Budgeting & Savings Tips

Learn how to track and manage expenses, create a budget and save for your financial goals.

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How To Maximize Your Charitable Donations

A woman stands in a warehouse, holding a bag filled with clothes, ready to sort or donate the items inside.

Get tips for making the most of your donation dollars and time.

11 Ways To Save in the 2024 Holiday Season

A couple are shopping and smiling as they look into a window together. The two are wearing winter clothes. Both are wearing scarves and are shopping indoors in a mall-like setting.

Enjoy a budget-friendly 2024 season with our holiday spending and savings tips.

Year 1 Baby Costs: More Than You Think

Mother and father sitting on the floor in front of a baby crib holding and looking at their newborn baby, with a black- and white-colored dog as well as a brown- and grey-colored dog laying down on the floor next to them. Friendly depictions of a raccoon, bear, and forest are painted on the walls of the room. "Miranda Jade Photography" photo credit is displayed in text in bottom left hand corner of image.

Prepare for optional and necessary costs in the first year of your baby's life.

How To Adjust Your Budget for Inflation

A woman sits at her kitchen table reading a receipt she is holding in one hand. She is holding an apple in the other hand. A paper bag of groceries is on the table next to her.

Learn how to adapt your budget when prices are high.

Grocery Inflation: Rising Costs and How To Save

A person pushes a grocery cart down the dairy aisle of the grocery store. The cart contains lots of fresh vegetables and other items. The person's hands and lower body are visible.

Learn which grocery items cost more and what you can do to save money.

12 FAQs About Repaying Your Student Loans

Two young college-aged students sitting at a table inside located in front of large windows. Trees are in the background outside. The two students are looking together at the screen of a laptop that's in front of one of the students, who is typing on the laptop keyboard. The other student not in front of the laptop is holding a pen in one hand and has a book in their other hand resting on the table, open to a page.

​​We share options and information about repaying your federal student loans.​

Low-Cost Staycation Ideas

A couple at a hockey game, wearing Seattle Thunderbirds jerseys. The man, on the left, is smiling and wearing glasses. The woman, on the right, looks excited, posing with her mouth open. The two are seated in a hockey arena setting.

Discover fun and affordable staycations near home.

9 Steps To Include Fun in Your Budget

Two people kayaking in orange boats with orange paddles on a sunny day. A woman in the foreground is smiling, looking in the direction that the man in the boat behind her is pointing. The sun is shining on the calm water.

Learn how to loosen up spending limits to avoid splurges.
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How To Budget for a Vacation

A mother and daughter standing on a sandy beach, both smiling and wearing sunglasses. The ocean, white waves, blue sky and a large rock are visible in the background.

Get tips for planning and saving for your next vacation.

Budget-Friendly Vacations in Washington

A campsite by a lake at twilight with a vehicle and rooftop tent. Chairs and a table are set up near the vehicle, and string lights are hung between trees.

Explore Washington on a budget with these vacation ideas.

What is a Checking Account?

Two ATMs located inside a BECU neighborhood financial center. The ATMs are placed on a red BECU branded wall. There is a BECU branded photograph on the wall as well. On the left is a window showing an outside parking setting.

Learn how checking accounts work and different types of accounts.

CDs vs. Money Market Accounts

Two women are indoors, seated in an office setting. The woman on the left has brown curly hair. She's holding up both hands, in a descriptive position. She is wearing a white long sleeve shirt and a necklace. The woman on the right has curly dark brown hair. She's wearing her hair up. She has glasses and a white dangly earring. She's wearing a white blouse with black polka dots. She has one hand on her chin, like she's listening. In the background are windows and a plant.

Compare CDs and money market accounts, pros and cons, and what they’re used for.

Credit Union vs. Bank CDs: 5 Differences

A man and woman are sitting close together at a table having a conversation. They appear relaxed and their expressions are calm. A cup of coffee and some papers are on the table. They are sitting in front of a white wall with picture molding and a window with a green lawn outside. Sun is shining in the window. The woman is looking at the man and talking while holding a stack of papers. The top few sheets are flipped up so they can look at a page in the stack. The man is looking down at the papers, gesturing with one hand and writing on a piece of paper with the other.

Learn the differences to find the best account for your savings goals.

Banking Basics: Tips To Get Started

Two women are smiling inside a living room setting facing the camera while seated and posing for a photo. The woman on the left has dark, short hair. Her hand is resting on her chin as she smiles. She is wearing a gray long sleeve shirt. The woman on the right has long red hair. She is wearing a yellow long sleeve shirt. Her arms are crossed as she smiles big. The background is blurred out, but shows some shelving in a living room setting.

Learn how common banking accounts and services can help you manage your money.

30 Tips To Get Financially Fit

Illustration of a man wearing a blue headband and blue athletic shorts holding a dumbbell. On his left is a yellow bicycle and on his right is a wall calendar and a potted plant.

Get a month's worth of daily tips to build your money-managing muscles.

How To Boost CD Savings: 3 Strategies

A smiling person starts to open the hatch back of a silver car parked in front of a building. He has a suitcase in his hand. He is wearing a black and white striped shirt. In the background is a sidewalk, green bushes and a staircase leading up to the front of a house. Another person is standing at the front of the house.

Learn three main strategies to help you invest with CDs.
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What Is a CD and How Does It Work?

