Skip to Main Content

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

A young man uses an ATM.
Over time, ATM fees have climbed. Here’s what you need to know.
A little girl gets a vaccination.
Setting aside pretax dollars in an HSA can help you defray future medical costs.
Young Woman Checking Her Finances At Home
Finding the account number on a check is easy — if you know where to look.
close up of hands signing a check
Checks aren’t as ubiquitous as they once were, but you may still have to write one.
Woman online banking with a tablet
How Reg. D impacts your savings account and why it pays to check with your bank.
woman holding a child and working online at home
Being able to open a checking and savings account can help build financial security.
man using an atm
ATMs are useful for depositing money, checking your balance, and more, but be aware of possible issues that may arise.
Illustration of cash under a beach umbrella
Here’s how much $10,000 in a high-yield savings account can earn you.
Person shopping at grocery store choosing oranges in the supermarket
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.
Man using cell phone in living room
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.
illustration of money growing on trees
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.
young woman smiling on city sidewalk
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.
Woman sitting in a chair with her laptop open on her lap. She is holding a mug in her right hand.
Most savers aren’t moving money despite 4 percent rates being available. This inertia could cost thousands in lost interest income.
Mature woman helps her daughter study for exam
Fed officials indicate that interest rates will remain steady at its next meeting.
Image of a person's hands holding an open walled and pulling money from it.
Bank consolidation often leads to lower deposit rates. Here’s what the current merger boom means for your savings and how to respond.
family on vacation in south carolina
The right savings strategy could put that family vacation within reach.
A woman does her budgeting.
The amount of money you should save each month will vary based on your goals. Here’s what to know.
Illustrated by Bankrate
Paying medical expenses with pre-tax dollars is smart, but budgeting is key.
Man at coffee shop
Top APYs on high-yield savings are above 4%, despite a recent U.S. credit downgrade.
woman, using laptop while working from home
Top high-yielding savings accounts continue to handily outpace inflation.
The trusted provider of accurate rates and financial information
Wall Street Journal
Usa Today
New York Times
Cnn
Bloomberg
Abc