If you want to track and manage a budget, whether for yourself, your household, or a special event, using Microsoft Excel with a template is a great idea, as you don’t have to start from scratch.

To help you get started, CNBC Select reviewed and compared a variety of free budgeting tools and we narrowed down our best picks for just about anyone: beginners, investors and small business owners.

Whether you prefer a free and simple budget app or a premium ... You can make spreadsheets from scratch or use the many budgeting templates available online or through the apps.

4. Explore other options. 5. Identify room for change. Free online spreadsheets and templates can make budgeting easier. How do you figure out a budget? Start with a financial self-assessment.

we’ve ranked ten of the best budgeting apps available. Mint, previously one of the leading free budgeting apps, is no longer available to download, so it does not appear on this list.

and Finance & Budget. Although most of its templates are available through a paid subscription, there are 10 excellent templates that are absolutely free to use. Auscomp's clean and intuitive ...

We gathered some of our favorite free things to do in Chicago with kids — both indoor and outdoor! And if you’re looking for more budget-friendly ideas, find free local events in our online calendar ...

THE dismal summer weather has left many parents pulling their hair out, wondering how to entertain the kids during the ... Though this isn’t a free activity, it’s budget-friendly, with ticket ...

We selected a well-rounded budgeting app, one designed for couples, another that's appealing for setting goals, and lastly one with more detailed budgeting features. We have a mix of free ...

To narrow down our top picks, we focused on those with unique budgeting features, high user ratings and a free trial or refund to test the app out. (See our methodology for more information on ...