Personal Finance

Get expert personal finance advice about budgeting, saving, making money, checking your credit score, paying off debt, lowering your bills and more.

This month in personal finance

Should You Shop Incognito to Get Better Deals? Plus, More September Money Questions

by Kimberly Palmer

The Nerds explore how to save money when online shopping, when to use AI for financial planning and the logistics of lending money to a friend.

What to Buy (and Skip) in October 2026

by Tommy Tindall

October comes in kinda hot for a cool month. Look for major fall sales events and markdowns on summer inventory.

Mobile Sports Betting Is Booming — So Is the Debt That Comes With It

by Tommy Tindall

Gambling apps make wagering a regular — and a highly accessible — part of pro football and other televised sports. This kind of betting could also send you into serious debt.

Personal finance tools, guides and calculators

BUDGETING/SAVING

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CREDIT SCORE

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MAKING MONEY

Start earning more money

CALCULATORS

Understand your debt load

NEWS

Read the latest financial news

FINANCIAL HEALTH

Check your financial health

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Trim your bills

This Phone Script Could Help You Lower Your Monthly Utility Bills

Calling your utility provider may help you find rebates, discounts and other ways to save. Here's what to say when you're on the call.

by Laura McMullen, AI-Assisted NerdWallet

Cut Your Cable and Internet Bills with This Script

by Laura McMullen, AI-Assisted NerdWallet

Slash Your Bills With a Phone Call: 7 Pro Negotiating Tips

by Lauren Schwahn

Use This Script to Cut Your Cell Phone Bill

by Laura McMullen, AI-Assisted NerdWallet

Personal finance FAQs

How do I get started with credit?

If you don’t have a credit history, it’s hard to get a loan, a credit card or even an apartment. But several tools can help you start building your score.

What factors affect my credit score?

Payment history and how much of your credit limits that you actually use make up more than half of your score. Focus on those two while keeping an eye on other factors.

Should I save or pay off debt?

You should do some saving while you’re paying down debt. Even a small cushion of emergency savings can keep you from going deeper into debt when an unexpected expense pops up.

Manage your money

How to Set Financial Goals: A Step-By-Step Guide

Think about what you want and why. Then, assess where you are right now to determine what you need to do to get there.

by Lauren Schwahn

How to Make a Budget in 5 Steps

by Amanda Barroso, Lauren Schwahn

Asked on Reddit: Should I Save for My Retirement or My Child’s Education?

by Kimberly Palmer

28 Proven Ways to Save Money

by Amanda Barroso, Tommy Tindall

NerdWallet’s Smart Money Podcast - Your money questions, answered

In each episode, NerdWallet experts answer real-world financial questions, so you can work toward your goals faster and manage your money smarter.

See the latest episode

Credit score basics

How to Build Your Credit Score Fast: 9 Strategies That Work

You could elevate your credit score with tips such as making on-time payments, paying credit card bills more than once a month, becoming an authorized user and fixing credit report errors.

by Amanda Barroso, Bev O'Shea

How to Freeze and Unfreeze Your Credit: Video and Guide

by Amanda Barroso, Bev O'Shea

Average Credit Score by Age: Where Do You Stand?

by Lauren Schwahn, Amanda Barroso

Credit Reports: What They Are and How To Read Them

by Amanda Barroso, Bev O'Shea

Making money

How to Make Money Online, Offline and at Home

by Tommy Tindall

If you want a side hustle, we have 20 realistic ideas for you. Plus, take our quiz to see which gigs will work for your life — and which ones won't. 

Taskrabbit Jobs: What Real Taskers Say

by Tommy Tindall

Could Taskrabbit lead to more than gig work? Take these tips from top-notch Taskers.

7 of the Best Cash-Back Apps

by Tommy Tindall, Lisa Mulka, Hal M. Bundrick, CFP®

Fetch, RetailMeNot and Coupert are among the cash-back apps that can help you save a little bit of money on everyday purchases.

Spending and expenses

How Much Rent Can I Afford?

by Amanda Barroso, Laura McMullen

The 30% rule and 50/30/20 budget are two common guidelines for figuring out how much rent you can afford. But your location, commute and other bills matter, too. Here's how to land on a realistic number for your situation.

6 Ways to Get Cheap Internet

by Tommy Tindall

Get cheap internet service by slowing your speed, negotiating your bill or trying 5G.

Need Help Paying Bills ASAP? Use This Quick-Help Tool

by Liz Weston, CFP®

Use this guide to learn what assistance is available and identify what to deal with first.

Debt payoff and debt relief

How to Pay Off Debt: Top Strategies for 2026

by Lauren Schwahn, Jackie Veling

Learn the best strategies for whittling down what you owe, depending on how much debt you have.

Debt Relief: How It Works and Options to Consider

by Jackie Veling, Kate Ashford, WMS™

Debt relief changes the terms or amount you owe to help you pay it off. Learn about debt management, debt settlement and other debt relief options.

10 Ways to Pay Off Credit Card Debt

by Lauren Schwahn, Kate Ashford, WMS™, Jackie Veling

You can get out of credit card debt with strategies ranging from DIY for smaller balances to relief programs for more serious situations.

The latest

National Coffee Day: Where to Find Free Coffee and Deals on Sept. 29

by Amanda Barroso

These 3 Money Moves Take the Fright out of Fall

by Erin El Issa

What AI Can (and Can’t) Do for Your Shopping

by Kate Ashford, WMS™

Data Centers Are a Potent, Bipartisan Battleground in the Midterms

by Anna Helhoski

Quiz: What’s the Best Way to Make Money?

by Pamela de la Fuente

Can Redditors (and Experts) Help You Spend Less on Groceries?

by Kimberly Palmer

Sept. 18 is National Cheeseburger Day — Here Are the 18 Juiciest Deals

by Kate Ashford, WMS™

Fed Hikes Rate for the First Time Since 2023

by Anna Helhoski

Spending Scaries: The Financial Regrets Haunting Americans

by Erin El Issa

Mobile Sports Betting Is Booming — So Is the Debt That Comes With It

by Tommy Tindall

Should You Shop Incognito to Get Better Deals? Plus, More September Money Questions

by Kimberly Palmer

Parents, Here’s How to Start Planning for Cutting Back at Work

Looking Back at the Economic Aftershocks of 9/11

by Anna Helhoski

Here’s Why Chicken Is So Expensive Now

by Hanna Horvath (C)

The Business of Betting on Natural Disasters

by Anna Helhoski

Feeling Secure vs. Being Secure: 3 Gut Checks for Your Finances

by Erin El Issa

A Low-Hire, Low-Fire Labor Market Is Making Job Hunting Harder

by Anna Helhoski, Elizabeth Renter

The State of Household Finances: American Money Across 5 States

by Elizabeth Renter

Aug. 4 is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day — Here Are the Best Deals

by Amanda Barroso

Millennials Keep Closest Eye on Spending: 4 Ways to Help Offset Rising Costs

by Erin El Issa