Skip to Main Content

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.
Young man working on finances at home. He has a laptop open and is using a calculator.
If your discretionary income is low, you could pay $0 on your federal student loans.
Woman sitting on a sofa looking at her laptop
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

A Truist Financial bank branch in Miami, Florida, US
Looking for a nearby Truist Bank location or ATM? Here’s how to find the closest ones.
Currently, you can lock in annual percentage yields (APYs) on certificates of deposit (CDs) at and slightly above 4% with many nationally available CDs. Only a select few financial institutions offer promotional [...]
Woman at bank talking to teller
Checking and savings accounts are different. Should you have one, the other — or both?
These expert tips can help keep your bank and financial accounts safe from hackers.
Cash in gloved hand
Depositing cash into someone’s account isn’t always possible, but there are options.
Young worried man working at home
Learn why a bank could close your account and what to about it.
Man using cell phone in living room
It’s important to find the right accounts for your emergency savings.
Woman appearing stressed when looking at financial documents
Americans are growing more pessimistic about their finances amid inflation and job worries.
Illustration of construction workers on a roof
An emergency fund is an essential part of a solid financial plan.
Man using cell phone in living room
It’s important to find the right accounts for your emergency savings.
Person shopping at grocery store choosing oranges in the supermarket
Monthly budgets are popular because many expenses, such as rent and bills, occur monthly.
Rainy day and emergency funds differ but together provide a sound financial plan.
illustration of money growing on trees
Here’s a helpful guide to how much you need in savings over the course of your life.
Calendar of 2023
Use this challenge to stash more cash toward your savings goals.
young woman smiling on city sidewalk
Creating a timeline is a useful way to plan and meet all your financial goals.
Young woman using a laptop with credit card while relaxing at home
Financial goals are measuring sticks that apply to any area of your money management skills that you’re looking to improve.
A majority (81%) of Americans did not increase their emergency savings this year
Here’s how to boost your savings.
Person imagining a piggy bank made out of cash.
Ready to open a savings account? Here’s what you’ll need to know.
Illustration of construction workers on a roof
An emergency fund is an essential part of a solid financial plan.
Woman working with business document and laptop on the table
It’s a low interest rate environment, but there are ways to earn more on your money.
Woman sitting outside of restaurant looking at cell phone
Getting into the habit of paying yourself first is hard. Here are some ideas to help you start.
Illustration of an old-fashioned physical bank branch and a mobile phone.
Keeping your savings in a bank down the street may seem like the obvious play, but there may be real downsides for doing so.
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.
The trusted provider of accurate rates and financial information
Wall Street Journal
Usa Today
New York Times
Cnn
Bloomberg
Abc