Budgeting

Everyone knows you need to save. Settling on an appropriate amount to save, where to put the cash and how to get there in the first place are harder nuts to crack. One option is to consult old saws, such as putting away three-to-six months’ worth of essential expenses in a high-yield savings acc

U.S. household savings rose and fell at unprecedented rates since the onset of the pandemic recession. Updated estimates suggest that only a small fraction of accumulated excess savings remains in the aggregate economy and that those funds are likely to be depleted during the third quarter of 2023.

Millennials adopt the idea of “tangjin-jaem”—little purchases that are tiny battles for joy.

Plus a charted review of the macro crosscurrents 🔀

Drawing on a decade of data, our most comprehensive report yet, uncovering child care cost trends and cost-saving strategies for your child care needs.

The majority of Americans say they're uncomfortable with their amount in savings — nearly 3 in 5 don’t have three months of expenses saved.

Families spend less on food today than any point in the past https://t.co/Nk9Vw6Jmmf pic.twitter.com/tFHVUTg3oU— Jeremy Horpedahl 🤷‍♂️ (@jmhorp) June 28, 2023

From major cities to rural areas, what is considered middle class income can vary greatly. Use your income and zip code to see where you fit in the middle class.

This calculator uses the 50/30/20 budget to suggest how much of your monthly income to allocate to needs, wants and savings.

Americans began the new year with a spending spree, but businesses are not sure how long it can last. There's a lot riding on the answer, since consumer spending is the backbone of the U.S. economy.

The Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington DC.

We asked young New Yorkers about their dream futures. Then we calculated exactly how much each would cost.

Deloitte just released new research that found the urge to splurge is universal, cutting across income, age and gender. This is the very definition of retail therapy, making purchases to boost one's mood.

"So then the question is, How much time am I willing to give up to save $2?"

For a thrifty shopper, a “Buy one, get one” (BOGO) deal can sound like the best way to get more bang for their buck. But the appeal of BOGO is why it’s hard ...

Nearly 60% of all online retail purchases in the U.S. were done on Amazon last year, reflecting the company’s tightening grip on eCommerce sales.

U.S. consumer spending fell for a second straight month in December, putting the economy on a lower growth path heading into 2023, while inflation continued to subside, which could give the Federal Reserve room to further slow the pace of its interest rate hikes next week.

The Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington DC.

The BLS Data Finder allows for search across all BLS time series databases.

Budget Like a Millionaire is a 4 part on-demand budgeting masterclass that teaches you how to create an intentional spending plan that actually works.

How to actually enjoy your purchases instead of feeling bad about them.

This interactive graphic shows a breakdown of how average Americans spend their money, and how expenses vary across generations.

The Bean Game for Budgeting is a teacher and student favorite! Apply core principles. Adjust for financial hardships. Win!

EPI’s Family Budget Calculator measures the income a family needs in order to attain a modest yet adequate standard of living. Compared with the federal poverty line and the Supplemental Poverty Measure, EPI’s family budgets provide a more accurate and complete measure of economic security in America. The Family Budget Map offers a view of cost of living for a two-parent, two-child family across the United States at the county level.

EPI’s Family Budget Calculator measures the income a family needs in order to attain a modest yet adequate standard of living. The budgets estimate community-specific costs for 10 family types (one or two adults with zero to four children) in all counties and metro areas in the United States. Compared with the federal poverty line…

Did you know Google docs has budget templates available online, for free? If you enjoy using spreadsheets to manage your finances, see our list of favorites.