07/16/2026
What is the "Pay Yourself First" strategy?
Most people pay everyone else first...
π The landlord.
β‘ The utility company.
π³ The credit card.
π± The phone bill.
Then they hope there's something left to save.
The Pay Yourself First strategy flips that approach.
Before you spend money on anything else, automatically move a portion of your paycheck into savings or investments.
It doesn't have to be a huge amount.
Even 5% of every paycheck can add up to thousands of dollars over timeβand because it's automatic, you don't have to rely on willpower.
Here's a simple way to start:
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Have your direct deposit go into two accounts
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Set up an automatic transfer the day after payday.
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Then direct additional savings toward retirement, investing, or your next big goal.
The best savings plan isn't the one with the biggest number.
It's the one that happens consistently.