Banking
Take the 52-week money challenge: What it is and how to do it
4 min read
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
Bankrate offers 18 ideas for stretching your budget to save money.
Discretionary income: Definition, how to calculate it and how it impacts your budget
Personal Finance
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.
Essential reading
The best places to keep your emergency fund
7 min read
How to start (and build) an emergency fund
9 min read
12 ways to save money every day
7 min read
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.
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Latest articles
If you’ve been thinking of getting a longer-term CD, you may want to make a move.
Check out the latest CD rates from Bankrate’s weekly survey of banks and thrifts.
Bankrate’s experts are reacting live to the Fed’s latest interest rate decision.
The Fed has now gone six months without cutting interest rates.
Spend money, pay bills, write checks or make fund transfers with a checking account.
This Fed communication tool is important, but be cautious when interpreting it.
The Federal Reserve announced that it’s holding interest rates steady following its March 18-19 meeting.
Consider these four factors when choosing the right high-yield savings account.
It’s important to find the right accounts for your emergency savings.
An emergency fund is an essential part of a solid financial plan.
Here’s a helpful guide to how much you need in savings over the course of your life.
Monthly budgets are popular because many expenses, such as rent and bills, occur monthly.
These simple moves can help you build a cash cushion.
Use this challenge to stash more cash toward your savings goals.
Creating a timeline is a useful way to plan and meet all your financial goals.
Rainy day and emergency funds differ but together provide a sound financial plan.
These options are great places to stash money from a bonus, inheritance and more.
Here’s how much $10,000 in a high-yield savings account can earn you.
Bank account budgeting tools make it easy to track your personal finances.
Inflation can eat away at your purchasing power, if you’re not keeping up with it.
Several banks are offering high-yield savings accounts well above 4 percent APY.
More than half of Americans also say the U.S. economy is on the wrong track.
Comparing savings rates can ensure you get the best return on your savings.
Get the latest rates on top-yielding money market accounts.
The trusted provider of accurate rates and financial information