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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.
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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.

Latest articles

A graphic of origami of a dollar bill folded to look like a piggy bank with a penny on top.
Expect savings and money market account yields to slide lower this year, but they still should outpace inflation, according to the latest forecast from Bankrate chief financial analyst Greg McBride. McBride [...]
signage outside the federal deposit insurance corporation headquarters
Worried about losing money held at a bank? Here’s what to know about FDIC insurance.
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Even as interest rates drop, some top-yielding savings accounts remain competitive.
Business man hand writing and signing white blank bank check book
We list seven ways to endorse a check and how to process it correctly and securely.
Calendar of 2023
Use this challenge to stash more cash toward your savings goals.
Federal Reserve Board Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference.
Fed officials, however, are uncertain about how many times they’ll be able to cut borrowing costs in 2025.
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There’s still time to lock in a high-yielding CD as the Fed cuts rates.
Design element of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell
The Fed is expected to cut interest rates a third time. Here’s what to watch.
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Monthly budgets are popular because many expenses, such as rent and bills, occur monthly.
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An emergency fund is an essential part of a solid financial plan.
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It’s important to find the right accounts for your emergency savings.
Rainy day and emergency funds differ but together provide a sound financial plan.
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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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Savers can stash their cash in a brokerage these days to rack up returns.
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Interest is the price you pay to borrow money or the cost you charge to lend money.
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.
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Here’s how much $10,000 in a high-yield savings account can earn you.
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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.
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