Budgeting basics

A budget is a spending plan that helps you understand how much money you're making and where you're spending it. A budget is the cornerstone of a strong financial plan.

Budgeting tips

Bankrate offers 18 ideas for stretching your budget to save money.

Woman using a calculator and examining financial documents

Understanding discretionary income can help you with your budgeting strategy.

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Our guide tackles the basics of disposable income and how you can use it to budget.

Essential reading

Calculate your savings

Use our Savings Calculator to help you quickly and accurately estimate the growth of your investment. Set a goal and figure out how much you need to save each month to hit the mark.

Initial deposit:

Monthly contribution:

Over a period of:

Months

Years

APY:

Total savings breakdown:
	Interest earned	$ 5,803.89
	Total contributions	+ $24,000
	Initial deposit	+ $10,000

Your total savings

$ 39,803. 89

The average APY in the U.S. is 0.56%. Enter an APY to see how much you can save, or choose an APY from one of our partners.

Explore banking products:

CDs Savings Accounts MMAs Checking Accounts

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Money market accounts and checking accounts are both deposit accounts available at many banks and credit unions. While many money market accounts and most checking accounts offer the capability of writing [...]