Personal Finance, WHA-YOU
Personal finance includes all of your day-to-day encounters with money, as well as planning, budgeting, and saving for your goals and dreams. Categories include banking, insurance, taxes, and managing debt, family, and your career.
Personal Finance Encyclopedia Articles By Title
What you need to know about annuity surrender charges
A deferred annuity offers a way to save for the future while building cash value over time. Premiums paid into......
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 companies share the upside: How profit-sharing bonuses work
A profit-sharing bonus is a way for companies to reward employees when the business reaches specific financial......
When gas spikes, your budget notices first
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on March 11, 2026.......
When relatives ask for money
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on April 19, 2026.......
Why diesel prices may leave you fuming
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on September 16,......
Why everybody moves in summer—and why you should care
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on June 17, 2026.......
Why is my paycheck smaller than my salary?
You have a new job—congrats! Even better, it’s payday! But, wait. You were supposed to earn $1,000 this pay period......
Why the cost of fun is less amusing
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on July 12, 2026.......
Why we still have a gender pay gap
The gender wage gap continues to be a subject of study—mainly because it still exists even after women have made......
Why your grocery bill still bites
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Money Matters, a newsletter from Britannica Money, on March 4, 2026.......
Wind, hail, floods, and more: How to insure your home against natural disasters
Over the past two decades, weather-related natural disasters and ensuing insurance claims have risen significantly.......
Winning college scholarships: From need-based to merit
You’ve done a lot of prep work to narrow down your list of colleges and get those applications submitted. The next......
You can consolidate your credit card, student loan, and other debts, but should you?
If you have several debts from different places, you might be going nuts trying to keep up with all the various......
You can file a tax extension, but should you?
Everyone knows that “scary” date of April 15—the day taxes are due each year. But you may have heard of a friend......
Your guide to opening and using a bank account
One way to keep your money safe and make it easier to manage your personal finances is to open a bank account.......
Your guide to payday loans, title loans, and other predatory loans
When you’re in a tight financial spot, you might be looking for a bit of help with your money. A small loan for......
Your guide to setting a monthly budget
Creating a monthly budget. It’s one of the first steps in getting your personal finances on track. But many see......
Your guide to student loan consolidation
College loan debt can be crushing, and many individuals struggle to balance monthly payments with other essential......
Your guide to student loan forgiveness types
Student loan debt amounts to nearly $2 trillion in the United States, with about 43 million borrowers holding federal......
Your household balance sheet: Keeping track of what you own and what you owe
The balance sheet. That’s the realm of accountants, stock analysts, and C-suite executives, right? Actually, if......