A solid budget is integral to so much that’s important in life: your credit score, retirement security and settling down in a home of your own. Luckily, creating a budget is simple and easy if you have the right tools. Grab your tablet, laptop or smartphone and let an online budget planner help you. Here’s what to look for in the best budgeting software.

A monthly budget is a fundamental tool for understanding your household finances. By knowing exactly how much cash you have coming in, you can take control of your money and direct it to where you most need it. The budget tools in Quicken Starter Edition make creating…

When managing money went from using pen and paper to digital, keeping track of your finances became almost as simple as booting up your computer. Now, with the move to mobile, it’s even easier to manage your financial life. No matter what you’re focused on financially — from saving for college to saving for retirement — mobile apps make it more convenient to manage, send and receive money. Try one of these apps to help keep your dollars in line.   

Forbes magazine made a splash in 2016 when it reported that 63 percent of Americans have less than $500 in savings. If you find you’re living paycheck-to-paycheck, you’re clearly not the only one. These statistics might reflect a shortage of earnings to some extent, but they also may indicate that we’re just not tracking where our money goes. Good news is, finding out doesn’t have to be difficult. A few tips and simple practices can help you keep track of your money and tidy up your finances.

Between income and expenses, there’s constantly money moving in and out of your accounts — but if you’re not following a budget, you might be surprised to learn where that money actually goes. “Budgeting is important for making sure your spending aligns with your values,” says Amber Berry, a Sacramento-based Certified Financial Education Instructor. But what are the components that make up the average budget?

When it comes to finances, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment. You like your job and you’re being paid well enough that you don’t dread those first-of-the-month bills.