First Pay Playbook
Money skills for when pay starts landing. Short course for people starting work: how money comes in, a simple budget, saving and investing, and still living your life.
What’s in it
Outline only. Open a module for the full lesson.
Why more than one income source matters (work, a business, shares, and other streams people use) then the real stats, not the seven-streams meme.
- Build more than one way money comes in · ~12 min
A cash pot for surprises. Start with about a week of living costs, keep it in a savings account you can reach, and put a bit in every week.
- Build your emergency fund · ~8 min
Stop the bleed. Avoid the consumer debt you don’t need, list what you already owe, and knock it down with a snowball so your pots get their money back.
- Knock down your debt · ~9 min
Save for soon. Invest for later. Pay yourself first with an intentional payday slice: Super or a 401(k) if you have it, then a second pile you control.
- Savings and investing · ~10 min
A weekly budget on your lowest usual take-home. Pots with jobs, then automatic transfers the day after payday.
- Build your full budget · ~8 min
Own minus owe. Fill it once, then update the month that just finished so you can see which way your pile is heading.
- Track your net worth · ~9 min
Money is a tool. Name what it’s for (values, relationships, experiences), so a clear plan buys calm for the life you actually want.
- Live your life · ~7 min
Tools stay on their own pages: weekly budget · net worth · playgrounds.