2026 Game Plan: Key Moves to Make Before the New Year
Here we are, it’s the first week of December. The festive lights are twinkling, the social calendars are full, and the temptation is to coast until the New Year.
But for those with a strategic eye on 2026, the next four weeks are not a holiday; they are a head start.
In January, the "New Year, New Me" rush is a very real phenomenon. Property portals will be flooded, recruiters will be inundated with CVs, and everyone will start their 2026 plan at the same time.
This is your chance to get ahead of them. By making a few key moves before the ball drops, you can enter 2026 with a clear advantage, while everyone else is just waking up.
This is your 2026 game plan.
1. The Property Game Plan: Beat the January Rush
The biggest mistake buyers make is waiting until January to talk to a bank. The January property market is historically one of the busiest. By the time you get your mortgage approval, the best of the New Year's listings will have already been viewed—and bid on—by buyers who were ready in December.
Your Game Plan:
Get Mortgage Approval in Principle (AIP) NOW. Do not wait. This is the single most important move you can make.
The Benefit: You will walk into 2026 as a pre-approved, "cash-buyer" equivalent. This makes you the most attractive bidder and allows you to move instantly when your perfect home appears. In a competitive market, it’s the ultimate advantage.
2. The Career Game Plan: Use the "Soft" Networking Season
Nearly one in four Irish employers plans to increase hiring at the start of 2026. The job market is hungry, especially for specialist roles in tech, AI, and life sciences. But how you approach it matters.
Your Game Plan:
Update Your CV & LinkedIn This Week. Don't wait for the January job-hunting herd. Update your skills, optimise your profile with keywords for the AI-powered filters that most companies now use, and get it ready to go.
Use the Festive Season for "Soft Networking." This is the one time of year you can email an old colleague or contact on LinkedIn with a "Happy Christmas" message. It’s the perfect, low-pressure way to get back on their radar and gently mention you’re "exploring new opportunities in 2026." You’ll be at the top of their mind when the serious hiring talks begin in January.
3. The Financial Game Plan: The Hard Deadline You Can't Miss
This is the most time-sensitive part of your plan. While the November 19th pension deadline has passed, there is one critical financial deadline left, and it is non-negotiable.
Your Game Plan:
File Your 2021 Tax Return by December 31st.
Why? Due to Revenue's strict 4-year limit, December 31, 2025, is your absolute final chance to claim any tax refunds you are owed from the 2021 tax year. This includes unclaimed medical expenses, WFH relief, or tuition fees.
The Benefit: If you leave it until January, that 2021 window closes forever. You could be leaving hundreds, or even thousands, of euros on the table. Do it now, and start 2026 with a potential cash injection.
4. The Relocation Game Plan: Solve the "Catch-22"
For those planning a move to Ireland, there is a logistical "Catch-22" you must plan for now: the Personal Public Service (PPS) number.
You cannot get a job, rent a property, or set up a bank account without a PPS number. But you cannot get a PPS number without a valid "reason," such as a formal job offer or a signed rental lease.
Your Game Plan:
Do NOT expect to land and get a PPS number. You cannot apply for one just by "looking for work."
Secure the "Why" First: Your priority, even before you fly, is to secure that all-important "reason." This means getting a written job offer or an agreement with a landlord. This document is your key to unlocking the entire administrative system.
Start Partner Visas NOW: If you are an Irish citizen returning with a non-EEA spouse or partner, the visa process can take months. Do not wait. Start the paperwork immediately.
While others are making resolutions on January 1st, you'll be acting on a plan that is already in motion. The next four weeks are your head start.
Are you ready to make your 2026 move? Don't wait for the January rush. Contact the GoldGro team today, and let's put your game plan into action.