Jan 27, 2026

This One Low-Effort Money Move Could Change Your Finances in 2026

Written by MoneyLion Staff
|
Edited by Kristen Mae
Young couple smiling and browsing internet on mobile phone at home

Managing your money can feel like a constant balancing act. You work hard, pay your bills and try to save — but somehow, your finances still never quite feel under control. 



Sound familiar? You’re not alone. 

According to the Federal Reserve,* 19% of U.S. adults say they spend more than they earn, while 30% say their spending and income are basically the same. That means a huge number of Americans have little to no margin for error each month, making it incredibly hard to feel in control of their money.

The good news? There’s a simpler way to manage your finances — without spreadsheets, extreme budgeting, or hours of your time.

A powerful, all-in-one financial tool called MoneyLion could help you take control of your finances in 2026, and it only takes a few minutes to get started.

Most people don’t struggle with money because they aren’t trying hard enough. Managing finances today often means juggling multiple apps, accounts and tools. It can quickly become overwhelming.

That’s where MoneyLion comes in. MoneyLion brings everything together in one place, making it easier to see your money in real time, track spending patterns and understand exactly where your cash is going — a critical first step toward getting your finances under control.

The app adapts to your habits over time, helping you understand your money first, then improve it over time. Beyond helping you build better budgeting habits, MoneyLion also helps match you with financial products tailored to your specific needs and goals. 

You can get access to credit-builder-loan offers, personal-loan offers, cash advances up to $500, and even a banking account.

These are some of its top features: 

  • With MoneyLion’s Instacash® product, you can get access to as much as $500 of your paycheck if you meet eligibility requirements — with no interest or credit check. 

  • If your credit score isn’t exactly where you’d like it to be, MoneyLion Credit Builder Plus membership could be a simple way to help build your credit. It allows you to apply for the Credit Builder loan and borrow up to $1,000, with no hard credit check required1. All or a portion of your loan will be held in a Credit Reserve Account until the loan is paid off. As you make your scheduled payments, those payments are reported to all three credit bureaus, helping you boost your credit with on-time payments. Once you’ve paid off the loan, you'll receive the funds from the Credit Reserve Account to spend however you want — essentially putting up to $1,000 in your wallet2. Over half of MoneyLion members report boosting their credit score by up to 27 points within 60 days.3  



Whether you’re trying to stretch your paycheck, rein in spending, or just feel more confident about your finances overall, MoneyLion can help.

It takes just minutes to sign up and see how MoneyLion’s suite of personal finance tools could help you take control of your money in 2026.

* Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2024 - May 2025

MoneyLion does not provide, own, control or guarantee third-party products or services accessible through its Marketplace (collectively, “Third-Party Products”). The Third-Party Products are owned, controlled or made available by third parties (the “Third-Party Providers”). Should you choose to purchase any Third-Party Products, the Third-Party Providers’ terms and privacy policies apply to your purchase, so you must agree to and understand those terms. The display on the MoneyLion website, app, or platform of any of a Third-Party Product or Third-Party Provider does not-in any way-imply, suggest, or constitute a recommendation by MoneyLion of that Third-Party Product or Third-Party Financial Provider. MoneyLion may receive compensation from third parties for referring you to the third party, their products or to their website. 

Instacash® is an optional service offered by MoneyLion. Your available Instacash Advance limit will be displayed to you in the MoneyLion mobile app and may change from time to time. Your limit will be based on your direct deposits, account transaction history, and other factors, as determined by MoneyLion. Expedited delivery requires Turbo Fee. See Instacash Terms and Conditions for more information and eligibility requirements.

MoneyLion is a financial technology company, not a bank. RoarMoney℠ demand deposit account is provided by, and MoneyLion Debit Mastercard® is issued by, Pathward®, National Association, Member, FDIC. RoarMoney is a service mark of MoneyLion.  Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated. Funds are FDIC insured, subject to applicable limitations and restrictions, when we receive the funds deposited to your account. MoneyLion is not itself a bank or a FDIC-insured institution and the FDIC’s deposit insurance coverage only protects against the failure of a FDIC-insured institution. Pathward, National Association is a FDIC-insured depository institution. 



Credit Builder Plus membership ($19.99/mo) unlocks eligibility for Credit Builder loans and other exclusive services. 

Credit Builder loans have an annual percentage rate (APR) ranging from 5.99% APR to 29.99% APR, are offered by affiliates of MoneyLion and subject to approval. The Credit Builder loan may require a portion of the loan proceeds to be deposited into a Credit Reserve Account maintained by ML Wealth LLC and held in non-marginable securities by DriveWealth LLC, member SIPC and FINRA. Not available in all states. 

Credit Reserve Accounts Are Not FDIC Insured • No Bank Guarantee • Investments May Lose Value. For important information and disclaimers relating to the MoneyLion Credit Reserve Account, see Investment Account FAQs and ML Wealth LLC’s FORM ADV. Please also refer to your LoanAgreement.

Credit score improvement is not guaranteed. Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus, and on-time payment history is only one of many factors that such bureaus consider. Your credit score may be negatively impacted by other financial decisions you make, or by activities or services you engage in with other financial services organizations. 

1 When you apply for a Credit Builder Loan, we will perform a soft credit pull to review certain financial information. This soft inquiry has no impact to your credit score and may or may not be recorded in your credit reports depending on the bureau. This is unlike a hard credit pull, which affects your credit score and can appear on your credit report for two (2) years. 

2 Funds may take 10-14 business days to be received after you initiate your final loan payment. 

3 Credit score improvement is not guaranteed. A soft credit pull will be conducted that has no impact to your credit score. Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus. Data was sourced from credit score data from over 83,077 members with an active loan between 01/01/2020 to 12/31/2024. MoneyLion is not a Credit Services Organization. Credit Builder Loan is an optional service offered by MoneyLion.


Written by
MoneyLion Staff
The MoneyLion Staff is a team of writers and editors who cover personal finance topics to help readers make informed money decisions.
Edited by
Kristen Mae
Kristen Mae is a former financial planner turned personal finance editor who prides herself on providing clear, actionable advice for readers navigating everyday money decisions.