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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.
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

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A one-year CD can be a safe and worthwhile option, especially turning to high-yielding online banks or credit unions.
A graph showing an upward trend from 2025 to 2026. The trendline is made of cash
If you have $10,000 to invest in a CD right now, here’s how much you could earn.
Illustration of cash under a beach umbrella
Here’s how much $10,000 in a high-yield savings account can earn you.
A person takes a picture of a check.
Depositing a check using a smartphone is easy and can save you a trip to the bank.
Young woman using an ATM
Here’s how to find the nearest ATM in MoneyPass’s fee-free ATM network.
Fantasy image of a robot hand holding a phone with real cash falling out of the screen
For many of us, saving money feels like an uphill battle.
a chase bank in washington dc
Looking for a nearby Chase Bank location or ATM? Here’s how to find the closest ones.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell speaks at a news conference.
Rates are falling, and finance pros say it may be time for Americans to rethink some strategies.
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Monthly budgets are popular because many expenses, such as rent and bills, occur monthly.
Illustration of construction workers on a roof
An emergency fund is an essential part of a solid financial plan.
Rainy day and emergency funds differ but together provide a sound financial plan.
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It’s important to find the right accounts for your emergency savings.
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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.
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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.
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Learn how deinfluencers help you save money by promoting mindful spending habits.
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Here’s how to determine what a good interest rate is on your deposit accounts.
A young girl visits a doctor.
Confused about finding an HSA? Use these tips to determine the best deal for you.
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Here are scenarios for when each choice – paying down debt or saving – makes more sense.
A little girl gets a vaccination.
Setting aside pretax dollars in an HSA can help you defray future medical costs.
Golden piggy bank and golden coins
Here’s how to save money and get the most bang for your buck.
Person Putting Coin In Piggy Bank At Table
Savers can still earn yields on deposit accounts that are outpacing inflation, even as some yields have decreased recently as banks anticipate a likely Federal Reserve rate cut in September. One such option [...]
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Whether you hope to buy a home or just rent for a while, a solid savings plan is the key to finally moving out of your parents’ house.
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