The Art & Science of Saving

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Let’s be real for a second. Who do you really work for? Your boss? The government? The bank?
Nope. You work for YOU.

So why do most people get paid and immediately hand over their money - to bills, to expenses, to everyone except themselves?

When you 'pay yourself first,' you’re making a statement: Your energy - your work, your time - deserves to be honoured. Before you give to anyone else, make sure you’re covered. It’s about putting yourself in a position of strength and security.

Figuring out how much to pay yourself doesn’t have to be complicated!

One great approach is to start with a savings goal and work backward. Breaking down the total amount into manageable chunks makes it feel more achievable. But if you’re not sure where to start or don’t have a specific goal in mind - that’s okay too! Just choose a set dollar amount or a percentage of your income to save each time you get paid. This simple method helps build consistency and keeps your savings on track.

To make it even easier, use our calculators to quickly find the right amount to pay yourself and stay focused on your financial goals!

Paying yourself first doesn’t have to be a hassle or something you constantly remember to do. 

The secret? Automation.

If you have to think about savings it won't happen. Now that we know how much to save choose from one  the following options to set and forget your savings habit. 

One of the easiest ways to pay yourself first is to set up automatic deposits straight into your savings. Just talk to your payroll or HR department - they can help you split your income so a portion goes directly to savings every time you get paid.

All you need to do is provide your account details and choose how much you want to save. Once it’s set up, you’re done! Your savings will grow automatically without any extra effort.

Another effortless way to pay yourself first is by setting up an automatic transfer from your transaction account to your savings account every payday. This is super easy to schedule so the money moves as soon as your income hits. Just choose the amount you want to save and set it to repeat every time you get paid. 

Small amounts add up fast! Many banks and apps offer round-up features that automatically round up your purchases to the nearest dollar and stash the spare change into your savings.

For example, if you spend $4.25 on coffee, it rounds up to $5 and puts the extra $0.75 into your savings. It’s an easy, painless way to build your nest egg without even noticing.