Money✓ Follow-up at 8 weeks2,670 views
I make decent money but I can never save anything
A savings kickstart plan for high earners who can't save, covering lifestyle inflation awareness, automation, and building a savings-first mindset.
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Follow-Up Result
8 weeks laterSaved $3,200 in 8 weeks by automating savings and cutting lifestyle inflation
The Problem
I make $75,000 a year and I have $400 in savings. I don't know where the money goes. I'm not buying luxury items but somehow every paycheck disappears by the next one. I've been saying "I'll start saving next month" for three years. I feel like I should be further ahead financially but I'm living paycheck to paycheck on a salary that shouldn't require it.
The Plan
Week 1-2: Find the Money Leaks
Track every dollar for 2 weeks — use an app or just save every receipt. You'll be shocked at where the money goes
Identify lifestyle inflation: as your income grew, did your spending grow with it? Nicer restaurants, better clothes, more subscriptions?
Calculate your "latte factor": small daily purchases that add up. $15/day on lunch, coffee, and snacks = $450/month
List every subscription and recurring charge — cancel anything you don't actively use weekly
Set up a separate high-yield savings account at a different bank — out of sight, out of mind
Week 3-4: Automate and Protect
Pay yourself first: set up automatic transfer of 15-20% of your paycheck to savings ON PAYDAY, before you can spend it
Use the 24-hour rule for purchases over $50: wait a day before buying. Most impulse purchases won't survive the wait
Reduce your biggest expenses by 10%: negotiate rent, refinance loans, switch insurance providers, downgrade your phone plan
Build a $1,000 emergency fund first, then aim for 3 months of expenses
Treat savings like a bill — it's not optional, it's not "what's left over," it's the first thing that gets paid
Resources
YNAB (You Need A Budget) — gives every dollar a job
High-yield savings accounts — Marcus, Ally, or Discover (4%+ APY)
r/personalfinance — community advice on saving strategies
"I Will Teach You to Be Rich" by Ramit Sethi — practical money management for normal people
Follow-Up Result
8 weeks in: I tracked my spending for the first 2 weeks and found $680/month in waste: $120 in unused subscriptions, $200 in daily coffee and lunch purchases, $160 in impulse Amazon orders, and $200 in "I deserve it" spending. Set up automatic transfer of $400/paycheck (biweekly) to a high-yield savings account at a different bank. The separate bank was crucial — I can't see the money in my regular banking app so I don't think about spending it. Saved $3,200 in 8 weeks. I still eat out and buy things I enjoy, but I'm intentional about it now. The automation was the key — I never have to decide to save, it just happens.Know someone with this problem?
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