Personal finance systems for spending, saving, debt, and investing.
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Budget Planner
Articles filed under Budget Planner.
11 Ways to Avoid Overspending on Food During Your Next Vacay
Keep control of your spending on vacation with these 11 easy tips on how to save money on food while traveling.
Apr 18, 2026
Should You Buy a Used Rental Car to Save Money?
New car prices have reached all-time highs. Even used cars are becoming more expensive — and they’re more likely to experience mechanical issues in the short term. How can you get a high-quality car on a budget? By buying a used rental car. Big-name rental companies like Hertz, Enterprise and Avis sell former fleet vehicles...
Apr 18, 2026
How to Save $1,000 in a Month: 6 Easy Steps to Reach Your Goal
Imagine what you could do if you saved $1,000 a month. You could build a solid emergency fund, pay down debt or stash some money away for that big purchase. We know it’s not as easy as it sounds, but it is an attainable goal. Tracking your spending, setting a budget, cutting unnecessary expenses and...
Apr 18, 2026
Christmas Tree 101: How to Get the Best Christmas Tree for Any Budget
Which is the smarter Penny Hoarder move: A real Christmas tree, or a fake one? As far as cash goes, the answer’s clear — but if you take all the factors into account, the answer might surprise you.
Apr 18, 2026
Sick of Spreadsheets? Here’s How to Budget Using a Calendar
A budget calendar helps you keep track of your expenses and spending throughout the month — no spreadsheets involved.
Apr 18, 2026
19 Money-Saving Home Maintenance Tasks When Your Budget Is Tight
Owning a home is much more than just making a mortgage payment. Just like you do for your car, you must maintain a home to keep things running smoothly. Some home maintenance tasks are easy to do on your own, but a few things require the expertise of a professional. That means you will need...
Apr 18, 2026
Is Money Heavy on Your Mind? Here’s How to Cope With Financial Stress
Are you struggling to cope with financial stress? Finances are a source of stress for many people, especially during times of crisis. The pandemic, a stock market crash, inflation and climbing interest rates have left many Americans with additional financial stress in 2023. If you have found yourself ruminating on your bills and lamenting the...
Apr 18, 2026
How Minority Homebuyers Can Find Grants and Zero-Down Mortgages
Bank of America recently announced a trial program that offers zero-down mortgages in minority communities in certain metro areas across the country. This initiative joins a growing number of programs from big banks that seek to narrow the widening gap between white and minority homeownership. U.S. homeownership rates soared during the pandemic, but most of...
Apr 4, 2026
Dealing With Credit Card Debt: How to Get Debt-Free
The average household has thousands of dollars in revolving balances. But that doesn't have to be permanent. Here's what you can do.
May 2, 2026
You’re Wasting Your Money on Cage-Free Eggs. Here’s What to Buy Instead
Overwhelmed by cage-free vs. free-range vs. pastured eggs? Don’t know which ones to buy? Here’s what the labels really mean — and which ones are best for your budget.
Apr 18, 2026
How to Hack the Cash Envelope System to Forgo Using Cash
The cash envelope system is a great way to keep yourself from going over budget. Your spending is restricted to the amount of money you fill in envelopes to represent different budget categories. The pandemic, however, has made it less convenient to stick to this budgeting method. Many of us are doing more shopping online,...
Apr 18, 2026
Love and Money: What Budgeting Looks Like at Every Relationship Stage
Nothing says romance like an intimate discussion about personal finance. Just kidding. It can be uncomfortable to confront the truth about your own spending habits, credit score and debt — let alone share that with your significant other. We get it. But if you’re in a serious relationship (or hoping things get to that level),...
Apr 18, 2026