15 Best Free Budgeting Courses Online

Are you tired of living paycheck to paycheck? Want to take control of your finances, reduce debt, or save for something big, without spending money on expensive courses? You’re in luck! Whether in the UK or the USA, excellent free budgeting courses online can help you gain financial freedom, build smart money habits, and improve your financial literacy.

This guide lists the top 15 free budgeting courses available today, with course features, how to enroll, and why they’re worth your time.

Why Learn Budgeting Online for Free?

Learning how to budget effectively is a key life skill. Online budgeting courses allow you to:

Track your income and expenses
Set financial goals
Plan for emergencies
Pay off debt faster
Save for retirement, education, or big purchases

The best part? These courses are 100% free, beginner-friendly, and available to anyone living in the UK or the USA.

Best Free Budgeting Courses Online

1. Budgeting Basics by Khan Academy

Platform: Khan Academy
What You’ll Learn: Budgeting basics, tracking income vs. expenses, and goal-setting.
Why It’s Great: It offers easy-to-understand videos and practical examples for beginners.
How to Enroll: Free on Khan Academy; no payment or card is needed.

2. MoneyHelper Budgeting Tool & Courses (UK)

Platform: MoneyHelper UK
What You’ll Learn: Creating a budget, managing household bills, and debt management.
Why It’s Great: Tailored for UK residents with relevant examples like council tax and UK banking.
How to Enroll: No registration is required; browse their free budgeting guides and tools.

3. Budgeting 101: How to Start Budgeting for Beginners – Udemy

Platform: Udemy
What You’ll Learn: Step-by-step budgeting using spreadsheets or pen and paper.
Why It’s Great: Free course with lifetime access. Great for visual learners.
How to Enroll: Sign up for a free Udemy account and search for the course title.

4. You Need A Budget (YNAB) Free Workshops

Platform: YNAB
What You’ll Learn: Rule-based budgeting system (zero-based budgeting), prioritizing money.
Why It’s Great: Live webinars and real-time Q&A. 34-day free trial also available.
How to Enroll: Create a free account to access workshops (no credit card required).

5. My Money Plan – National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE)

Platform: Smart About Money
What You’ll Learn: Building a spending plan, savings goals, and emergency funds.
Why It’s Great: U.S.-based with real-life budgeting case studies.
How to Enroll: Just click on the course and start—no sign-up is needed.

6. Alison – Introduction to Managing Your Finance

Platform: Alison
What You’ll Learn: Personal finance, debt management, and budgeting tools.
Why It’s Great: Includes quizzes and a free certificate.
How to Enroll: Sign up for free and search “Managing Your Finance.”

7. Coursera – Financial Planning for Young Adults

Platform: Coursera
What You’ll Learn: Budgeting, student loans, saving, and investing.
Why It’s Great: Created by the University of Illinois. Free to audit.
How to Enroll: Choose “Audit the course” at checkout to access for free.

8. Learn My Way – Managing Your Money (UK Focus)

Platform: Learn My Way
What You’ll Learn: Everyday budgeting, benefits, and online banking.
Why It’s Great: Designed for UK residents new to digital budgeting tools.
How to Enroll: Create a free account to access money courses.

9. FutureLearn – Financial Planning and Budgeting

Platform: FutureLearn
What You’ll Learn: Budgeting strategies, financial planning, and long-term goals.
Why It’s Great: It offers UK-specific courses in partnership with UK universities.
How to Enroll: Sign up for a free FutureLearn account and enroll in the course.

10. The Financial Diet – Budgeting Videos

Platform: YouTube – The Financial Diet
What You’ll Learn: Real-life budgeting tips, minimalist budgeting, savings strategies.
Why It’s Great: Great for those who prefer video content and actionable tips.
How to Enroll: Subscribe to the YouTube channel—no formal registration.

11. Purdue University – Planning for a Secure Retirement

Platform: Purdue University Extension
What You’ll Learn: Budgeting for retirement, understanding pensions, and savings.
Why It’s Great: Ideal for U.S. residents thinking long-term.
How to Enroll: Free PDFs and guides are available for download—no sign-up required.

12. Dave Ramsey’s Budgeting Tools (Free Resources)

Platform: Ramsey Solutions
What You’ll Learn: Baby Steps budgeting method, emergency funds, debt snowball.
Why It’s Great: Practical tools like free budgeting forms and the EveryDollar App.
How to Enroll: Use the free tools section or try the EveryDollar app’s free version.

13. edX – How to Save Money: Making Smart Financial Decisions

Platform: edX
What You’ll Learn: Budgeting, saving, and financial psychology.
Why It’s Great: Ivy League schools like Berkeley and Harvard offer this.
How to Enroll: Choose the “Audit” option for free access.

14. MoneySavingExpert Academy (UK)

Platform: MoneySavingExpert
What You’ll Learn: Budgeting on a low income, reducing household bills, and avoiding debt.
Why It’s Great: UK-specific and offers tons of free budgeting templates.
How to Enroll: No formal course; browse their guides and download tools for free.

15. Skillshare – Budgeting for Freelancers & Creatives

Platform: Skillshare
What You’ll Learn: Variable income budgeting, managing business and personal budgets.
Why It’s Great: Ideal for gig workers and creatives in the UK/USA.
How to Enroll: Use the free trial (typically 30 days); cancel before it ends to avoid charges.

Tips Before You Enroll

Choose platforms offering certificates if you want to boost your CV.
Use budgeting templates (Google Sheets or Excel) alongside your course.
Check whether the course uses examples in pounds (£) or dollars ($) for relevance.

Final Thoughts: Which Budgeting Course Is Right for You?

Whether you’re in the UK or the USA, learning how to budget is a smart, empowering decision that pays off for years. Start with one of the beginner-friendly courses like Khan Academy or MoneyHelper, and build your way up to more advanced platforms like Coursera, edX, or YNAB.

Pro Tip: Combine your budgeting course with a ready-to-use digital planner or budgeting spreadsheet for best results.