Here’s a simple way to make a monthly budget and start saving money

Here’s a simple way to make a monthly budget and start saving money


Think of a budget as just another list.

It’s most efficient to build a budget on a spreadsheet somewhere — whether it’s Microsoft Excel or a Google doc. Add your income and then add new expenses as you spend.

And those new expenses will surely pop up. Try to do as much planning as you can for occasional costs, such as presents for the holidays, or that getaway you plan every year — or the unexpected doctor appointment.

The more you track your spending and keep an eye on it, the better you’ll get at understanding your expenses month to month.

Watch this video for a step-by-step guide to making a budget that will work for you.

More from Invest in You:
Retirement is expensive – here’s how much you really need to save for it
Here’s how to invest your money if you are saving for your next vacation
Here’s how you can save $500,000 for retirement on an annual salary of $35,000

SIGN UP: Money 101 is an 8-week learning course to financial freedom, delivered weekly to your inbox. For the Spanish version, Dinero 101, click here.

CHECK OUT: This teen got nearly 100 classmates to join an investing club and collected $120,000: Here are his top tips for getting started with Acorns+CNBC

Disclosure: NBCUniversal and Comcast Ventures are investors in Acorns.



Source

Gold prices keep rising, and jewelry companies are sounding the alarm
Business

Gold prices keep rising, and jewelry companies are sounding the alarm

Gold prices held steady on Thursday, hovering near the record high hit the day before, helped by expectations of further U.S. rate cuts and political uncertainty. David Gray | Afp | Getty Images Amid global economic turbulence, the prices of precious metals have been climbing higher and higher. The price of gold in particular has […]

Read More
Startups are staying private longer thanks to alternative capital
Business

Startups are staying private longer thanks to alternative capital

Klarna Group Plc signage during the company’s initial public offering (IPO) at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, US, on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images A version of this article appeared in CNBC’s Inside Alts newsletter, a guide to the fast-growing world of alternative investments, from […]

Read More
Investors are making up the highest share of homebuyers in 5 years
Business

Investors are making up the highest share of homebuyers in 5 years

A sold sign is posted in front of a home for sale on Aug. 27, 2025 in San Francisco, California. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images A version of this article first appeared in the CNBC Property Play newsletter with Diana Olick. Property Play covers new and evolving opportunities for the real estate investor, from individuals […]

Read More