Why ‘Intuitive Budgeting’ Might Be Your New Favorite Budgeting Tool
Following your intuition may be more sustainable than a regimented budgeting approach. Intuitive budgeting involves approximating your expenses instead of counting every penny. For some people, this kind of relaxed approach is more appealing than traditional...
The Do’s and Don’ts of Using AI to Manage Your Finances
The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. Juggling budgeting, debt management and investing for retirement can be overwhelming, but artificial intelligence may be able to help with the balancing act. There are many AI-driven...
Use These 7 Credit Card Tips to Stretch Your Budget
Product changes, retention bonuses and card-linked offers can work in your favor when times are tight. No sugar-coating it: Prices on goods and services remain high. The U.S. inflation rate was 2.8% for the 12-month period ending in February 2025, according to the...
How to Create a Spending Plan
The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. We hear a lot about the importance of saving money, but what if learning how to spend is just as important? Michael Hunsberger, a certified financial planner and owner of Next Mission...
Homebuying Tips This Season for Markets Hot and Cold
Want to be a successful home buyer this spring and summer? Act decisively and swiftly, whether your market is hot or cool. That’s the advice from real estate agents in Boston (a hot, fast-selling market where buyers tussle over scarce houses) and in Dallas (a cooler,...
4 Factors That Could Affect Your Debt — and What You Can Do
Reducing debt is Americans’ top financial priority for 2025. That’s according to the CFP Board of Standard’s Debt and New Year’s Resolutions Report. It’s an understandable goal: Household debt is at an all-time high, delinquencies are rising and policy changes under a...
Are you on track for retirement? Here’s how to check
The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments. Whether...
Buy, Build or Fix: Basics for Home Buyers
Hoping to buy a home in 2025? You’re not alone: According to a survey commissioned by NerdWallet and conducted online by The Harris Poll in November 2024, 15% of Americans plan to buy a home in the next 12 months. That is the highest share since we first asked that...
When to Splurge and When to Save
Splurging can be a smart move, but it often requires proactive planning. Sometimes, even budgeting experts say it’s OK to splurge. For Jen Smith, co-host of the “Frugal Friends Podcast” and co-author of “Buy What You Love Without Going Broke,” responsible splurging...
Should You Use Your Tax Refund to Pay Off Debt?
Here are some things to consider before using your tax refund to make a dent in your debt. Households are carrying record levels of debt. Balances climbed to $18.04 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Center for...