A couple of years ago, when I landed my first full-time job after university, I found myself spending practically everything I earned. Seeing me struggle to put anything aside, my older cousin, who works as an accountant in Manchester, gave me a really straightforward piece of guidance: pay yourself first.
Before that, my approach had been completely backwards. I would pay my rent, buy groceries, go out with friends, and then simply hope there would be some cash left over at the end of the month to tuck away. Inevitably, there never was. My cousin told me that the moment my monthly salary landed in my current account, I should immediately move twenty per cent into a separate savings account, before paying for a single bill or takeaway.
To put this into practice, I set up an automated standing order for the day after payday. That way, the money was shifted out of sight before I even had the chance to miss it. I had to adjust my day-to-day spending and be a bit more mindful about non-essential purchases, like buying takeaway coffees every morning or ordering food on delivery apps.
I found this suggestion incredibly helpful because it completely changed my financial mindset. Instead of treating savings as an afterthought, it turned building an emergency fund into a non-negotiable priority. Over time, watching that balance steadily grow gave me a real sense of security and peace of mind. If my car broke down or an unexpected bill cropped up, I no longer had to panic or rely on credit cards.