It means your savings comes out at the top of the month, automatically, before you have a chance to spend it — not out of whatever happens to survive to the end. Waiting for leftovers almost never works, because there usually aren't any.
Why Leftovers Never Show Up
Spending expands to fill whatever is available. If saving is last in line it competes with every want that came up during the month, and it loses most of those arguments.
Putting it first removes the argument entirely. The money is already gone before you're deciding anything.
Make It Automatic
An automatic transfer on payday is the whole technique. It works because it doesn't rely on you being disciplined on a hard week.
Start with an amount small enough that you won't cancel it. Raise it when a raise comes in, before you get used to the bigger paycheck.
Pay the Debts That Are Hurting You, Too
For families carrying high-cost debt, paying yourself first can mean sending that money at the debt instead of at savings — once a small cushion exists, so one bad week doesn't put it all back.
Which order makes sense for you depends on your numbers. That's a reasonable thing to work through with someone.
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