles
Clarity about savings objectives proves extremely important, Brynes notes, as this determines whether cash savings or investing represents the most suitable approach. Short-term goals like emergency funds or holidays often align better with cash savings, while longer-term ambitions such as children's education or wealth building benefit from the growth potential offered through Stocks & Shares ISAs.
Addressing common barriers to saving, Brynes observes that people often delay saving or investing because they believe they lack sufficient spare cash. However, he stresses that consistency matters far more than the initial amount. Even small, regular contributions can accumulate significantly over time through interest and compounding effects. Building the saving habit represents the crucial first step, with contributions reviewed and increased as circumstances permit.
Building Financial Confidence Through Education
Finally, Brynes encourages households to stay informed and engaged when managing their finances. Understanding fundamental concepts – from how inflation and interest rates affect savings to how investing works over extended periods – can make financial decisions feel considerably less daunting.
"For many people, the biggest barrier to financial planning is feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to begin," Brynes concludes. "Taking a simpler, more regular approach can help break that down and make money feel easier to manage. Over time, these habits can build confidence and give people a clearer sense of direction. That's often when we see people develop a much healthier and more positive relationship with their money."
