Budgeting and Personal Finance

    If you want to get on a firm financial footing, you need to control your spending -- and that starts with establishing a budget. Learn the various methods for creating a budget, best practices for sticking to your budget, planning an emergency fund, and the latest budgeting software available to you.
    An MLM team pitches their company to a potential distributor.
    What Is MLM?
    A consumer looks at her bank account.
    What Is a Financial Institution?
    A young woman enjoys coffee with a friend.
    Financial Assistance Options for Those Living With Disabilities
    A man checks his utility bill.
    Where To Get Help Paying Your Utility Bills
    Work-from-hotel offers can turn a mundane Monday into a marvelous one.
    Work-From-Hotel: How To Score a Suite Deal With Points
    A man considers selling his phone.
    Phone Trade-In vs. Selling: Which One Pays Off?
    A consumer uses the BBB website to gauge a company's trustworthiness.
    What To Know About the Better Business Bureau and Financial Products
    A recently laid-off IT employee contemplates what to do with his unemployment benefits.
    The Smartest Way to Use Unemployment Benefits
    A consumer takes notes about J.D. Power insurance rankings.
    What Is J.D. Power?
    Portrait of confident businesswoman and man in office
    Who Needs a Prenup?
    volunteer bringing deliveries
    4+ Reasons to Make Year-End Donations
    Picture of Requirements to Receive Section 8
    How to Qualify for a Section 8 Voucher
    Preteen boy takes selfie with older man on park bench.
    Can You Give Directly to an Unrelated Child's 529 Plan?
    How to Master Ibotta and Earn Cash While You Grocery Shop
    Image shows 12 wallets of various shapes, sizes, colors, and materials. Text reads: "Bi-fold? $? Style? Genuine leather? Smartphone-compatible?"
    The 9 Best Men’s Wallets of 2021
    What's My Net Worth? Net Worth = Grand Total of Assets - Liabilities
    What Is Net Worth?
    graphic showing two people on top of stack of books with a ruler and pencil.
    What Is the Rule of 72?
    Illustration of the advantages and disadvantages of online shopping, as explained in article.
    The Pros and Cons of Online Shopping
    Chairs and an altar rest on a tropical beach under an illustrated overlay that reads “Our Money’s on Travel.”
    How To Plan Wedding Travel After the Pandemic
    Close up of a corner of a calculator on a green background
    Budgeting Calculator
    Man and woman holding hands and looking concerned in an office
    What Is a Bankruptcy Certificate?
    Cheap and fun alternatives to watching TV
    13 Hobbies That Are Both Cheap and Fun
    A worried man holds his head in his hand while staring at a laptop and a pile of bills, deciding whether to file a CFPB complaint
    How To File a Complaint With the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
    Black Friday 50% off everything sign
    Get the Best Black Friday Deals With These 10 Tips
    Klarna Review
    Klarna Review 2021
    Budgeting, calculating monthly bills
    Helpful Tips to Budget Your Finances
    Woman working on personal budget at a laptop.
    What Is Net Income?
    A couple reviews their credit card debt as they embark on a debt reduction plan.
    The Balance Money Kit: Eliminating Credit Card Debt
    money clip wallet
    The 9 Best Money Clip Wallets of 2021
    Close-up of female hand open a car door
    Best Car Rental Companies of 2021
    Image shows a man sitting at a desk drinking a cup of coffee with a stack of books next to him. The books are called "personal finances and you", "manager your money", and "how to win the personal finance game"
    The 10 Best Personal Finance Books of 2021
    Table summarizing the differences between disposable income and discretionary income
    What Is Disposable Income?
    Image shows a calendar depicting all twelve months in 2019, 2020, and 2021. In the 2019 calendar, march, may, august, and november are circled. In 2020, january, may, july, and october are circled. In 2021, january, april, july, october, and december are circled. Title reads: "Five-paycheck months"
    Which Months Between 2021 and 2029 Have Extra Pay Periods?
    A delivery man hands a box of merchandise to a woman at her front door
    What Is ShopRunner?
    Affirm logo
    Affirm Review 2021
    Afterpay Review
    Afterpay Review 2021
    All About Car Alignments. Signs you need an alignment are you have issues steering your car, you notice an unusual amount of road noise, and you see uneven wear on your tires. Key details to know include before getting an alignment, ensure your mechanic is ASE certified and certified repair shops recommend you get an alignment every 6,000 miles (or every other oil change)
    How Much Is That Car Alignment Going to Cost You?
    An illustration showing different folks taking action to improve their finances.
    Launching Your Credit Card Debt Payoff Plan
    An illustration showing different folks taking action to improve their finances.
    Choose the Debt Payoff Strategy That’s Right for You
    Family has breakfast together
    What Is Immediate Family?
    A couple looking happy after winning a lottery
    What Are Your Odds for Winning the Lottery?
    Best Minimalist Wallets of 2020
    The 9 Best Minimalist Wallets of 2021
    financial planning
    Financial Planning Basics - Personal Finance 101
    An illustration showing different folks taking action to improve their finances.
    Deal With Your Old 401(k)s and IRAs
    An illustration showing different folks taking action to improve their finances.
    Evaluate Retirement Accounts To Make Sure You’re on Track
    An illustration showing different folks taking action to improve their finances.
    Start a CD Ladder for Longer-Term Savings
    Fixed expenses vs variable expenses and how to save on each
    Understanding the Difference Between Fixed and Variable Expenses
    An illustration showing different folks taking action to improve their finances.
    How To Set Savings and Financial Goals
    An illustration showing different folks taking action to improve their finances.
    Gamify Your Budget to Reach Your Goals
    Young woman saving money in a jar
    A Complete Beginner's Guide to Saving Money
    A group of people gather at their communal living area's dining table to share a meal
    How Much Does It Cost to Live in an Intentional Community?
    Man listening to a podcast
    Best Finance Podcasts of 2021
    This illustration shows a woman scheduling a pickup at a department store after putting an item on layaway.
    Which of Your Favorite Stores Offer Layaway?
    Woman picking up rental car
    How Much Is a Rental Car Going to Cost You?
    One hundred dollar bills in clip
    The 7 Best Money Clips of 2021
    List of expenses with calculator
    6-Step Guide to Creating a Monthly Household Budget
    Online shopping makes life easier - unboxing online purchase
    Klarna vs. Afterpay: Which Should You Choose?
    graphic showing two people on top of stack of books with a ruler and pencil.
    How Big Should Your Emergency Fund Be?
    Image shows a circular graph broken down by budgeting percentages. Text reads: "Basic budget percentages: Transportation: 10-15%; savings: 10-15%; food: 10-15%; insurance: 10-20%; housing: 25-35%; clothing: 5%; personal: 5-10%; entertainment: 5-10%; utilities: 5-10%; transportation: 10-15%"
    The Simple Way To Calculate Budget Percentages for Your Money Goals
    Woman in blazer and glasses filling out paperwork on clipboard in office
    How Much Does a Legal Name Change Cost?