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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.
Woman using a calculator and examining financial documents
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.

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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The bottom line? Don’t let emotions guide your financial decision-making.
Cheerful young student woman excited with good news
Adding more to your savings goals is easier than you think. Here’s how.
A Capital One bank branch in Manhattan in New York
The CFPB dropped its lawsuit alleging Capital One cheated customers out of interest.
Young Man Sitting On Wheelchair Using Laptop
Opening a money market account involves just a few simple steps and it can really pay off.
close-up of a hand holding a cell phone
The person-to-person payment tool can allow for easy transactions to friends, family and more.
person signing a check
Looking to save money when ordering checks? Consider getting them online instead. Here’s how.
Person looking on computer, with dog.
Here’s everything you need to know about the specialty consumer reporting agency.
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Here’s the difference between APY and interest rate.
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Monthly budgets are popular because many expenses, such as rent and bills, occur monthly.
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It’s important to find the right accounts for your emergency savings.
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An emergency fund is an essential part of a solid financial plan.
Mother and daughter shopping for vegetables
These simple moves can help you build a cash cushion.
Calendar of 2023
Use this challenge to stash more cash toward your savings goals.
illustration of money growing on trees
Here’s a helpful guide to how much you need in savings over the course of your life.
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Creating a timeline is a useful way to plan and meet all your financial goals.
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Rainy day and emergency funds differ but together provide a sound financial plan.
Financial manager meeting with couple in bank branch office
Get the latest rates on top-yielding money market accounts.
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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Verizon and Openbank announced a partnership on Tuesday that gives Verizon customers a way to save money on their bill if they have an Openbank High Yield Savings account. Verizon customers can save money [...]
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Emergency savings depleted? Here’s how to start replenishing it.
Woman sitting on her couch, looking at her laptop
There are a handful of numbers you should track for your financial health and well-being. A few you might already know about – your credit score and your net worth, for example. But you should also know [...]
Two happy people looking at sheets of paper
As the old saying goes: What goes up, must come down. But in the case of annual percentage yields (APYs), we might have a bit more air time. While APYs on deposit accounts may have come down from their [...]
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Here’s what you need to know about tapping into your emergency fund.
After facing a rent increase, I’m moving to Washington, D.C. to save $24,000 over two years.
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