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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.
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Check out the latest CD rates from Bankrate’s weekly survey of banks and thrifts.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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An emergency fund is an essential part of a solid financial plan.
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These simple moves can help you build a cash cushion.
Calendar of 2023
Use this challenge to stash more cash toward your savings goals.
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Here’s a helpful guide to how much you need in savings over the course of your life.
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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.
In case of a potential emergency, it pays to be financially prepared.
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Half of those same households report having taken on more debt.
A woman looking at Ally Bank's new savings tools.
Here’s what the online bank is offering to help customers boost their savings and meet financial goals.
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These common mistakes are costing us a huge chunk of change.
Shoppers checking out at Costco
Nearly 3 in 10 adults would be at a loss if they suddenly needed to cover a costly expense.
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Many Americans are adding nothing to their savings. These are the biggest reasons.
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A new Bankrate survey also finds 1 in 4 Americans is open to buying a home in 2017.
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Finances can be complicated for those 40 and up. Here’s how to make your 40s fabulous.
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