About.com Financial Planning: Most Popular Articles
These articles are the most popular over the last month.

• Basic Budget Worksheet for Setting Up Your Personal Budget
  Budget worksheet form for setting up your personal budget
• How To Create a Budget
  Creating a budget may not sound like the most exciting thing in the world to do but it is vital in keeping your financial house in order. Before you begin to create your budget it is important to realize that in order to be successful you have to provide as much detailed information as possible. Ultimately the end result will be able to show where your money is coming from, how much is there and where it is all going.
• All About Personal Budgets
  A One-stop Guide to Budgeting Advice and Budget Worksheets
• US Savings Bonds
  US Savings Bonds: Good Investment or Boring Underperformer?
• Organize Your Finances
  One of the easiest things you can do to help keep your financial house in order is to get organized. Having your financial information stored and processed in a systematic manner will go a long way in helping maintain your finances.
• How to Establish Credit
  When you don’t have a credit history, it can be difficult and frustrating when trying to obtain a credit card or other type of loan. Establishing your initial credit history can be a Catch-22. If you don’t have credit, not many places are willing to give you credit, yet how can you ever establish credit if nobody is willing to give you any?
• Top Personal Finance Software
  Top picks for personal finance software programs
• The Child Tax Credit
  The Child Tax Credit - what you need to know to claim it properly.
• Buying Diamond Engagement Ring
  What You Need to Know When Buying a Diamond Engagement Ring
• Plan an Affordable Wedding
  Plan an affordable, memorable wedding without going into debt or breaking the bank
• Improve Your FICO Credit Score
  Nine Ways to Improve Your FICO Credit Score and Four Reasons Why You Want To - A Poor Score Costs You More
• Your FICO Credit Score
  Your FICO credit score determines your ability to borrow money and affects you in other ways that may surprise you
• Make Saving Automatic
  Do you have a savings account yet find it difficult to find money to deposit into it? This isn’t an uncommon problem and most people find it hard to save.
• Personal Finance 101
  Personal finance covers a wide variety of money topics including budgeting, expenses, debt, saving, retirement and insurance among others. Understanding how each of these topics work together and affect each other is important for laying the groundwork for a solid financial foundation for you and your family.
• Roth vs. Traditional IRA
  A common question many people have is what type of IRA is best. Both the Traditional and Roth IRAs have significant tax advantages, but in some situations one may be better than the other. Since we can't predict what taxes will be like 20 years from now, if you have the ability to contribute to both types of IRAs, that might be a good idea. By diversifying your tax liabilities, you can be prepared for any significant changes in tax rates by the time you reach retirement.
• Itemize Deductions
  Reduce Your Income Taxes by Itemizing Deductions
• You Can Get Out of Debt
  You Can Get Out of Debt, But Not by Paying the Minimum Balance on Your Credit Cards
• Budgeting
  Budgeting - The First Step to Financial Success
• Warning Signs of Too Much Debt
  Do You Know the Warning Signs of Too Much Debt? How to Know If You're In Over Your Head
• Wedding Budget Worksheet
  Click here for a printer-friendly version WEDDING BUDGET WORKSHEET Item Budgeted Cost Actual Cost PRINTING:
• Secret to Budgeting
  The secret to budgeting successfully
• Eliminate Credit Card Debt
  The Fastest Way To Eliminate Credit Card Debt - How to eliminate credit card debt before it threatens your financial health
• Top Picks: Personal Finance Books
  Top picks for personal finance books
• How Much Home Can You Afford?
  When the time is right to purchase a home, the first question you need to be able to answer is how of a home you can afford.
• You Can Afford to Stay Home
  You Can Afford to Stay Home With Your Kids. How to Calculate What That Second Income is Really Costing You and What It's Really Worth.
• Maximize Your Benefits
  Maximize Your Employment Benefits: Flexible Spending Accounts
• Ways for Teens to Make Money
  Jobs for Teens and Other Ways to Make Money
• Financing a College Education
  Financing Your Child's College Education. How to Prepare for the $100,000 Price Tag
• EE Savings Bond Changes
  The federal government has changed Series EE savings bonds, and it's not for the better. Find out about the changes and alternatives to Series EE bonds.
• Retirement Savings Late Start
  Ten Tips for Late Starters To Boost Their Retirement Savings
• Shop Safely Online
  Nine Tips to Shop Safely Online
• Net Worth Statements
  Calculate your net worth to get a snapshot of your financial health
• Introduction to Saving Money
  The ability to save money is the cornerstone of building wealth. In order to save money, you need to spend less than you earn. This is often easier said than done, but there are plenty of ways to help you begin saving money on even the tightest budget.
• Top Ten Financial Tips
  Top Ten Financial Tips: Keys to Financial Success
• Choosing a Planner
  With a little knowledge and willingness to create and follow a financial plan, most people can adequately manage their own finances. Even so, there are many instances where you just don’t have the time or have a complicated situation that may need the assistance of a finance professional.
• 5 Mistakes When Buying a Car
  For most people, a car is a necessity. We often depend on our vehicles to get us to and from work every day, transport children to events, and even for pleasure. Because they are such an important aspect of your life, you want a vehicle that is reliable, comfortable, and maybe even a bit stylish. The vehicle choices are almost endless, so finding the right combination of wants and needs with an affordable price tag can be challenging.