Definition
Pay Yourself First
Saving a set amount the moment you get paid, before spending on anything else.
Pay yourself first flips the usual order: instead of saving whatever is left at the end of the month (often nothing), you move money to savings the day you get paid, then live on the rest.
Automating this transfer removes willpower from the equation. The money is gone before you can spend it, which is why it is one of the most reliable habits for building savings.