6. Start Funding Your Retirement

If you’re facing a large number of expenses – as many young people do when they’re starting out in life – this can be a tough one to swing, but one well worth doing. If you have a 401k plan at work that offers a company match, put as much of your paycheck into it as you can afford. If you can’t put in much, don’t sweat it, put in as much as you can. A little is better than nothing at all.

Retirement savings are another one of those good habits, and small contributions made early in life can get you started on the right path. Because of compound earnings, the sooner you start this process; the better off you’ll be in the long run.

7. Automate Your Savings

Automation is the key to creating habits without having to change your behavior much. If you have a new job and your employer is somewhat familiar with twenty-first century technology, they will have direct deposit available. This will allow you to deposit your paycheck directly into a checking or savings account.

From the savings account, you can decide how much you need for spending money each week and how much you need to pay your bills each month. Transfer only what you need and leave the rest in the account earning interest. Work with your bank to create instructions for these transfers so they take place automatically.