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Rebuilding your credit score can feel a bit like trying to salvage a meal that didn’t go exactly as planned. Maybe life got hectic, expenses piled up, a few credit card payments were missed or late, or unexpected surprises threw things off.

The good news? Like our article about building good credit from scratch, a credit score isn’t a one-time dish you have to perfect. It’s something you can rework and improve upon.

With the right ingredients, consistent habits, and a little patience, following these 8 steps can help you serve up a stronger credit profile.

What would your finances look like if you felt more in control of your spending, saving, borrowing, and long-term goals?

As 2025 comes to an end, and a brand-new year awaits you, you are given a new opportunity to reset, rebuild, and recharge. Smart money habits don’t require perfection, just steady progress. One of the best ways to get started or (restarted) is by focusing on the Four Pillars of Financial Wellness: Spend, Save, Borrow, Plan.

When these four pillars are in balance, they help form a strong, sustainable financial foundation that can support you through life’s unpredictable moments and help you reach your biggest financial dreams.

Below, we’ll walk through each pillar and share simple, realistic resolutions to help you make 2026 your smartest financial year yet.

New toys, tech, and other gifts are fun to receive during the holidays, but festive spending can quickly spiral. Add in travel, decorations, and delicious meals, and it’s easy to see why many households find themselves with thousands of dollars of holiday debt after the season has passed. A recent survey found that 52% of shoppers plan to spend less this year than in the last holiday season.

To help keep your budget on track, and not completely derail from holiday purchases, consider utilizing the following smart strategies. These helpful tips—from using deal-finder apps to carefully budgeting—can help you enjoy the holidays without waking up to debit in the new year.