A successful budget is about building a plan that aligns with your goals, values, and lifestyle so that you can make intentional choices based on what matters most.

CNBC Select has selected the best free budgeting tools for beginners, investors, small business owners and more. (See our ...

Lucy Lazarony is an experienced personal finance journalist and writer who got her start in 1998 writing about financial topics. She writes accessible and easy-to-understand articles about credit, ...

Being financially illiterate can lead to financial disaster, as it increases the likelihood of accumulating unsustainable debt burdens due to poor spending decisions or a lack of long-term planning.