Building and maintaining an excellent credit score helps consumers save money when they need to obtain a loan. The higher your credit score, the more lenders are willing to give you a lower interest rate, which means consumers can save additional money down the road.

If you’re thinking you can settle your student loan debt for 40% to 60% less than what you currently owe, think again. Student loans are nearly impossible to discharge in bankruptcy and therefore just as difficult to settle. If you’ve defaulted on your student loans, your best option is to figure out how to get caught up. Otherwise, you could be sued for the debt.

The Wells Fargo Secured Card has a few restrictions on eligibility. If you have declared bankruptcy within the past 12 months or have any unsettled liens, you won’t qualify. Interestingly, you only need to be 18 to qualify unless you live in Alabama (where you have to be 19) or in Mississippi or Puerto Rico (where you have to be 21).

Good news for those resolving to keep a close eye on their credit history in 2015: There’s no need to pay a dime to do so. It’s never been easier for consumers to get a hold of their credit scores or credit reports for free. Major credit card issuers, including Discover and Capital One, offer cardholders a monthly look at their three-digit scores, which are used by lenders to gauge your financial health.

Millions more people will have free access to their FICO credit score this year. That’s good news for consumers, since the number is widely used by lenders to check potential borrowers’ financial health.