A BECU employee sits down with a member in an office at a neighborhood financial center. The employee is wearing a name tag and a green shirt. The member is facing away from the camera and he is wearing a blue shirt. In the background are desk cabinets, some office supplies like pens and pencils in containers at the employee's desk and a window facing trees.

Learn more about CDs, the different types and the pros and cons of CD investing.

Are CDs Worth It Right Now?

This is an image of a father and son in an airport. They are sitting down in chairs and looking out a window and pointing outside. In the photo in a red suitcase. The son is wearing a gray stripped shirt and has blonde hair. The father is wearing a gray shirt and has brown hair.

If you don’t need access to your money soon, a CD might be good for you in 2024.

​​11 Money Management Tips: Where To Begin​

This is an image of a woman on a bike outside. She's in front of a brick building. She's wearing a gray rain jacket, a blue scarf and a helmet. She's looking down at her phone.

​​Get started on building a solid foundation and working toward your goals.​

Joint Accounts: Pros and Cons for Couples

A couple is looking at paperwork in their kitchen. A woman is holding paperwork in her hand while her other hand is rested on her chin in a thinking posture. The man is behind her and is also looking at the paper with one of his hands on his hip. They are in a indoor kitchen setting. The woman appears to be sitting at a kitchen counter, while the man is standing. There are two mugs on the countertop and a computer is open as well.

Learn about co-managing finances with your partner using a joint account.

How To Talk to Your Partner About Finances

A couple is outdoors on a path walking their dog. The man is wearing a blue vest, a long sleeve plaid shirt and blue jeans. The woman is wearing a black coat with a red shirt underneath. She is also wearing blue jeans. The dog is white. In the background are trees and water.

Learn how to be a better financial communicator with your partner.

Emergency Funds: Your Financial Safety Net

Emergency Funds - Your Financial Bestie

Learn what an emergency fund is, why you need one and how much you should save.

How To Budget as a Couple

A couple smiling, taking a selfie. A pair of bicycles are on a car-mounted bike rack in the background.

Learn about budgeting methods, tools and common spending patterns for couples.

How Do Couples Split Bills?

Two women sit close together on couch, holding hands. Woman on the left is holding phone up to take a selfie.

Romance is great, but have you found a fair way to split shared bills?
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CD vs. Savings Accounts: Which Is Best?

Three people on a kayak in a lake. A man wearing a red life vest in the back, a boy wearing a red life vest in the middle and a boy wearing a yellow life vest in the front. They are holding paddles and smiling at the camera.

Learn which type of account might be a good financial fit for you.

12 New Year Financial Resolutions for 2024

A woman looks down at her laptop and is smiling. One of her hands is raised happily in a clench position suggesting an achievement concept. In her other hand is a cup of coffee. She's seated in a kitchen setting. On the table are flowers in a vase. A sink, cutting board, and various kitchen appliances are in the background. She is wearing an orange blazer.

Take steps to set and meet your financial goals in 2024.

Personal Finance Tips for New College Grads

Three college students laugh as they walk away from a building on campus together.

Learn how to navigate your financial life after college.

Back-to-School Savings Tips

Young girl sporting a light blue backpack smiles as she stands in front of her smiling mother, who has placed her left hand on the young girl's shoulder, a showing of support as the young girl readies to leave through the front door of their home to go back to school.

Use these simple tips to budget for back-to-school shopping and save money.

5 Banking Tips for Kids and Parents

A mother and her teen daughter stand together in their kitchen facing the camera for a photo. The mom has her arm around the teen and is resting her cheek against her daughter's head.

Get tips to help kids start banking and building good financial habits.

Estate Planning: Tasks and Tips To Get Started

Man and woman and sitting close together across from another woman. The man is reading a sheet of paper and the woman on the left is smiling at the woman on the right.

Get tips on wills, power of attorney, executors and more.

Consider Costs Before Getting a Pet

A woman dressed in warm clothes sits on a Pacific Northwest beach with two dogs

Learn how much you’ll need to budget to care for a new furry friend.

Achieve Your Budgeting Goals During the Pandemic

Illustration of woman walking and carrying groceries with a dollar-sign callout over the grocery bag and on the phone poking out of her pocket. Car in background with a dollar-sign callout over it.

Learn budgeting tips that can help even during tough times.
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A Wedding During COVID-19? Learn from Two Couples

A man smiles at the camera while a woman wearing a flower wreath on her head hugs him from behind

Couples share how COVID-19 affected their big day and their budget.

How to Manage Finances Like a CFO

Portrait of BECU CFO Melba Bartels

BECU CFO says to plan ahead, lead with compassion.

Set Sights on Smaller Resolutions for 2021

Illustration of the start of a New Year's resolution list surrounded by six pictures in circles: an apple with a milk carton, a person walking outside, a person riding a bike, a book, a small picture of a piggy bank, and a small picture of a dumbbell.

After a tough 2020, it’s ok to set smaller goals for the new year.

Save Money by Starting a Victory Garden

Various vegetables

Even if you don’t have much space or a yard, you can grow your own food.

Four Tips for Finding Some Extra Money for Summer

Container full of coins

It's more than checking the couch cushions.

Saving Through Streaming

Yellow, white, and red cables

"Cutting the cord" with cable providers can benefit your bank account.

A Wake-Up Call From the Shutdown

Sign that says Sorry We're Closed

We look at options for possibly missing a paycheck.