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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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Being scammed can have devastating effects on your finances. Here’s how to stop it.
A man use two-factor authentication from his phone
Protecting your financial data can help keep your money safe from fraudsters.
A bank building with a large gold medal hanging from it
The best bank and credit union for you will depend on your banking needs, but in general, the best banks offer accounts with low or no minimum balance requirements and don’t charge monthly fees — or [...]
Illustration of two hands holding phones, sending physical gold coins to one another.
Keep fees in check when you shift money from one bank account to another.
A person calculates interest.
Compound interest is a powerful force for people who want to build their savings.
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Our top 5 picks scored highly for access, range of products and digital options.
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Interest is the price you pay to borrow money or the cost you charge to lend money.
Mature woman helps her daughter study for exam
High-yield savings rates fluctuate over time. Let’s explore what causes that.
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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.
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.
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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.
Two young brothers bake cookies together.
It’s easy to get caught up in the holiday spirit and overspend. Here are ways to avoid that trap.
Cashier and customer wear face masks at a store during the pandemic
More than 3 in 5 Americans are worried about their incomes over the next six months.
Holiday shoppers gather in Macy's for holiday shopping during the coronavirus pandemic.
Experts say it’s time to prepare now for an expensive gift-buying season.
A couple looks at finances.
The coronavirus pandemic drained Americans’ savings accounts.
Mother helping her son with schoolwork
The first of six monthly Child Tax Credit (CTC) payments start July 15.
Watering the plants
The savings account has always been a time-tested standby. Here’s why it still matters.
Post-pandemic financial checklist
Before making this your own version of the roaring ’20s, here’s what you may want to consider.
Close up of Treasury Department stimulus check
Those taxpayers could potentially see thousands of extra dollars when they file for the Recovery Rebate Credit.
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