AUTOMATE YOUR SAVINGS - IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT!
Whether it's $50 or $1,000 per month, start diverting some amount of money out of your checking account each pay day and put it into a separate brokerage account, such as Vanguard or Fidelity. While auto-debiting directly into a local bank account is fine, you are less likely to tap into the funds if it's in a separate account with an instituation located remotely.
Start with an amount that you likely won't miss each month, and increase the amount over time, especially when you receive a raise, or if your cost of living declines. If you're budget is too tight, look for ways to reduce your bills such as auto insurnace, cable, entertainment, etc. Allocate that money to an auto-debit savings account and watch your savings grow over time.
