Money & Family, 5 T-YOU
Your financial journey includes budgeting, saving, and strategic allocation of your available spending dollars. But it's not just about you. Your money decisions require thoughtful interaction with all members of your family.
Money & Family Encyclopedia Articles By Title
5 tips for tackling tough topics with aging parents
As your parents get older, itâs likely theyâll need more help across the boardâfrom handling health problems to......
A guide to managing divorce and your finances
Going through a divorce can be complicated and frustrating. After all, thereâs a lot to untangle when you and your......
A tale of two economies
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on September 23,......
AI and fraud: Voice cloning, deepfakes, and digital impersonation
For years, financial scams followed familiar patterns: suspicious emails, fake lotteries, and callers pretending......
An intro to sports betting: How to avoid decisions you might regret
Lifeâs not exactly a game, but sports betting can make it more fun to support your favorite athletes and teams.......
Back to school: Money lessons extend beyond the classroom
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on August 16,......
Big vacation, small trips, finite budget
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on September 9,......
Boomerang kids: Managing an adult childâs return home
When you were a kid, the concept of a boomerang may have seemed cool: You throw it and it flies right back to you.......
Breaking the taboo: Why you need to talk money with your partner
Few topics are off limits these days. And yet the taboo against talking about money seems to be alive and thriving......
Budget methods: From simple splits to zero-based control
Some people think of âbudgetâ as a dirty word. The perception is that a budget is restrictive, preventing you from......
Budget travel loses its spirit
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on May 13, 2026.......
Buying an electric vehicle: Does $4 gas change the math?
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on April 26, 2026.......
Buying vs. leasing a car: Which route is best?
Leasing versus buying a car: Itâs a multifaceted decision that should be weighed carefully depending on your financial......
Charitable giving: How to make your generosity count
Charitable giving can have a twofold impact, with a gift for your favorite nonprofit organization and a potential......
Credit card reward strategies: Getting more from each purchase
The right credit card rewards can help you get more out of everyday purchases you already plan to make. To get......
Do medical bills affect your credit? 5 things to know
Unforeseen health problems and medical emergencies can happen to anyone at any time. And if an emergency strikes......
Document storage: How to safely reduce paper clutter in your house
Decluttering can bring a feeling of order to your home and your daily life, whether it involves donating old clothes,......
Dynamic pricing: Fair market, surge, or gouge?
In February 2024, Wendyâs CEO Kirk Tanner announced that the fast food chain would be testing a âdynamic pricingâ......
Financial independence: More than an early retirement plan
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on July 1, 2026.......
Financial literacy meets human nature
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on September 27,......
Financial literacy: Itâs a maintenance thing
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on April 12, 2026.......
Financial literacyâs secret decoder ring
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on July 15, 2026.......
Flight delays: How to navigate cancellations, overbookings, and more
Air travel often comes with unexpected challenges, from delayed flights to cancellations and overbooked planes.......
FTC junk fees rule: Shining the light on hidden costs
Itâs a common scenario: You snag concert tickets at a great price, excited you found a good deal. But once you......
Generative AI for money management: 5 use cases
When you think about artificial intelligence, or AI, what immediately comes to mind? For many, the answer is ChatGPT.......
Graduation season: A financial reset moment
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on May 17, 2026.......
How AI can help your small business
If you own a small business, youâre familiar with the challenges that come with it, from managing cash flow and......
How identity thieves get inâand what to do next
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on June 10, 2026.......
How much car can you afford?
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on June 14, 2026.......
How the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protects your job
Needing time away from work can cause real anxiety, especially when itâs because you or someone close to you is......
How the One Big Beautiful Bill Act could affect your finances
Signed into law in July 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) touches nearly every corner of the household......
How to budget now for summer travel
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on March 29, 2026.......
How to donate your vehicle so everybody wins
Advertisements for donating that unused car you just happen to have sitting around seem to be everywhere. Whether......
How to raise your credit score
Your credit score is a numeric representation of how you handle credit transactions, based on information in your......
How to recover from identity theft
If youâve just discovered your identity has been stolen, the next steps matter. The work starts right away: securing......
How to spot a spoofing attackâwhether via email, text, or social media
By now, most of us are familiar with online scams. For example, we know to be wary of misspellings in emails and......
How to use AI for budgeting, saving, and managing your money
Budgeting and looking for ways to trim expenses can feel like a chore, but using tools with artificial intelligence......
How to use an inflation calculator (and what it really measures)
In July 2015, a book of Forever stamps cost $9.80. By 2025, it cost $14.60. A classic LEGO brick box that sold......
How to use SMART goals in your personal finance
SMART is a goal-setting framework that helps you define clear, achievable objectives. Although itâs often used......
Investing vs. trading vs. gambling
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on March 25, 2026.......
Keys to vehicle buying: How to finance a car
Once youâve decided to buy a car and narrowed down your choices, itâs time to figure out how to pay. Financing......
Letâs talk about you and me (and money)
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on April 8, 2026.......
