assetbest 
There’s a simple idea — the “10 Rule” — that makes a clear case for saving.
We all know we should save for the future, but it’s hard because when you want something, you don’t want to wait.
Try a different way of thinking about purchases. Before you buy, imagine paying ten times the sticker price for that item. Considering a $599 tablet? Would you pay $5,990 for it? Probably not. Yet that larger number represents the future income you give up by spending today.
The math is straightforward. If you invested $599 in a diversified index fund averaging a 6% annual return, in 40 years it would be worth about $6,000. Choosing to invest rather than spend gives you the chance to build much more wealth over time.
That doesn’t mean you should never spend. Applied to everything, the rule would make life miserly. You should still enjoy life — but be aware that every purchase is an opportunity cost: money you could have invested instead.
Spend on what matters. Ask yourself whether you need the expensive option or if a cheaper alternative will do. For example, buying a $179 tablet instead of a $599 model frees up $420. Invest that $420 at the same 6% for 40 years and you’ll have roughly $4,320 more than if you’d bought the pricier device.
Before you buy, think about whether today’s satisfaction is worth giving up roughly ten times the item’s cost in future wealth.
How do you motivate yourself to save? Do you have savings automatically deducted from your paycheck?
