It’s easy to tell yourself you’ll save what’s left in your account at the end of the month, but it can be much harder to actually have money left over. Paying yourself first can be a game-changer.

“Automate your savings to occur right after the direct deposit from your paycheck hits your account,” said Filip Telibasa, certified financial planner (CFP), owner and planner at Benzina Wealth in Sarasota, Florida.

“Open a high yield savings account and keep at least three months of expenses in it for an emergency fund,” Telibasa said. “If you have this in place, you are less likely to accumulate debt, as you have funds set aside for a rainy day.”