I like to refer to this as a major adult problem. It is one of the hundreds of things that nobody ever walks you through and no one ever talks about. Most of us have learned how to save money through the years, maybe because we wanted the cutest shoes or the coolest video games, but practically none of us thought it through more than that.

Saving money doesn’t only start once we have enough money to live or when we reach the position of our dreams; the process begins the minute we make money, even if it is a penny per day. Saving money is important for so many reasons. Imagine what would happen if the place where you are working suddenly goes bankrupt, or if your car is in urgent need of service, or maybe your best friend is getting married in the other side of the world, or maybe you get sick.

When we talk about money, I feel as though it is something that exists in the moment, or in a super short period of time, but the truth it is that it is a long-term process. Try to think about your plans in the future. Do you want to buy a house? Do you want to get the coolest apartment in the tallest building in the world? Would you love to travel forever once you retire? Are you thinking of having kids? If so, what type of opportunities would you like to give them?

Don’t get me wrong, saving money is not just helpful in achieving a goal 20 years down the road; it can also help you accomplish something in the near future, such as a 5-year plan. It could be that you are planning on studying abroad, starting your own business, getting a car, or getting married. Whether the goal you are striving to reach is a long-term or short-term goal, the money that you save up will be really helpful in allowing you to achieve that goal.

You can start by calculating how much money you actually need to live, then add a little more so you can have some money to pamper yourself a little bit, and then save the rest. If that leaves with you only 10 dollars left, then still save it! In the end everything counts.

Make sure that your money is in a safe place or a bank account that you can reach easily, and try to think that it is gone forever so you are not tempted to use it. Set a goal each year or month, and show yourself that you can really do it. Find a way to do it and actually do it. As time goes on, you’ll be grateful to have done it.

Fun fact: I talk way too much.