Pay Yourself First!

October 8, 2025

One of the best money habits we’ve adopted lately is paying ourselves first. Instead of waiting to see what’s left at the end of the month (spoiler: usually nothing), we treat savings like a bill that has to be paid right when our paycheck hits. Setting up an automatic transfer means we never have to think twice about it! And the Summit banking app makes it easy!

Here’s how we made it work: we realized we weren’t really using our gym membership anymore (we built a home gym!). Instead of letting that monthly fee disappear back into our budget, we decided to redirect it straight into savings. Now, every month when we would’ve been paying the gym, that same amount moves automatically into our money market account. Honestly, it feels pretty seamless. Our budget doesn’t feel any tighter because the money was already spoken for in the past.

The beauty of this approach is how small steps turn into big results. So that $80/person, immediately turned into a $160/month deposit into our savings! So, whether it’s $20 or $200, those transfers add up…quietly, consistently, and without extra effort! Paying yourself first takes the pressure off willpower and makes saving a natural part of our routine. It’s not about sacrifice; it’s about shifting our priorities.