pay yourself first

Save before spending

Pay yourself first is a personal finance principle: before paying bills or spending on anything else, set aside money for savings or investments.

The idea is that treating savings as a non-negotiable expense—like rent—ensures it actually happens.

I pay myself first by having 10% automatically transferred to my retirement account each payday.

Opposites
financial discipline

pay yourself firstliving paycheck to paycheck

Earning only enough for immediate expenses

lifestyle creep · keeping up with the Joneses · instant gratification · retail therapy · conspicuous consumption

Family

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