Loud budgeting: A better kind of peer pressure
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on August 26,......
Loud budgeting: How to crank up the personal finance volume
Whatâs loud budgeting? Itâs about being loud and proud and achieving your financial goals in the process. Loud......
Making sense of subscriptions and recurring fees
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on March 18, 2026.......
Midyear financial review: Staying on track
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on July 8, 2026.......
Money basics for kids: 5 skills to teach them now
The list of things you have to teach your kids never seems to endâfrom how to say âpleaseâ to memorizing multiplication......
Money lessons from Britannica moms
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on May 10, 2026.......
New job, new life: Starting out? Start here
So you just landed a job and youâre striking out on your own. Itâs a big step! Are you ready? Donât worry. Britannica......
Protect yourself: Identity theft is growing more sophisticated
Anyoneânot just the elderlyâcan be victimized by identity theft. This type of crime affected 42 million Americans......
Rent or buy? When to choose one over the other
Paying rent used to be something limited to houses and apartments, plus the occasional car, truck, or trailer that......
Retirement and key savings goal plans: Why an early start can help you get ahead
Whether youâre painting a room or teaching your child to ride a bike, reaching a goal takes patience, along with......
Saver, spender, sharer, investor, or gambler: Whatâs your money personality type?
Self-awareness is a wonderful thing. When you know yourself, youâre more likely to make choices that bring you......
Shrinkflation: Inflation hiding in plain sight
There sure is a lot of air in this bag of chips. A âfun sizeâ candy bar was a lot more fun when we were kids. That......
So you want to buy a car? What to know before visiting the dealer
Figuring out how to buy a car means looking beyond the 0-to-60 acceleration time, or how many miles a battery can......
Sports betting terminology: Responsible wagering starts with education
Legalized sports betting and the rise of sports betting apps make it easier than ever to bet on your favorite athletes......
Take a good look at that annual budget
Last year you took the time and effort to make a budget. Good for you! Hopefully instead of just setting and forgetting......
The big decisions behind your financial life
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on September 2,......
The buy-or-rent decision comes to smartphones
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on August 12,......
The economics of fatherhood
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on June 21, 2026.......
The life-cycle theory of savings and personal finance
In the 1940s, economist Franco Modigliani was researching how increases in income affect economic growth, and he......
The paradox of thrift: Understanding economic behavior in recessions
The paradox of thrift is a concept developed by legendary economist John Maynard Keynes. He noted that, during......
The sandwich generation: Squeezed between growing children and aging parents
If your kidsâincluding adult childrenâstill need you at the same time your aging parents need support, youâre likely......
The sandwich generationâs timing problem
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on May 27, 2026.......
The subscription economy
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on September 13,......
Time is money: An introduction to financial calculators
Have you ever shopped around for a mortgage or auto loan? Have you invested in a certificate of deposit or Treasury......
Tiny screens, big pricing power
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on May 24, 2026.......
Understanding frugal fatigue and how to fight it
Staying on top of how you spend each month can be draining, especially when youâre first starting out as a working......
Understanding the 3 types of income: Earned, investment, and passive
What is income? On the surface, the answer is simple: Income is any money you receive. And itâs essential to your......
Universal basic income: Pros and cons of free money for all
If youâve ever wondered what itâd be like to have some money coming in whether you have a job at the moment or......
Using emergency savings vs. getting an emergency loan
âExpect the unexpected,â so the old saying goes. But when it comes to financial emergencies, thatâs easier said......
Using the 50-30-20 rule to power your household budget
The 50-30-20 rule is a common way to allocate the spending categories in your personal or household budget. The......
What is a credit report and how does it influence your credit score?
Just about anytime you make a sizable financial transaction or agreementâapply for a loan, rent an apartment, or......
What is a prenuptial agreement, and should you sign one?
Prenuptial agreements are often associated with the rich and famous, but even if your income is modest, you may......
What is a Trump account? Tax-advantaged investment accounts for children
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) includes a provision creating special tax-advantaged investment accounts......
What is due diligence? A professional and personal standard
Before making any big purchase, long-term commitment, or investment, you want to know everything you can about......
What to expect when leasing a car: Jargon and math
Are you the type who wants the latest and greatest in automobile technology, and price is a secondary consideration?......
When a family member steals your identity
Most identity theft stories start with a shadowy hacker or a data breach. But sometimes the person opening a credit......
When gas spikes, your budget notices first
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on March 11, 2026.......
When relatives ask for money
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on April 19, 2026.......
Why diesel prices may leave you fuming
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on September 16,......
Why the cost of fun is less amusing
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on July 12, 2026.......
Why your grocery bill still bites
Editorâs note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on March 4, 2026.......
Your guide to setting a monthly budget
Creating a monthly budget. Itâs one of the first steps in getting your personal finances on track. But many see......
Your household balance sheet: Keeping track of what you own and what you owe
The balance sheet. Thatâs the realm of accountants, stock analysts, and C-suite executives, right? Actually, if......