Pay yourself first automate the savings slice off the top, before you can spend it. Where it's taught Budgeting & Cash FlowLifestyle Creep: Bank Your Raises or Spend Them? Try it with a calculator Budget CalculatorLifestyle Creep Calculator Related terms Auto-escalationCash flowFinancial independence (FI) numberFixed vs variable costsLifestyle creep (lifestyle inflation)Savings rateTake-home (net) pay