Erin Gobler

If you've ever tried to get your finances under control, then you've almost certainly tried to make a budget. And while we all know that budgeting is a great way to control your spending, it's often easier said than done. See: How To Build Your Savings From Scratch One of the most challenging parts of budgeting -- aside from actually sticking to your budget -- is creating one in the first place. A big part of it comes down to including the correct categories. What Are 10 Categories in a Typical Budget? While there's some discretion and creativity that can go into choosing your budget categories, there are also some essentials that you'll find in many budgets. These ten are a good place to start. 1. Housing Housing is one of the most important line items in anyone's budget. Not only does it appear in nearly every budget, but it's also often the most expensive budget category. What your housing budget will include depends on your living situation. If you currently rent a house or...

You generally must be at least 59½ to withdraw 401(k) funds. Start before that, and you could be on the hook for taxes and early withdrawal penalties.

Have you ever spent more than you planned to and then felt guilty about it later? It's easy to beat yourself up for overspending and assume that you're the problem. But the truth is, the problem of overspending is a lot bigger than you. See: How To Build Your Savings From Scratch According to a 2022 study from Slickdeals, impulse spending increased by about 14% from 2021 to 2022, and the average consumer spends about $314 per month on impulse purchases. And even more drastic, a 2022 report from Pymnts and LendingClub found that about 13% of households spent more than they earned over the previous six months. There are plenty of different reasons for this overspending, from lifestyle creep to fear of missing out to poor planning. And it's hard not to blame the high inflation we've had over the past several years, which has made just about everything more expensive. The good news is that regardless of why you're overspending, there are steps you can take to fix it. These five solutions...

Running your AC means increased energy usage. Here's how to keep your bills lower as it heats up.

Not all brokerage accounts are created equal. They vary on everything from investment offerings to fees to value-added services.

While there isn't necessarily a specific age at which you can access your 401(k) funds, when you choose to do so may impact how much it costs you.

If you are looking to keep your lights on during an outage, here's what you need to consider when comparing home generators.

You’re probably well aware of the negative consequences of not paying your credit card on time—especially if you’ve ever missed a payment and have experienced the havoc it can wreak on your credit score. But you’ve probably never given much thought to what happens if you pay too much on your cred

If your tax situation has gotten more complex or you think you’re paying too much in taxes, it may be time to enlist the help of a tax consultant.

A cash management account is a type of deposit account that combines the features of several other types of accounts -- checking accounts, savings accounts and investment accounts. Rather than being offered by traditional banks, cash management accounts are usually offered by brokerage or investment firms. A cash management account seeks to simplify your banking by combining your checking and savings features and connecting to your brokerage account. Some people might find they can fully replace their other accounts with a cash management account, while others may prefer it simply as a complement to their existing accounts. Either way, cash management accounts have some key benefits. While the features of a cash management account vary depending on the financial institution, they often include interest on your balance, a debit card or ATM access, online payment services and more. How Does a Cash Management Account Work? Cash management accounts are generally offered by non-bank...