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Seven money-saving personal finance moves to get ahead right now, according to a financial advisor. One of the most important things that you can do to set yourself up for financial success later in life is to learn how to save money while you’re young, so that you can save more money as you get older. To help with this, we asked our personal finance advisor, Angela Baker, about the most important money-saving moves that people should make early on in life. Here’s what she had to say Pay yourself first If you don't have an emergency fund set up already, it's important to establish one as soon as possible and start saving monthly. Ideally your emergency fund should be enough for six months of living expenses, or at least three months of living expenses plus any other debts that need to be paid off if you lost your job. For example, if you need $400 per month to live on, your emergency fund should ideally be $2,400. That way when emergencies happen, like a car repair costing $500 dollars or being laid off from work with no income coming in (hopefully not), the debt can be paid down without putting extra pressure on the rest of your finances. Set up automatic payments This is one of the best ways to start saving immediately. Set up automatic payments so that your credit card company withdraws from your bank account every month on the same day. This way you don't have to worry about remembering when it's time for another payment; it'll just happen automatically! Be mindful of how much you're spending: When paying with cash or by debit card, you're much more likely to stick within budget limits than if you use a credit card. Find out what kind of deals are out there: Don't fall into the trap of purchasing something because it's on sale but doesn't fit in your budget or lifestyle. Set your goals and stick to them Setting goals and sticking to them is the best way to ensure you're saving as much as possible. When deciding on your goal, think about what you want out of life and how much you need in order to be able to afford it without breaking the bank. For example, if you want a house by age 45, then your goal should be $250k in savings by then. If you don't know what you want out of life, then a good rule of thumb is three months' salary saved up. Set up an automatic transfer from your paycheck: Automatic transfers can help reduce decision fatigue by simplifying things for yourself and taking some effort off your plate. Keep an emergency fund One of the most important things you can do is maintain an emergency fund with enough cash on hand to cover 3-6 months of living expenses. Doing so will ensure that your monthly bills will still be paid even if you are out of work for an extended period or have another emergency come up like a medical issue or car breakdown. The best way to create this fund is by saving 20% of your paycheck every month in a high-yield savings account and then gradually transferring it into CDs and other investments over time. The interest from these investments should give you some income while providing liquidity as well. Plus, you’ll earn more in return than what you would through most savings accounts since they offer rates below 1%. Get rid of your credit card debt One of the best ways to save is by tackling your debt. Credit card debt should be one of the first types you tackle and it can be done in as little as 18 months with some discipline and patience. Start by transferring any credit card balances to a low interest rate card (less than 8%) so that you pay less in interest over time. As soon as possible, start paying off the balance monthly rather than making minimum payments. After two or three years, try for an even better low-interest balance transfer offer or apply for an unsecured loan from your bank that has a lower interest rate. Get life insurance Life insurance is one of the most important personal finance moves you can make and it's never too soon to start taking care of your loved ones financially. If you have dependents or spouses, life insurance should be on the top of your list because it will pay out in event of an untimely death and give those left behind some peace of mind. While life insurance can be expensive, there are ways to lower the cost through shopping around or getting quotes online. Start investing One of the best ways you can save is to invest your money in stocks or bonds through an investment account such as a 401(k). You may need some cash on hand in case of emergencies, but by investing for the long-term and focusing on stocks with high dividends or interest rates, you'll see that your savings grow quickly over time. Consider making at least two to three investments per year; don't forget about Social Security: Even if you only receive $600 per month from Social Security, it's important to make sure this isn't all you're living off of. Plan out retirement: If you're older than 50 years old and have been saving consistently for retirement, congratulations! If not, it's not too late.