budget

Don't toss that final suitcase in the SUV and start the drive to college just yet. Here are a dozen tips to help you manage your money so the last two months of the semester aren't spent munching stale potato chips in the dorm room or scanning the sidewalks for dropped change. 1. Track it. Track your spending for two to four weeks to find out where your money is going. Are four trips to Read more...

After Bankrate.com ran a story on the seven-day money challenge, readers flooded us with e-mails describing their own savings success stories. They also had lots of advice and tips for others who need help sticking to a budget. The money challenge is simple. Figure out how much cash you need to cover a week's worth of expenses such as groceries, gas, food out and entertainment. Then, get that Read more...

Having a budget that details all your income and expenditures will help you to maintain control of your finances. It will also help to illustrate the problems you may be having with creditors. Keep a record of everything you spend money on to complete an accurate picture of your monthly expenditures. You will also need to work out expenses that do not necessarily occur every month, Read more...

Lynn Tostado is almost embarrassed about her hobby: "Saving money is, well, a passion of mine," she says. "I've always kept my eyes out for creative ways to stretch a dollar." The Dover, N.H., accounting manager had a compelling reason to practice thrift. She spent a decade at home raising her four kids. Then she and her husband put three of them through college Read more...

A new year gives you the chance to start fresh with goals and plans for the coming 12 months. It's a time to take stock of the past year. This is my eighth year writing a column that suggests steps readers can take to improve their finances in the coming year. Here's hoping you have a safe and prosperous 2008. 1. Define or refine your life goals. What do you want out of life? How are you Read more...