5 Ways to Save Money (and Friendships) in 2026

The "Organiser Tax" is a real thing. In the past, being the person who booked the Airbnb or bought the group concert tickets usually meant being the last person to get paid back—if you got paid back at all.

As we kick off 2026, saving money isn't just about cutting out lattes; it’s about efficiency.

Download the Collctiv app today and start saving money!

Top 5 tips to save money 

Here are the top five ways Collctiv helps you keep your bank balance healthy while keeping your social life active.

www.collctiv.com/blog/5-ways-to-save-money-and-friendships-in-2026

1. Eliminate the "Hidden Interest" of Fronting Cash

When you put a £1,000 group booking on your credit card, you’re essentially giving your friends an interest-free loan while you take on the risk. If they take two months to pay you back, you’re the one dealing with credit card interest or a depleted savings account.

The Collctiv Way: Create a Pot before you hit "book." With real-time updates, you can wait until the target is hit before any money leaves your personal account.

Money Saved: Potentially hundreds in interest charges or "lost" funds from friends who forget to settle up.

2. Unlock "Early Bird" & Group Bulk Discounts

Many festivals, airlines, and accommodation providers in 2026 offer steep discounts for booking early or in large groups. However, these deals disappear while you're busy chasing people for their bank details.

The Collctiv Way: Use a QR code or a single link in your group chat. Because friends can pay via Apple Pay or Google Pay without downloading an app, you can collect the total in minutes and lock in that 20% "Early Bird" discount immediately.

Money Saved: 10-30% on booking totals by acting faster than the average group.

3. Stop "Leaking" Money on Micro-Fees

Bank transfers between different countries or even different banks can sometimes incur small "convenience" or "transfer" fees. Over a year of social events, these "50ps" add up.

The Collctiv Way: Collctiv keeps your group money in one digital ecosystem. You can manage multiple pots—for the weekly 5-a-side, the summer wedding, and the office gift—without a dozen tiny transactions cluttering your bank statement.

Money Saved: Reduced bank transaction fees and much cleaner financial tracking.

4. Level Up Your Gift Giving (Without the Overspend)

When everyone buys individual £10 gifts, you end up with a pile of "clutter." When you pool that money, you can buy one high-quality, long-lasting item that the recipient actually wants.

The Collctiv Way: Set a "Target Amount" for the gift. People can see the progress and feel inspired to chip in. Plus, the message export feature means you don't have to spend money on a £5 physical card—you can print or share all the digital well-wishes for free.

Money Saved: Better value for money on purchases and savings on cards/wrapping.

5. Avoid the "Organiser’s Shortfall"

We’ve all been there: you think you’ve collected enough, but then you realize you’re £15 short because someone "forgot" or the price changed. Usually, the organiser just sucks it up to avoid the awkwardness.

The Collctiv Way: Collctiv’s transparency is your best friend. Everyone can see who has paid. This social accountability means you aren't the "bad guy" chasing money, and you’re never left covering the difference for "Dave" who promised to pay in pints but never did.

Money Saved: No more paying the "Organiser’s Tax" out of your own pocket.

5 Ways to Save Money in 2026 (That Have Nothing to Do With Us!)

While we love making group payments easy, we know that 2026 is a year where everyone is looking to make their pound, dollar, or euro stretch a little further. Beyond how you collect the cash and manage your group pots, being financially savvy in 2026 requires a bit of tactical thinking.

The world has changed, prices have shifted, and the way we hang out with friends has evolved. If you want to keep your social calendar packed without seeing your savings account dwindle, you need a game plan. Here are five savvy ways to keep your social life thriving while keeping your bank balance firmly in the black.

1. The "Off-Peak" Social Strategy

Whether you’re planning a trip to one of the World Cup host cities or just a weekend away with the girls, the "Saturday to Saturday" habit is a total budget-killer. In 2026, travel data shows that flying or booking accommodation on a Tuesday or Wednesday can save you up to 35% compared to weekend peaks.

