Community Story:
I love routines. Morning routines, evening routines, skincare routines, I even have a journaling routine. One routine that has been firmly in place for years now is my payday routine, every month when I get paid, I do three things:
- Create my new budget for the month ahead
- Move all my money around into my designated sinking funds and pots in my bank; bills, travel, groceries, dining out etc.
- Manually invest my excess
My payday hasn’t always been like this, I used to see it as a chance to treat myself, as a chance to ‘enjoy the money that I’d earned’. Filled with instant gratification for the first week of the month while the following three were filled with regret (and seemed to go on forever). I was chasing a dopamine rush from acquiring new belongings, spending money in a way that left me with nothing to show for it.
Like many people, during lockdown, I got caught up in the buzz of investing. I started watching YouTube videos and learning how the money I earned could actually make my future better. Lockdown gave me space to slow down and reflect on my habits. With nowhere to go and nothing to buy, I started asking myself: what do I actually want my money to do for me?
That’s when something clicked. I could still acquire things, just not the kind that arrived in a parcel the next day.
It took time to rewire my brain to swap overspending for investing. Spending had always felt rewarding. It was easy, it was visible, it gave me that instant hit. Investing, on the other hand, felt distant and abstract. You don’t get a “thank you for your order” email when you invest. But I started treating it the same way.
I’d check my investing app the way I used to check parcel tracking updates. I’d move money over and think, “Ooh, another little something for future me.” Slowly, that became my healthy hit of dopamine. The satisfaction of knowing I was buying time, flexibility, and choices for myself down the line hit harder than any impulse purchase ever did.
Now, my payday routine is a non-negotiable ritual. It’s calm, it’s intentional and it reminds me how far I’ve come. Before I spend, I take stock of what I already have, what’s coming up and what I want.
When it comes to investing, I think automating it is amazing. If that suits you and you want it off your plate, I applaud you. But as a type-A control freak, I love the satisfaction of manually moving that number up every month. It feels like ticking something off a self-care list.
Whatever way works best for you is the best way to start. It could be £10 or £100, it’s the act that matters. Each time you move that money, you’re strengthening a muscle. It’s a small, consistent moment of choosing your future over your impulses, and that adds up faster than you think.
Want to start investing but not sure where to begin? Our guide to investing breaks it all down in simple steps: Lazy Girl’s Guide To Investing.
PS. Remember, with investing your capital is at risk and you could end up with less money than you put in.