Best New Year Deals 2026: 3 Tools to Actually Keep Resolutions

HOW TO ACTUALLY WIN JANUARY: 3 DEALS THAT SOLVE REAL RESOLUTION PROBLEMS

The confetti has been swept up, the holiday leftovers are finally gone, and we are officially in the thick of the "New Year, New Me" industrial complex. As a product journalist, I’ve spent the last decade testing gadgets designed to "revolutionize" your life. Most of them end up as expensive paperweights by Valentine's Day.

The reason most resolutions fail isn't a lack of willpower; it’s a friction problem. We set massive goals but don’t change the environment that makes our old habits so easy. This year, I’m ignoring the juice cleanses and the "smart" water bottles. Instead, I’ve tracked down three specific deals that address the actual friction points of cooking, moving, and staying sane. These aren’t just discounts; they are strategic investments in making your 2026 goals the path of least resistance.

THE KITCHEN WORKHORSE: NINJA FOODI 9-IN-1 DELUXE The Resolution: Eat better and stop spending $50 on Tuesday night takeout. The Friction: After a ten-hour workday, the last thing anyone wants to do is manage four different pots and a thirty-minute cleanup.

The Deal: The Ninja Foodi 8-Quart 9-in-1 Deluxe XL Pressure Cooker is currently marked down to $169.99, a significant drop from its standard $249.99 MSRP.

Why it works: While the Instant Pot Duo (often on sale for $79) is the classic recommendation, I’m pointing you toward the Ninja Foodi because of its versatility. It doesn't just pressure cook; it air fries. The "New Year, New Me" trap is buying an air fryer and a slow cooker and a steamer, then realizing you have no counter space. The Foodi consolidates that.

In my testing, the ability to pressure cook a whole chicken in 20 minutes and then immediately "TenderCrisp" it with the air frying lid is the difference between eating a nutritious home-cooked meal and calling the pizza guy. You’re saving $80 right now, but the real value is in the 45 minutes of cleanup time you save every night. If you want to eat better, you have to make the healthy option the easiest option. This tool does exactly that.

THE ACTIVITY CATALYST: FITBIT CHARGE 6 The Resolution: Close your rings, hit your steps, and stop being so sedentary. The Friction: High-end smartwatches are incredible pieces of tech, but they are also distraction machines. If you’re trying to focus on health, do you really need your wrist buzzing with emails while you’re on the treadmill?

The Deal: The Fitbit Charge 6 is currently retailing for $129.95, down from its usual $159.95.

Expert Comparison: You could spend $249 on an Apple Watch SE, and many people do. But here is the skeptical journalist’s take: the Apple Watch is a computer; the Fitbit Charge 6 is a health tool. The Apple Watch requires daily charging, which means you’ll likely miss out on sleep tracking because the watch is sitting on your nightstand.

The Charge 6 gives you seven full days of battery life. It includes built-in GPS for your New Year’s runs and a heart rate sensor that is actually accurate enough for HIIT workouts. It also integrates deeply with Google Maps and YouTube Music, giving you the "smart" features that matter without the notification fatigue. At $30 off, it’s the most cost-effective way to get professional-grade biometric data without the $400 price tag of a Garmin or a high-end Series 10.

THE MINDFULNESS RITUAL: SUNDAY RILEY AT ULTA BEAUTY The Resolution: Prioritize self-care and mental well-being. The Friction: "Self-care" has become a vague marketing buzzword. Real well-being comes from consistent rituals—moments where you actually stop and check in with yourself.

The Deal: During Ulta Beauty’s "New Year, New You" event, the Sunday Riley Wake Up With Me Complete Brightening Morning Routine (a $95 value) is often featured at a 50 percent discount, bringing it down to $47.50.

Why it matters: I’m usually the first to roll my eyes at luxury skincare pricing, but Sunday Riley is one of the few brands where the clinical results actually match the hype. This kit includes the C.E.O. Glow Oil and Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment.

The logic here is psychological. If you buy a cheap, generic moisturizer, it’s just another chore in the morning. When you invest in a high-quality kit during an Ulta event, you’re creating a ritual you actually look forward to. That five-minute window in the morning becomes a protected space for mindfulness. Using the Ulta "New Year, New You" event to snag these high-end sets at half price is the smartest way to "treat yourself" without the post-purchase guilt. It’s about buying into a routine that makes you feel prepared to face the day, rather than just buying more "stuff."

BEYOND THE CHECKOUT BUTTON Here is the hard truth: $350 worth of new gear won’t change your life if it stays in the box. The Ninja Foodi is only a deal if you use it to meal prep on Sundays. The Fitbit is only an investment if you actually look at the data and decide to take the stairs.

We often use "shopping" as a substitute for "doing." We feel like we’ve made progress on our fitness goals just because we bought a tracker. Don’t fall for that. These products are tools, not magic wands.

This year, skip the generic resolutions and the full-price "lifestyle" gadgets. Grab these three specific deals while the prices are low, and then put them to work. The "New Me" isn't someone who owns more things; it’s someone who uses the right tools to build a more intentional life. 2026 is your year—just make sure you’re equipped for it.