YouTube personality Graham Stephan has been delivering financial advice online since 2016, and as of this month has 3.6 million subscribers on the video platform.

Here are 10 top tips from this American real-estate agent turned social-media personality.

1. Track your spending

Whether you use a spreadsheet or software, you’ll know how much you spend after tracking to see where your money goes.

From there, determine where you would like to make cuts. The ultimate goal is to identify needless expenses and eliminate them to live within your means.

2. Pay yourself first

When most people get paid, they take care of expenses first and then reward themselves before putting the remainder into a savings account. This is incorrect.

After you’ve tracked your spending and determined how much you can save monthly, deposit that amount as soon as you get paid.

Develop the habit of paying yourself first. You could even set it up so your savings are deducted automatically.

3. Keep emergency funds

It’s important to have money to spare in the event of an emergency. And when you’ve worked hard to save this money, it’s critical to choose the right place to store it.

Instead of keeping the money in a basic savings account, find an option that will give you better returns, such as current accounts with higher yields.

4. Get rid of bad debt

Make a note of your monthly expenditure and costs, and concentrate on progressively reducing your frivolous spending while putting more money towards your debts.

You can save money by consolidating your debts – for example, by transferring the amount on your credit card bill to a new card with a reduced interest rate.

When it comes to paying off debt, some people prefer the snowball technique – paying off smaller amounts first; while others prefer the avalanche method, which is to firstly pay off the largest obligations or those with the highest interest.

5. Don’t get Starbucks

Giving up your morning coffee isn’t going to make you rich, but you should aim to stop paying for convenience.

The “no Starbucks” philsosophy can apply to all areas of your life. Brew your coffee at home. Stop ordering via apps when you can make dinner more cheaply.

You will have more money to save or invest if you stop paying convenience fees.

6. Never buy designer clothes

Don’t splash cash on costly clothes when you are attempting to increase your coffers. Ask yourself whether the price of an item is worth the number of hours you’ll have to work to pay for it.

The same mindset can be extended to vehicles, gadgets, entertainment, and so on.

7. Be smart at restaurants

Most people like to spend time with friends and family by going out to eat. Be aware of how much you spend when eating out, especially if alcoholic beverages are involved.

If you do have to go out for a meal, opt for eateries that are more affordable, or make strategic decisions such as substituting an appetiser for your main course.

8. Have multiple sources of income

You will hit a ceiling if you’re living substantially below your means while trying to save or invest as much as you can. It is a good idea to increase your earnings, and always strive to attain passive income wherever possible.

Look into options such as taking on additional jobs, consulting or working freelance, or investing in the stock market.

9. Take care of yourself

Exercise, go for regular checkups, and spend money on healthy food because it will save you money and improve your quality of life in the long run.

While this might sound counterintuitive, it’s actually not a bad idea to invest in a gym membership, as long as you put it to good use.

10. Avoid lifestyle inflation

You will almost certainly receive raises and promotions in the course of your career, and when you do, it can be tempting to boost your spending, especially if your peers are also doing so.

Getting a new car, eating out more frequently, or relocating to a larger apartment all inflate your lifestyle. If you’ve retained the same expenses for years, investing the additional money will allow you to achieve your financial goals much more quickly.

This article first appeared in MyPF. Follow MyPF to simplify and grow your personal finances on Facebook and Instagram.