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Better Finances for a Better You

Section: Budgeting

← Curating the web to find the most interesting and helpful information about your money.

Fall Budgeting If summer is a season of spontaneity and indulgence, then fall offers a counterpoint: It's a chance to get back on schedule, and back on budget.

Fall "money cleanse" could help you get your finances in shape by Kimberly Palmer →

With higher housing, transportation costs and food prices, many Canadians feel the effects of inflation each time they open their wallets.

Budget Busters — The Impact of Inflation on Everyday Life By Amanda Reaume →

5 common credit mistakes you should avoid in your 20s by Megan DeMatteo 1) Spending without a plan 2) Using debit over credit 3) Waiting to establish credit 4) Not understanding key terms 5) Getting store cards on a whim

It can be hard to get your finances together in your 20s, learn how avoid common credit mistakes →

Recent studies are showing us that back-to-school shopping is more expensive than ever, and that parents are prepared to go without certain necessities and take on debt to get their children back-to-school ready. Parents are spending on things like electronics, clothing, shoes, school supplies etc.

Back-to-School Budgeting by Jasmin Brow →

Summer is expensive for families. With the kids home from school, your grocery bills will undoubtedly go up. If you pay for daycare or summer camp, that can also eat a big chunk out of your household budget.

50 Best Summer Budgeting Tips for Families By Dawn Allcot →

Turn up the volume on your budgeting game. Discover savvy tips and tricks to make your money resonate louder than ever.

Loud budgeting for young Canadians →

Emergency Budgeting Tips for Canadians – Stretching Your Dollar in Tough Times By Diane Amato

Emergency Budgeting Tips for Canadians →

Tips to categorize your expenses, tailor a financial plan for your life stage and stay healthy in these trying times.

How to Budget in Canada Amid Economic Uncertainty by Ashley Redmond →

Budgeting with gift cards or prepaid cards can help you avoid accidental overspending, prepay for expenses and take advantage of store-specific perks, such as discounts and points.

How to Budget Using Gift Cards and Prepaid Cards By Emily Starbuck Gerson →

Try building better money habits with these five conversation starters

5 conversation starters to build better money habits →

27 Ways to Save Money When You Have a Baby By Deborah Skolnik

Your little bundle can cost you big. Here's how to avoid blowing your budget →

Tips to pay off your credit card debt faster from Liz Frazier

Liz was an Investopedia top 100 financial advisor in 2023 →

The “budget” has been known to make people cringe, cry, and bury their heads in the sand, but budgeting challenges don’t have to keep you from getting the job done. Budgets are just a set of guidelines to help you manage your money.

3 Common Budgeting Challenges to Overcome →

These 3 Drawbacks of 'Loud Budgeting' Might Hold You Back From Saving Money by Ben Gran

The downsides of loud budgeting, according to Clarify Capital's survey of Gen Z →

The average vacation for one person in the U.S. costs about $1,919 per week. A vacation for two people will typically cost around $3,838 per week.

Use our free vacation goal calculator to start planning for your next holiday →

Whether you're a first-year student finding your independence or a senior preparing for the next chapter of your life, budgeting is vital to financial success.

Budgeting Tips for College Students: A Step-by-Step Guide →

The closure of Mint means a lot of people are exploring other personal finance management apps or PFMs. Neontra is a next-generation PFM combining all the tools of a traditional PFM with new cutting-edge financial planning tools.

What Makes Neontra One of the Best Alternatives for Mint Users Looking For a New Home →

What makes Neontra one of the best alternatives for Mint users looking for a new home.

In this post, we compare one of the most popular budgeting apps Mint to Neontra →

College students can earn a $100 bonus and avoid monthly fees with the Chase College Checking Account

Here’s what you need to know →

TikTokers are trying to save more money in 2024 with the help of the new “loud budgeting” trend

Find out if this trend can help you reach your financial goals from Jasmin Suknanan →

The word "budget" means different things to different people. You might think of budgeting (or "living on a budget") as living below a certain standard or not being able to afford the things you want. On the other hand, you might think of budgeting as a tool to prioritize your spending, and to help determine and reach your financial goals.

Northwestern University on Financial Wellness and Money 101 →

Finding the balance between your needs, wants and savings can be difficult. Forbes highlights seven simple steps for creating and managing a successful monthly budget.

