Everyone tells you to follow the 50/30/20 rule. 50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings.

The problem? Most people can't even get their "needs" under 50%. Rent alone eats 40%+ for most of us.

Here's what I actually do instead:

1. Pay yourself first. Before anything, move 10-15% into savings the day you get paid. Automate it. If you wait until the end of the month, there's nothing left.

2. Track for 30 days before you budget. Most people make a budget based on what they think they spend. Track every dollar for a month first. The results will shock you.

3. Use the "Need it twice" rule. If you want to buy something, wait 48 hours. If you still want it, buy it. This alone saved me hundreds per month.

4. Build a $1,000 emergency fund before anything else. Not $10K. Just $1,000. It stops the cycle of going into debt every time something breaks.

I put together free budgeting templates and tools inside The Budget Vault. No fluff — just the spreadsheets and trackers I actually use.

Join free and start getting your money right.