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1. Pay Yourself First (Even When You’re Broke)
The secret to not being broke? Treat your savings like rent. You pay it no matter what.
Even if it’s just $10, paying yourself first builds a habit that changes everything.
Here’s how to start small but strong:
Automate your savings: Set it and forget it so you don’t “accidentally” spend it.
Use percentages, not amounts: Save 10% of every paycheck. It grows faster than you think.
Hide it from yourself: Keep it in a separate account you never touch.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Transfer a small portion of every paycheck to a separate savings account before spending anything else.
Make It Easy: Try a Betterment Cash Reserve Account to automate your savings and earn high interest at the same time.
2. Track Where Every Dollar Goes
Ever checked your bank account and wondered, “Where did my money go?” Yeah, same.
Tracking your spending is how you stop feeling broke and start feeling in control.
You’ll see your bad habits. and fix them fast.
Here’s how to get clear on your cash flow:
Use one app or notebook: Consistency beats fancy tools.
Categorize everything: Food, bills, and entertainment. See where the leaks are.
Review weekly: Catch overspending before it snowballs into chaos.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Write down every expense for one week. Yes, even that $3 coffee. and total it up.
Make It Easy: Get a pocket-sized expense tracker notebook to jot down purchases instantly.
3. Automate Your Savings (So You Never Forget)
Relying on willpower to save is like relying on leftovers to last all week. It won’t happen.
Automation makes saving happen before you even think about spending.
It’s the lazy person’s path to financial freedom.
Here’s what to set and forget:
Direct deposit into savings: Split your paycheck automatically.
Recurring transfers: Schedule a weekly or monthly auto-transfer.
Automatic round-ups: Apps can stash spare change from your purchases.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Log into your bank app and set an automatic transfer from checking to savings every payday.
4. Start Building an Emergency Fund Early
Emergencies always happen when you least expect them. flat tires, doctor visits, you name it.
An emergency fund is your financial superhero cape.
It keeps small disasters from turning into major debt.
Here’s how to build one even if you’re starting from zero:
Start with $500: You can grow it over time, but get that buffer fast.
Treat it like a bill: Pay into it every month, no excuses.
Keep it separate: You’ll be less tempted to “borrow” from it.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Open a dedicated savings account labeled “Emergency Fund” and automatically transfer a fixed amount every payday.
Make It Easy: Use a Betterment Cash Reserve Account to keep your emergency fund separate and growing with interest.
5. Learn to Budget Without Feeling Restricted
Budgeting doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. It just means you plan your fun.
Think of it as giving every dollar a purpose instead of wondering where it went.
You’ll feel more freedom, not less.
Here’s how to make budgeting painless:
Pick your system: Apps, spreadsheets, or envelopes. whatever fits your vibe.
Use the 50/30/20 rule: 50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings.
Adjust monthly: Your budget should bend with your life, not break it.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Pick a simple budgeting system today and stick to it for 30 days. No perfection needed.
Make It Easy: Try a monthly dry-erase budget board to visualize your money goals right on your wall.
6. Use Credit Cards the Smart Way
Credit cards aren’t evil. You just have to treat them like fire.
Handled right, they build your credit. Handled wrong, they burn your paycheck.
Here’s how to play the game without getting burned:
Pay in full every month: Avoid interest like it’s your ex.
Use it for bills you already pay: That’s free points without extra spending.
Check your balance weekly: Stay aware before it snowballs.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Use your card for regular bills only and pay off the full balance every single month.
Make It Easy: Use Credit Karma to monitor your credit score and track your progress.
7. Start Investing Now (Even If It’s Just $5 a Week)
You don’t need a trust fund to start investing. You just need to start.
Even small amounts grow into something big when you give them time.
Your future self will thank you (and probably take you out to dinner).
Here’s how to make investing beginner-friendly:
Start small: Even $5 weekly builds momentum.
Use apps for beginners: Make it automatic and low-stress.
Focus on index funds: They’re easy, diversified, and steady.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Open an investing app and schedule a weekly transfer. treat it like your coffee budget.
Make It Easy: Open a Betterment account to automatically transfer a few dollars each week into your investment fund without lifting a finger.
8. Avoid Lifestyle Inflation (It’s a Trap)
You get a raise, and suddenly your coffee gets fancier, your rent gets higher, and your wallet gets thinner.
That’s lifestyle inflation. And it sneaks up fast.
The trick is to upgrade your savings, not your spending.
Here’s how to outsmart it:
Increase savings with every raise: Match new income with new savings.
Keep your “old budget”: Pretend you never got the raise.
Avoid flexing online: You don’t need validation. Your bank balance is proof.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Each time your income increases, raise your savings percentage instead of your spending.
Make It Easy: Keep a budget binder to track income changes and ensure your savings grow alongside.
9. Learn to Cook (Your Bank Account Will Thank You)
Eating out all the time drains your wallet faster than a Friday night Uber bill.
Learning a few basic meals saves hundreds and still tastes great.
Plus, nothing feels more adult than making your own dinner that actually slaps.
Here’s how to make cooking easy:
Start with simple recipes: Pasta, stir-fry, tacos. cheap and fast.
Buy staples in bulk: Rice, beans, and eggs are your new BFFs.
Meal prep once a week: Less stress, less takeout temptation.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Pick three go-to meals, buy ingredients for the week, and batch-cook on Sunday.
Make It Easy: Get a non-stick skillet set that makes cooking and cleaning quick.
10. Avoid Comparing Your Life to Others Online
Scrolling through everyone’s “perfect” life is a fast track to bad money habits.
You start thinking you need the car, the clothes, or the vacations. when you don’t.
Comparison leads to spending you can’t afford and stress you don’t need.
Here’s how to block out the noise:
Unfollow triggers: If it makes you feel “less than,” mute it.
Focus on your goals: Your success isn’t a race.
Celebrate progress: Every $100 saved counts as a win.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Clean your feed, keep only content that motivates you, and stop shopping to impress strangers.
Make It Easy: Use Blinkist to read bite-sized money mindset books that inspire instead of comparing.
11. Surround Yourself With People Who Can Teach You Better Money Habits
You become like the people you hang out with. especially with money.
If your crew treats payday like party day, you’ll stay broke together.
Instead, find people who make smart money moves and learn from them.
Here’s how to level up your circle:
Join money communities: Online groups or meetups are full of motivation.
Talk about money: Break the taboo and swap real advice.
Follow smart creators: Learn something new daily instead of random gossip.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Connect with one financially savvy person this week and ask what habit changed their money game.
Make It Easy: Get a goal-tracking notebook to write down advice and lessons from people you admire.
Hey, I'm Lily! I'm a mom who's really good at two things: stretching a dollar and talking about stretching a dollar. I created Money Vice after one too many grocery trips where I watched my total climb and thought, "There's gotta be a better way." Spoiler: there is. Think of me as your money-savvy friend who's always got a tip (and coffee in hand).