How To Budget In 7 Simple Steps →

Budgeting with gift cards or prepaid cards can help you avoid accidental overspending, prepay for expenses and take advantage of store-specific perks, such as discounts and points.

How to Budget Using Gift Cards and Prepaid Cards →

Trying to get your spending under control? Just like with dieting, it can help to add some structure by following a plan. There are just about as many approaches to handling your daily finances as there are to counting calories.

The WSJ Tested 5 of the Best Budgeting Methods. Here’s what they found →

The zero-based budget Sometimes called a zero-sum budget, is when your total income, minus your expenses, equals zero.

Zero-based budgeting: What it is and how it can help you hit your money goals →

It's important to write down your financial goals. The act of noting goals helps put them in perspective. Think about dates to reach your goals in terms of three buckets: - Short-term (2 years or less) - Medium-term (3 to 5 years) - Long-term (6 years or more)

Set goals and track your progress over time →

6 money moves to make in your 20s from CNBC: 1) Create a budget and stick to it 2) Build a good credit score 3) Set up an emergency fund 4) Start saving for retirement 5) Pay off debt 6) Develop good money habits

Making smart money decisions in your 20s has long-term benefits →

Budgeting Tips - Incorporate only attainable income - Be reasonable with your spending - Keep an eye on your purchasing patterns - Regularly review your budget - Avoid using credit cards - Stay positive

Start building a better future with a budget today →

New York Times Quiz The newspaper wants to help young people get a better handle on their money. To begin, we want to hear from you.

Complete their short quiz, to let them know what your biggest questions are when it comes to personal finance →

Diving into the world of money management might feel a bit like riding down a river that’s full of twists and surprises. No need to worry - having a good plan can make this entire experience much easier.

Budgeting Tips: 5 Successful Ways to Boost Your Money →

Building a budget helps you manage how you spend your money. When you control your spending, it’s much easier to achieve your financial goals, whether that is to save, pay off debts or simply live within your means.

Building a Budget: Helpful Tips for Students →

Creating a budget in college can help you understand where your money goes each month, which is a good first step to take when you’re learning to manage your finances.

5 Tips for Saving Money and Budgeting in College →

What Is Kakeibo? Kakeibo, pronounced “kah-keh-boh,” translates as “household financial ledger.” Invented in 1904 by a woman named Hani Motoko (notable for being Japan’s first female journalist), kakeibo is a simple, no-frills approach to managing your finances.

‘Kakeibo’: The Japanese method of saving money →

Non-essential costs are probably getting in the way of your financial goals. - Take-out food - Restaurants - Alcohol - Uber/Lyft instead of public transportation - Subscriptions Do you know how much you spent in the last three months?

Neontra auto-categorizes your expenses so you can quickly see where your money is going →

You made it to university and you get to decide which courses to take, which clubs to join and what to eat for dinner. Also: how much money to spend

9 budgeting tips for university students →

Why create a budget? - To accomplish a financial goal - To save money - To reduce expenses - To understand your true relationship with money better Invest the time in yourself and create sound financial practices that can last you a lifetime.

Budgeting is the first step towards financial wellness →

In a 50/30/20 budget you should aim to spend your net income in this way: - 50% on your essential needs - 30% on your non-essential expenses - 20% on savings contributions/debt repayments

Neontra auto-categorizes your expenses so you can quickly see how your 50/30/20 budget is tracking →

Making a budget can help you: - set spending limits - find ways to pay down your debts - reduce costs and save more - live within your means - reduce stress - have more money for things that are important to you - feel in control of your money

Start building a better future with a budget today →

What to consider before you start a budget: - Think about your financial goals - Identify your short-term and long-term goals - Make saving for those goals part of your budget

Take these simple steps before you make your budget →

You know a lot more about budgeting than you probably think. Even if you’ve never done any kind of household budgeting at all, you almost certainly already have had significant experience with it.

How To Make A Budget: 5 Time-Tested Approaches →

While you would be forgiven for being nose-deep in your books, it’s time to take a minute to reflect on how you’re managing your money. Do you have a budget? Or are you spending on the go?

21 money-saving tips and tricks for students →

You know a lot more about budgeting than you probably think. Even if you’ve never done any kind of household budgeting at all, you almost certainly already have had significant experience with it.

How To Make A Budget: 5 Time-Tested Approaches →

Making a budget can help you balance your income with your savings and expenses. It guides your spending to help you reach your financial goals.

Why make a budget →