Remembering to move money into savings every payday sounds simple, but busy weeks and tempting purchases get in the way. Relying on willpower alone tends to produce uneven results.

Set up an automatic transfer from checking to your emergency account timed for the day your paycheck arrives. Some employers also let you split direct deposit so part of each paycheck lands in savings before it ever reaches your checking account. Either way, the money is set aside before you have a chance to spend it.

Choose an amount small enough that you won't feel the need to reverse it. Even a modest transfer adds up when it happens every pay period. As your income grows or you pay off a debt, bump the amount up a little. Check in every few months to see how the balance is growing, which can be a surprisingly motivating sight. If money is especially tight in a given month, lowering the transfer is often better than stopping it entirely.