Savings accounts are important for getting you through the tough times — like being laid off from your job, or dealing with an unexpected medical expense. But they also come in handy during the good times — for example, taking that dream vacation, or putting a down payment on a car or home. Life is full of events that rely on your savings, but when you have easy-to-use tools like , starting over is easier than you’d think.

Keeping personal debt under control is an important part of achieving financial goals, like having a comfortable retirement. More debt means more of your money goes toward paying interest instead of going into your savings account.

Using a weekly budget is a great way to organize your personal finances, particularly if you get paid on a weekly or biweekly schedule. However, monthly bills and extra expenses can inhibit your long-term savings goal if you don’t plan ahead.

A solid budget is integral to so much that’s important in life: your credit score, retirement security and settling down in a home of your own. Luckily, creating a budget is simple and easy if you have the right tools. Grab your tablet, laptop or smartphone and let an online budget planner help you. Here’s what to look for in the best budgeting software.

A monthly budget is a fundamental tool for understanding your household finances. By knowing exactly how much cash you have coming in, you can take control of your money and direct it to where you most need it. The budget tools in Quicken Starter Edition make creating…