How Can You Automate Your Savings—The Lazy Way to Build Wealth?

Hey, do you want to save more? But you're tired of trying harder because your willpower is expensive, isn't it? It wears out.It gets drained by everyday life, and it disappears on those stressful days, doesn't it? But you know what doesn't disappear? A system. A system never gets moody. A system doesn't forget, and a system also doesn't panic.So today on the show, I want to show you the lazy way to build wealth. Yes, you heard me right. I said lazy. And, friend, lazy in this way means wise. It's really that simple.It means you stop relying on motivation and you start relying on structure. And yes, before I even get rolling today, you can do this. I have confidence in that. So let's make savings easier today.Here's the question you and I are answering today. How can you automate your savings? The lazy way to actually build wealth. I'm going to show you how to set it up simply with.Without pressure and most of all, without shame. Hey, friend. Ralph Estep Jr. Here.Welcome to Financially Confident Christian, where we learn how to walk through life with money and wisdom and peace and with a heart anchored in God's truth.My mission is simple here on the show, to help you break that cycle of financial shame and build those steady habits which are rooted in faith and truly become a financially confident Christian. Hey, that's why we're here. And I'm really glad you're here today. And I want to tell you something up front.If savings has felt hard for you, that doesn't mean you're broken. It doesn't mean you lack discipline, and it doesn't mean you don't want it enough. I hear so many people that say that.What it usually means is you've been trying to do a systems job with a human strength, and like a human, you get tired. So let's build a system today that keeps working even when you're tired. Here's today's listener question. Ralph, I want to save.I really do want to save. But it feels like saving only works when life is common. My life, Ralph, isn't calm. Bills hit, the groceries cost more every week.Something always seems to come up. How do I actually save when it feels like there's none or anything left? Friend, I feel you on that one.And if that's you, let me tell you right now, you're not alone in feeling that way. You're not irresponsible, you're not lazy, you're not bad with money. You're just living in reality. And reality has Surprises. Reality has stress.Reality has those weeks when you're doing fine and weeks where you're barely holding it together. And in those weeks, savings is usually the first thing to go. And it's not because you don't care.You want to save, but because savings is quiet and urgent needs are loud. They come at you loud and clear.So today, I want to help you turn savings into something that happens without requiring you to always be at your best. Because, friend, you, you don't have to be at your best to start making real progress. Here's the truth.If savings depends on you remembering, guess what? You're going to forget it. If savings depends on leftovers, there's not going to be many leftover.And if savings depends on motivation, it's going to rise and fall with your emotions. But if savings depends on the system, that's how it becomes steady. And, friend, steady is what builds peace. I'm Ralph Estepp Jr. I'm an accountant.And for decades, I've watched people actually work in their real lives how to save. And one pattern is clear.People who make progress financially don't always have perfect income, but they do have simple systems that keep working even when life isn't perfect. And guess what? Here's a spoiler. Life isn't always perfect. And that's what we're building for you today.I've had conversations with people who tell me, rob, I've tried savings for years. I always mean to stick, but it never sticks. And a lot of the time they're not spending wildly. It's not about that. They're just living.They're just surviving. They're just trying to keep up. And when we look close, the problem isn't in their heart. It's in their setup. It's in their systems.So we do one small change. We set up what I call an automatic transfer. Nothing big, nothing dramatic, just consistent.And listen, it could be $20, it could be $50, any tiny amount that moves every single paycheck. And then they come back and say this, Ralph, I didn't even miss it. And then they say something even better. I feel like I'm finally moving forward.And, friend, today, you deserve to have that feeling as well. That's what automation does. It creates progress without demanding constant effort from you. So here's today's central question.What if the breakthrough isn't more discipline? What if it's just more order? What if you don't need more pressure? What if you just need a plan that holds you up?So let's Start by acknowledging this. Automatic transfers save you from decision fatigue. We all have this. Your brain makes a thousand decisions a day.Hey, sometimes it feels like it's making a thousand decisions a minute. You've got work decisions, just family decisions. What are we going to have for dinner? Health decisions. Am I going to work out today?And those big life decisions. And by the time you get to savings, you're worn out. So savings becomes that you know what I'm do that later. And later becomes you know what?I get my next paycheck. That's when I'll do it. And that next paycheck becomes someday I'm going to save. But automation removes the debate.And savings happens even when you forget, even when you're stressed, even when you're not feeling motivated. Hey, if you're like me, I have days when I'm not feeling motivated. Because, see, motivation is emotional.But automation, that's truly mechanical and mechanical can be a gift to you. So I recommend this first, pay yourself first before you ever see it. Most people save what's left at the end of the day. And what's left?Usually goods claimed by