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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.

Our financial situation can cause stress any time of the year, but the holidays can be particularly challenging. Fortunately, with a little advanced planning there are options to turn that stress into joy. From setting a realistic holiday spending plan, to creative gift alternatives such as handmade items or shared experiences, you can enjoy the season with greater ease and minimize the stress often associated with overspending.

Here are five tips designed to give you less stress and more joy this holiday season: