Core Insights - Retailers are extending Black Friday into a season of shopping, with Americans planning to spend nearly $900 each on holiday-related expenses according to a National Retail Federation survey [1] Budgeting and Planning - Establishing a budget is crucial for holiday shopping, with suggestions to allocate specific amounts for gifts and personal purchases [4][5] - Reviewing past spending can help consumers set a more effective budget for the current year [6] Shopping Strategies - Creating a shopping plan can mitigate impulsive buying driven by limited-time offers [6][7] - Utilizing credit cards with 0% APR introductory offers can provide a financial cushion, allowing consumers to pay off balances without accruing interest for a set period [8][9][17] Debt Management - For those with existing credit card debt, it may be wise to limit holiday spending and focus on debt repayment instead [18][19] Credit Card Rewards - Credit card rewards can enhance savings during the holiday season, with various cards offering significant bonuses for new sign-ups [20][22][31] Additional Savings Opportunities - Consumers are encouraged to seek out extra deals and discounts, including using browser extensions for online shopping and price matching in stores [26][27] - Credit card protections can safeguard purchases, providing benefits such as purchase protection and extended warranties [28][32] Targeted Offers - Credit card issuers often provide targeted shopping offers that can yield additional savings on eligible purchases [38][39]

No matter how much income you earn, it’s essential to have a plan for your money. Otherwise, there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself overspending, struggling with debt, or failing to reach important financial goals in your life. Keep in mind that budgets aren’t about restrictions or forcing yourself to do without. Instead, a budget helps you organize your finances so you can accomplish the objectives that matter most to you. Yet even though budgets are important, creating one can sometimes feel inti ...

Saving money takes time and discipline — and it can be a challenge if you face competing financial obligations or unexpected costs. Your ability to save can also be impacted by external factors, including the rising cost of living and high interest rates on debt. The personal saving rate was 4.8% as of the third quarter of 2025. And with many Americans continuing to bear the brunt of inflation and higher costs, saving money could prove to be more challenging than it was just a few years ago. The good new ...

If you have a complicated relationship with budgeting, the 50/30/20 rule could help. Rather than breaking down your monthly spending into dozens of tedious categories, this budgeting strategy takes a simpler approach. The rule says you should spend about 50% of your after-tax income on needs, 30% on wants, and 20% on savings and debt repayment. But within those categories and budgetary constraints, you have total freedom. Learn more about how the 50/30/20 budget works, and whether it's right for you. ...

Overwhelmed at the thought of creating a budget from scratch? Using a budgeting tool can take the pain out of tracking expenses. Whether you’re trying to rein in spending, save more consistently, or simply understand where your money goes each month, the right budgeting tool can make managing your finances easier. That's why we’ve rounded up the best budgeting tools — from free options to paid plans — that work for a wide variety of budgeters, whether you’re just getting started or looking to fine-tune y ...