• The Pro Move: If you’re heading to the World Cup in North America, look for "hub" cities. Staying an hour’s train ride outside of a host city like New York, Dallas, or Vancouver can save you hundreds on hotel premiums. You get a quieter base to explore from and more money to spend on the actual match-day experience. This "radius" strategy is often the only way to find affordable stays during high-demand tournament windows.

2. Audit Your "Ghost" Subscriptions

We’ve all been there—you signed up for a specific sports streaming service to watch the qualifiers, or a premium delivery service for a Christmas party, and then completely forgot about it. 2026 is the year of the subscription cull. Set aside twenty minutes to scroll through your bank statement and hunt for those recurring £9.99 charges for apps you haven’t opened in six months.

• The Result: Cutting just two unused subscriptions can put over £240 back in your pocket by the time the World Cup Final kicks off in July. That’s a significant amount of "found money" just by tidying up your digital life. It’s essentially a free weekend away earned simply by clicking "unsubscribe" on services that are no longer serving you.

3. Embrace the "Big Batch" Viewing Party

With the cost of living still a major talking point in 2026, the price of eating out at sports bars every single match day can be eye-watering. Between the "event pricing" on pints and the inevitable service charges, a simple afternoon out can easily top £50 per person. If you’re hosting friends to watch the game, ditch the individual takeaways which come with high delivery fees and separate service charges.

• The Move: Go for a "Build-Your-Own" taco or nacho bar. Buying fresh ingredients in bulk from local markets or wholesalers is significantly cheaper than ordering 12 separate pizzas. Not only is it more interactive and fun, but it also caters to everyone's dietary requirements far more easily. Plus, you won't be left with a mountain of expensive cardboard delivery boxes and plastic containers to recycle the next morning.

4. Use "Incognito" and VPNs for Booking

By 2026, dynamic pricing is more aggressive than ever. Algorithms are designed to spot your browsing patterns and predict your willingness to pay. When searching for flights to Mexico, Canada, or the US—or even just looking at train tickets for a domestic trip—always use an incognito browser window. Travel sites track your "intent" via cookies; if they see you returning to the same flight path three times in an hour, they often nudge the price up because they know you’re likely to commit soon.

• The Hack: If you’re booking international hotels, try using a VPN to see the prices offered to "locals." Sometimes, booking from a different virtual location can reveal regional discounts or "resident rates" that aren't advertised to international tourists. It’s a two-minute trick that can save you a double-digit percentage on your total booking cost.

5. The 24-Hour "Cooling Off" Rule

The 2026 World Cup merch is going to be incredibly tempting—the retro-inspired designs and limited-edition kits are already everywhere. Marketing in 2026 is more targeted than ever, following you across every social feed and app you use. Before you hit "buy" on that £80 jersey or the latest high-tech gadget, leave it in your digital basket for a full 24 hours.

• Why? Most "impulse" purchases are driven by a temporary dopamine hit triggered by clever advertising. By waiting a full day, you allow that initial excitement to fade and your logical brain to take over. If you wake up the next morning and still think it's a great investment, go for it. If not, you’ve just saved yourself a chunk of change that can be better spent on actual experiences and match-day tickets with your friends.

By combining these savvy habits with a stress-free way to manage group funds, you’re setting yourself up for a 2026 that is big on memories and low on financial stress. Taking control of the "small" leaks in your budget ensures you have plenty left over for the moments that actually matter.

Conclusion

In 2026, being smart with your money means being smart with how you spend it with others. Collctiv doesn't just make it easier to collect money; it protects your personal finances from the friction of group living.

Ready to start your first 2026 Pot? Download Collctiv here and stop being the group’s interest-free bank!

Organisers Bring People Together

‍Since 2019 Collctiv has helped more than 2 million people from over 175 countries come together by making it simple for Organisers to collect money from groups. Whether it's a sweepstake, gifts for teachers, group holidays or grassroots sports teams - download our free app today and start bringing people together!