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

banking apps displayed on an iiphone
Can you guess which bank has the most branches in your state?
volunteers at a community event
There are banks aligned with political values, faith and causes. Here’s how to choose.
This old-school way of paying is still in demand. Here’s everything you need to know.
A family sits together at a kitchen table.
Transfer funds to friends and family without leaving the house.
Santa Barbara beach with palm trees and city skyline at sunset, California, USA
California is a large state, and so is your list of banking options in the Golden State. Truth is, there’s no one “best” bank — the best option is the one that fits your specific needs. But we’ve [...]
A young man uses an ATM.
Over time, ATM fees have climbed. Here’s what you need to know.
A little girl gets a vaccination.
Setting aside pretax dollars in an HSA can help you defray future medical costs.
Young Woman Checking Her Finances At Home
Finding the account number on a check is easy — if you know where to look.
A little girl gets a vaccination.
Setting aside pretax dollars in an HSA can help you defray future medical costs.
Woman online banking with a tablet
How Reg. D impacts your savings account and why it pays to check with your bank.
Illustration of cash under a beach umbrella
Here’s how much $10,000 in a high-yield savings account can earn you.
Mom preparing financial paperwork at home while her child draws next to her
Single people and young families tend to have significantly less saved.
Smiling father holds smiling daughter on his lap while looking at a computer
Experian’s new savings account has a yield based on membership tier and no minimum deposit.
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.
Image by GettyImages, Illustrated by Bankrate
The APY percentage shows how much an account earns per year. Here’s what you need to know.
Person writing on a piece of paper
Here’s how to determine the amount to put in savings — and what to do with the rest.
The trusted provider of accurate rates and financial information
Wall Street Journal
Usa Today
New York Times
Cnn
Bloomberg
Abc