Today, only 41% of Americans use a budget to keep track of their finances, and most of those who don’t keep one choose not to because creating and maintaining a budget seems too difficult or time-consuming. But the truth is that having a budget can be just as simple and straightforward as making a shopping list or keeping a weekly calendar. Really, it’s a walk in the park, even for anyone who has no experience making spreadsheets on their computer.

If you’ve recently been charged a bank fee that you don’t agree with, be it an overdraft fee or a monthly service fee, there are several ways for you to challenge the bank’s decision. You can go to a branch of the bank to speak in-person with a representative, or if you’re strapped for time, you can use the Secure Messaging feature of your bank’s website to talk online. Either way, we’ve provided some tactical advice on how to approach the matter.

Being overworked and underpaid is a predicament that many people find themselves in, whether at a new job or an old one–thankfully, there are several possible solutions. Below we’ve provided a list of options for anyone who is overworked and underpaid.

It feels like we’re bombarded every day with advertisements on the new and exciting bank accounts that could be a part of our lives. High interest rates, sign-up bonuses and convenient policies like waived fees are all meant to entice us to sign up for another account. So how are we to know when it’s a good idea to enroll in another bank? Is it ever possible to have too many accounts?

Budgeting can be hard with a new baby on the way. It’d be easy enough to write off the exercise completely. But a good budget doesn’t just affect how you spend your money today, it affects the options available to you – and your growing family – tomorrow.

One of the best ways to save money may actually involve doing nothing at all: Lifestyle creep is a sneaky phenomenon in which the more you make, the more you spend. As you advance in your career and start earning more, it’s only natural to scale up your living space or loosen your grip on your going-out expenses.

If you’d like to raise your current credit limit on a card, contact your credit card company by calling the number on the back of your card or using the Secure Messaging feature on their website. You have nothing to lose by asking, and if the account has been open for over a year, chances are good that your request will be granted. Here’s a quick series of tips on how to address the situation.

Going back to school is a major commitment, both in terms of finance and time, so it’s important to make sure that you’re going back for the right reasons, and that the expectations you set for yourself are realistic. Here’s a quick list of the questions you should be asking as you start thinking about returning to school, and tips for finding answers.

Maybe you already have a checking account and you’re wondering if you should put some of your extra money into a savings account. Checking and savings accounts are both great financial assets, but each serves a specific (and very different) purpose.

With the proper planning and patience, you should have no trouble switching bank accounts without incurring any extra fees or headaches. Here’s our quick guide on closing a bank account and switching banks.