As 2026 begins, it is the perfect time to reset how we think about money. Not with predictions or shortcuts, but with principles that survive decades.
Few investors explain money better than Warren Buffett. His lessons are boring, repetitive, and incredibly effective.
A deep dive backed by data, not hype
In Berkshire Hathaway’s 2024 Annual Report, Buffett disclosed over $318 billion in cash and US Treasury Bills.
Why this matters
Cash prevents forced selling during market crashes. It buys time when markets stop being kind.
What you can do in 2026
- Build a 6 to 9 month emergency fund
- Keep emergency money separate from investments
- Hold more cash if income is unstable
From 1965 to 2024, Berkshire Hathaway’s stock delivered extraordinary long-term returns, far outpacing the broader market. Over that period, it recorded cumulative gains of over 5.5 million percent, compared with around 39,000 percent for the S&P 500, according to publicly accessible historical performance data. Times of India reports that Berkshire’s compound annual growth has been nearly double that of the S&P 500 over decades.
What you can do in 2026
- Stop checking portfolios daily
- Track savings rate instead of daily returns
- Commit mentally to a long term horizon
Today, Apple accounts for over 40 percent of Berkshire’s equity portfolio .
What you can do in 2026
- Invest only in businesses you can explain simply
- Avoid social media driven excitement
- If you cannot explain revenue and risk, skip it
According to the Reserve Bank of India, credit card interest rates often range between 36 to 42 percent annually.
What you can do in 2026
- Clear credit card and personal loan debt first
- Avoid lifestyle EMIs
- Use debt only for productive assets or skills
In 2024, Berkshire Hathaway paid $26.8 billion in corporate taxes. Taxes mean real profits.
What you can do in 2026
- Reduce unnecessary buying and selling
- Hold investments longer
- Review taxes once a year
During the 2008 financial crisis, long term investors recovered by staying invested.
What you can do in 2026
- Continue SIPs during corrections
- Avoid panic selling
- Remember emotions move faster than markets
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