Most budgeting advice targeted at people in their 20s is either too simple ("just save more!") or too complicated (12-category zero-based budgeting spreadsheets nobody sticks with).

Here's the one rule that actually works when you're early in your career and your income is still growing: the 1% raise rule.

Every time your income goes up — a raise, a bonus, a new job — increase your savings rate by half of the difference, and let the other half hit your lifestyle. So if you get a $500/month raise, $250 goes straight to savings/investing, $250 is yours to enjoy guilt-free.

Why this works better than "save X%":

• You never feel like you're being punished for earning more

• Your savings rate compounds upward automatically as your career grows

• You avoid lifestyle creep eating 100% of every raise (the #1 reason people plateau financially in their 30s)

Most people do the opposite by accident — they let 100% of raises flow into lifestyle upgrades, then wonder why they're making 3x their first salary with nothing to show for it.

Started a newsletter (Ledger Letters) breaking down small, practical shifts like this one every week for people building their financial foundation in their first real earning years. No hype, no "get rich" nonsense — just the moves that actually move the needle.