This post kicks off the January Reset, the first phase of the 2026 Money Confidence Roadmap, a quarterly guide designed to help reduce financial stress and build confidence with money.
Many Americans start the New Year with high hopes for their finances – and many lose momentum just as quickly.
A recently released Wells Fargo survey found that nearly all respondents set at least one financial goal for 2026. Saving more money topped the list, followed by paying down debt and improving credit scores. The intent is there. The follow-through often is not.
Research on New Year’s resolutions consistently shows that only a small share of people maintain their goals for an entire year, with many abandoning them within the first few months. When progress feels slow or unexpected expenses hit, motivation alone usually is not enough to keep people on track.
“When people feel in control of their money, it’s closely linked to lower stress and greater well-being,” says Chris Starr, head of deposits at Wells Fargo. “But life happens, and many adults don’t have a plan to fall back on when expenses or surprises come up. Having a clear structure for managing spending and saving can make a meaningful difference.”
That idea is at the heart of Consolidated Credit’s 2026 Money Confidence Roadmap, a quarterly framework designed to replace vague resolutions with clear, manageable steps that help reduce financial stress and build confidence over time.
January marks the first phase of the Roadmap: Reset.
Instead of rushing into drastic changes, this month focuses on understanding where you stand financially and putting simple systems in place that support real progress throughout the year.
Why January is the reset month
Before you can improve your finances, you need a clear picture of what you are working with. That starts with understanding what you owe, what you earn, how you spend, and where your credit stands today.
This step is often the one people avoid.
Looking closely at the numbers can feel uncomfortable, especially if progress has stalled or past decisions did not turn out as planned. But avoiding the details does not reduce stress. It tends to keep it simmering in the background. When you face your finances directly, even if the picture is imperfect, you begin to regain a sense of control.
That is why the January Reset is focused on awareness, not action overload. The goal is not to fix everything at once. It is to replace uncertainty with clarity, so the next steps feel grounded and manageable.
Step 1: Take a clear snapshot of your finances
The first step is simply gathering the basics. You don’t need a detailed spreadsheet or special tools, just honest information. Take stock of the debts you carry, the balances and interest rates attached to them, what your credit report and score look like, and where your money is actually going each month.
Seeing everything in one place can feel overwhelming at first, especially if the numbers are not what you hoped to see. But clarity is also empowering. Once the unknown becomes known, stress often eases, and the next steps start to feel more manageable.
Step 2: Reset your spending awareness
January is about understanding your spending patterns. Looking back at the last month or two can help you see the difference between fixed expenses, flexible spending, and habits that may have gone unnoticed.
This step is not about guilt or restriction. It is about information. When you understand where your money is going, you can make more intentional decisions later in the year without feeling boxed in or deprived.
Step 3: Create simple systems
Setting up simple systems can do more for your finances than trying to overhaul everything at once. Having one place to track bills and due dates, automating minimum payments, or setting aside a short weekly check-in can reduce missed payments and decision fatigue.
These systems lower the mental load that often leads to financial stress. When the basics are handled automatically, progress relies less on willpower and more on consistency.
Step 4: Reset your mindset around progress
Financial confidence comes from understanding and managing what you already have. January is a good time to let go of comparisons, unrealistic expectations, and the idea that past mistakes define your future.
Progress rarely happens overnight. Small, consistent steps build momentum over time, and each clear decision you make this month helps support better choices later in the year.
The January reset takeaway
The January Reset is about replacing stress with clarity. It gives you the chance to understand your financial reality, put supportive systems in place, and move forward with more confidence and less pressure.
You do not need to do everything this month. You just need a clear foundation. Once that foundation is in place, the progress that follows becomes easier to sustain.
