"Pay yourself first" and how it can help you achieve financial security.

"Pay yourself first" is a simple but powerful concept that can help you take control of your finances and build a secure financial future. The idea is to prioritise saving money by putting aside a portion of your income before paying any bills or expenses.

The logic behind "pay yourself first" is straightforward: if you wait until the end of the month to save money, you're likely to find nothing left over. By making saving a priority and putting aside money at the beginning of the month, you ensure that you have something to keep and that you're not relying on willpower alone to make it happen.

There are a few different ways to implement the "pay yourself first" strategy. One popular method is to set up an automatic transfer from your paycheck to a separate savings account. This ensures that you're saving money before you have a chance to spend it, making the process simple and convenient.

Another way to implement the strategy is to set a savings goal and then allocate a certain percentage of your income to that goal each month. For example, if you want to save 10% of your monthly payment, you can set up a recurring transfer to your savings account.

One of the key benefits of "pay yourself first" is that it helps you develop a savings habit. Making saving a priority makes you more likely to stick with it and see the benefits over time. And the earlier you start saving, the more time your money has to grow and compound, which can significantly impact your long-term financial security.

Another benefit of "pay yourself first" is that it helps you avoid lifestyle inflation. When you get a raise or earn more money, it's easy to start spending more and justify it as a reward for your hard work. But if you're already saving a portion of your income, you're less likely to fall into the lifestyle inflation trap and more likely to continue building your savings over time.

Of course, "pay yourself first" is just one piece of the puzzle regarding achieving financial security. Having a budget, avoiding debt, and investing wisely are also essential. But by prioritising saving and putting aside money before anything else, you can set yourself up for a more secure financial future and achieve your long-term goals.