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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.
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If your discretionary income is low, you could pay $0 on your federal student loans.
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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.

Months
Years
    010000200003000040000Initial DepositTotal Contri...Interest Earned
    Total savings breakdown:
    Interest earned $ 5,803.89
    Total contributions + $24,000
    Initial deposit + $10,000
    Your total savings
    $ 39,803. 89

    The average APY in the U.S. is 0.63%. Enter an APY to see how much you can save, or choose an APY from one of our partners.

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