something that shouted out loud to you. That grocery run that costs more than you expected, or that bill you forgot was on autopay, oops, I didn't realize that was coming out this week.Or a kid expense, or just a quick order online, kind of jump over to Amazon right quick. Not because you're careless, but because checking accounts are designed to be spent from. That's their sole mission, to spend that money.So here's the shift for you. If you want savings to happen, it can't be last. It can't be at the end of the line. It's got to be first. And it's not because you're rich.It's because you're wise. See, pay yourself first means this. Because before everything else takes that bite, I'm going to honor the future God is building in me.Because what I've learned, systems beat motivation. Especially on those hard days. Think about it like this. Motivation is that spark. And sparks are fantastic, but they don't last.Some days you're going to feel determined, like, I can do this. Other days you're going to feel drained. And you're just trying to survive.And if your plan depends on you being inspired, it's not going to survive real life. But a system doesn't need that inspiration. A system is steady. A system quietly wins while you live your life.And let me tell you right now, the goal isn't perfection. The goal is just consistency. Because that consistency, day after day, week after week, paycheck after paycheck, builds your peace.So I suggest you start small, but start steady. Let me say this clearly to you. You don't need a big number to build a big habit. You need a small number that happens on purpose.Because your first goal isn't wealth. Your first goal is identity. To become the kind of person who saves.Hey, listen, even if it's 10 bucks or 20 bucks, even if it starts so small, you almost feel like this is silly. But it's not silly, it's faithful. Small is how you prove to yourself, I can do this, and friend, you can do this.That faithfulness compounds not just in dollars, but in confidence. The secret is make it automatic and make it visible. Here's a simple trick for you. Move the money before you can even spend it. And move it somewhere.You don't stare at it every day. Because if savings sits next to your checking account, it keeps whispering this, you can use me. You deserve it, just this once.But if it's in a separate savings account, or even better, how about a separate bank? It becomes harder to touch. Not impossible. You can still get to it. Just harder and harder is helpful. And you're not punishing yourself.You're protecting yourselves. And friend, you're worth protecting. And here's the best part. Automation protects you from emotional spending.The truth is, a lot of spending isn't logical. It's emotional. It's that tired spending, that stress spending. I'm having a rough day, let me go shop some. It's that reward spending.I've had a day spending. And friend, we're being honest with each other.You and I have both been there from time to time and see, automation gets savings moved before emotions even show up. So even if the day gets heavy, your future is still being funded. And that's not just financial wisdom, that's peace building for you.And as I said earlier, lazy is the best way. Now a lot of people say lazy. What are you going with this, Ralph? I mentioned lazy at the beginning. Some people hear lazy and they think careless.But that kind of lazy is not what I'm talking about. You stop making life harder than it needs to be. You stop relying on willpower, and you build something dependable.Because the goal isn't to be impressive. The goal is to be consistent. And that consistency is what changed your life. Let's tie this into scripture.Let's look at First Corinthians, chapter 14, verse. Verse 40. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. Friend, God is not the author of chaos. Order isn't cold.Order is kind to our hearts. Order is what helps you stay steady when life gets loud and life gets loud.And a simple automatic transfer can lay one small act of order that produces a ton of peace for you. All right, here's your action step for today. I always want to give you an action step. Today. I want you to set up an automatic transfer.Not someday, not when you feel ready today. Listen, Even if it's $20 a paycheck, and if $20 feels like too much, make it $10. And if $10 feels like too much, make it 5 dollars.Start where you are, but just start right there. Let's pray together. Lord, thank you for the order and structure in our lives. Thank you that you care about our peace.Help us set up wise systems and stop relying only on willpower. Give us diligence to stay consistent, especially in those weeks when life feels heavy.And Lord, for the listener who feels ashamed, remind them right now they're not behind because they're broken. They're learning, they're growing. And you're with them in the journey.And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen, Friend, if this show feels safe to you, like a place where money struggles don't come with judgment, I want to invite you and join our community. Because get to that by going to financiallyconfidentchristian.com/join again. That's financiallyconfidentchristian.com/Join.That's where you're going to find extra encouragement and some practical next steps to help you build that lasting peace. And friend, you don't have to do this alone. You don't need more pressure. You need a plan that can hold you on your most tired days.So automate it, simplify it, let order carry you. And tomorrow we're going to talk about how to savor those big goals without burning out.And friend, I want to encourage you right now, share this episode with someone you love who needs an easy start. Because this show isn't about financial shame.It's about walking in wisdom, staying financially savvy, and truly becoming a financially confident Christian. God bless you, and I hope you have a great day today.