Make sense of the money moving the world

1. 01

   Pay yourself first

   Move savings out on payday, before bills and impulse buys get a vote.

2. 02

   Use the rule of 72

   Divide 72 by your yearly return to see how long money takes to double.

3. 03

   Read the fee line

   A 1% annual charge can swallow a fifth of a portfolio over thirty years.

4. 04

   Build the cushion

   Three to six months of costs in cash comes before any investing.

5. 05

   Spread the risk

   No single stock should be big enough to keep you awake at night.

6. 06

   Clear costly debt

   Paying off a 20% credit card is a guaranteed 20% return.

7. 07

   Stay in your seat

   The best market days often follow the worst. Panic selling misses both.

8. 08

   Rebalance once a year

   Trim what ran ahead, top up what lagged, then leave it alone.

General guidance for everyday readers — not personal financial advice.