Money Basics Editorial Team
Articles by Money Basics Editorial Team
Budget Categories: A Reference Guide to Organizing Your Spending
6 min · Apr 11, 2023
Budgeting Myths That Keep People From Starting
6 min · Nov 23, 2024
Budgeting as a Household: Aligning on Money When Two People Spend Differently
6 min · Jun 3, 2026
Budgeting on an Irregular Income
6 min · Nov 10, 2025
Envelope Budgeting in a Cashless World
6 min · Aug 18, 2024
Fixed vs. Variable Expenses: Knowing the Difference Changes Everything
6 min · May 17, 2023
Monthly Budget Reset Checklist
5 min · Dec 28, 2025
Needs, Wants, and the Gray Area Between Them
8 min · May 28, 2025
Spending Habits That Quietly Wreck an Otherwise Solid Budget
6 min · Oct 15, 2025
The 50/30/20 Rule: How It Works and When It Makes Sense
8 min · May 31, 2024
The Real Difference Between a Budget and a Spending Plan
5 min · Apr 20, 2024
Tracking Spending Without Obsessing Over Every Dollar
6 min · Jan 2, 2026
What a Monthly Budget Actually Is (and What It Isn't)
7 min · Apr 2, 2024
Why Budgets Fall Apart in Month Two
5 min · Sep 8, 2023
Your First Month on a Budget: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough
8 min · Apr 6, 2024
Zero-Based Budgeting vs. the Percentage Method: Which Fits Your Life?
6 min · Feb 16, 2024
A First Look at Managing Debt: Concepts Every Borrower Should Know
8 min · Dec 5, 2025
Before You Dip Into Savings to Pay Off Debt, Consider These Things
7 min · May 4, 2026
Building a Savings Habit When Your Budget Feels Too Tight
6 min · May 1, 2025
Debt Consolidation: What It Actually Does to Your Finances
6 min · Mar 7, 2025
Debt-to-Income Ratio: What It Is and Why Lenders Look at It
7 min · Dec 4, 2025
Emergency Fund Basics: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How Much to Keep
8 min · Aug 26, 2025
Good Debt, Bad Debt — and Why the Line Between Them Isn't Always Clear
8 min · Apr 29, 2025
How Interest Rates Shape Your Debt Payoff Timeline
7 min · Nov 7, 2025
Paying Off Debt While Saving at the Same Time
7 min · Apr 21, 2025
Proven Principles for Balancing Debt Payoff and Long-Term Savings Goals
7 min · Feb 3, 2026
Savings Account Types Explained: From Basic Accounts to High-Yield Options
6 min · Aug 25, 2025
Savings Myths That Keep Americans From Getting Started
6 min · Feb 22, 2023
Savings Rate: What It Means and Why Personal Finance Educators Track It
4 min · Feb 1, 2024
Sinking Funds vs. Emergency Funds: Two Savings Tools With Very Different Jobs
5 min · Mar 14, 2025
The Debt Avalanche vs. Debt Snowball: Which Payoff Strategy Fits Your Life?
5 min · Sep 7, 2024
The Hidden Costs That Make Credit Card Debt So Difficult to Escape
5 min · Jun 17, 2023
Before You Apply for a Loan: A Credit Readiness Checklist
5 min · Oct 1, 2025
Building Credit When You're Starting From Zero
6 min · Oct 3, 2025
Credit Score Myths That Keep People From Building Good Credit
6 min · Aug 18, 2023
Credit Scores Explained: What the Number Actually Measures
8 min · Oct 5, 2023
Credit Terms Every Consumer Should Know
5 min · Jun 19, 2023
Credit Utilization: The Ratio That Matters More Than Most People Realize
7 min · Oct 29, 2024
Disputing an Error on Your Credit Report
6 min · May 28, 2023
FICO Score vs. VantageScore: What Sets Them Apart
5 min · Mar 20, 2025
Habits That Quietly Damage Your Credit Over Time
6 min · Nov 14, 2024
Hard Inquiries vs. Soft Inquiries on Your Credit Report
5 min · Jun 26, 2024
Responsible Credit Use: Practices That Strengthen Your Financial Profile
6 min · Mar 26, 2023
Secured Credit Cards vs. Credit-Builder Loans for Establishing Credit
6 min · Mar 12, 2025
The Five Factors Behind Your Credit Score
5 min · Jan 8, 2023
The Pros and Cons of Closing an Old Credit Account
5 min · May 7, 2026
What a Credit Freeze Actually Does — and When to Use One
8 min · May 24, 2024
Your Credit Report From Top to Bottom
8 min · Oct 31, 2024