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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

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

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.

Latest articles

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How to find the best high-yield savings account in times of high inflation
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Get the latest rates on top-yielding money market accounts.
Woman watering plants.
Check out the latest CD rates from Bankrate’s weekly survey of banks and thrifts.
Image of the back of a man in a suit standing in front of a large line graph that is on top of a half shredded U.S. Dollar.
Stagflation is an economic “super villain,” bringing high inflation and unemployment.
Woman reaching in to the air for cash
Prices rise and fall all the time in the U.S. economy. It’s not always inflation.
Whimsical illustration of a hand putting a quarter into a miniature but realistic high end safe. As if it were a piggy bank
Comparing savings rates can ensure you get the best return on your savings.
Side view of father cooking food while daughter having apple in kitchen
These simple moves can help you build a cash cushion.
Image of Jerome Powell and Donald Trump side by side above the Federal Reserve building.
Lower rates won’t fix trade uncertainty, and credit could still be tight.
Person shopping at grocery store choosing oranges in the supermarket
Monthly budgets are popular because many expenses, such as rent and bills, occur monthly.
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It’s important to find the right accounts for your emergency savings.
Illustration of construction workers on a roof
An emergency fund is an essential part of a solid financial plan.
Mother and daughter shopping for vegetables
These simple moves can help you build a cash cushion.
Calendar of 2023
Use this challenge to stash more cash toward your savings goals.
illustration of money growing on trees
Here’s a helpful guide to how much you need in savings over the course of your life.
young woman smiling on city sidewalk
Creating a timeline is a useful way to plan and meet all your financial goals.
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Rainy day and emergency funds differ but together provide a sound financial plan.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi speaks from a lectern
The HEROES Act is back, but it could be a non-starter for some Republicans.
Woman voting in a face mask at the polls
In this election, many young voters remain unsure about at least one key issue.
A photo of a check from the Treasury Department
The plan includes direct aid to taxpayers: $1,200 to individuals and $500 per child and dependent adult.
A wealthy couple research their financial accounts.
How much is too much? Here’s everything you need to know.
A picture from above of pedestrians crossing a busy street
The study shows that the number of Americans with less emergency savings has ballooned since the crisis began.
Here’s what a proposed tax credit for travel could mean for you.
When it comes to handling a windfall, don’t rush it. You’re going to want to make a financial plan.
A water faucet leaks a drop of water
Here’s how to optimize your saving strategy in a tough economy.
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