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4 ideas to spend your leftover budget wisely

Make the most of your remaining 2025 budget with four high-impact research ideas that deliver actionable insights and set your business up for a stronger 2026.

Caroline Hawkings Managing Director 4 November 2025

As 2025 winds down, the smartest teams aren’t just thinking about how to spend leftover budget – they’re thinking what levers they need to pull to ensure they start 2026 strong.

The answer; investing in research now gives you new data and actionable insights to start the year ahead of the competition, make confident decisions, and prioritise initiatives that really matter.

After all, it’s only November. There’s still time to pause, zoom out, and think strategically about the final months of 2025. And by using research to support your strategic planning this side of Christmas, you can identify opportunities and validate ideas – all while making the most of your remaining budget.

Here are four research approaches that deliver fast, meaningful insights to help you plan ahead;

1. Brand health check

A brand health check provides a rapid pulse on how your brand is performing in the market. From awareness and perception to customer loyalty, this snapshot helps you understand what’s working, what’s not, and where to focus before 2026 begins.

2. Audience segmentation refresh

Consumer and B2B audiences evolve constantly.

A segmentation refresh helps you verify that your existing audience groups are still relevant and identifies emerging subgroups you may want to target. Fast-turn research can provide clear, usable data to refine your messaging, marketing, and product strategies without committing to a large-scale study.

3. Quick concept testing

Had a new idea, product, or campaign?

Quick-turn concept testing allows you to validate ideas with your target audience before committing significant resources. Using small, agile surveys or focused qualitative sessions, you can uncover early reactions, preferences, and potential obstacles – giving your team confidence before scaling.

4. Category trends pulse

Understanding the broader market context is key to staying competitive. A category trends pulse captures emerging behaviours, competitor activity, and market shifts in a concise, actionable format. Fast delivery tracking provides insights to inform strategy and ensure your plans are grounded in reality.

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Investing your leftover budget in these quick-turn research projects not only delivers immediate insights, but also sets your business up for a stronger start in 2026.

With Savanta’s expertise and flexible approach, even small investments can produce big results.

Get in touch today to discuss how Savanta can help you make your budget go further.

 

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