Level 1 – The Financial Basics

Goal:Cover your basic needs without falling behind, track income, expenses, fixed, or variable costs

• Learn to track income vs. expenses (know where money goes).
• Build a bare-bones budget (food, shelter, transportation, essentials).
• **** Eliminate or reduce high-interest debt (credit cards, payday loans).
• (SAVING) Create a starter emergency fund ($500–$1,000).

You’re stable when you can pay bills on time without borrowing.

Level 2 – Financial Strategies & Stability

Basic needs covered, fixed and variable expenses are known, you have a basic financial system. 

Goal: Keeping the good habits and creating new good habits, learn about future you & the usage of different accounts and automation. 

• (SAVING) Build a full emergency fund (3–6 months of expenses).
• **** Continue reducing debt (student loans, car loans, etc.).
• Start automating savings, pay yourself first, save for a rainy day, or pay future you 
• Open SAVING (HIGH INTEREST) , INVESTMENT (TFSA) or retirement (RRSP) account (RRSP/TFSA in Canada).
• Understand the basics of credit score and protect it.

You’re stable when you’re not worried about unexpected expenses.

Level 3 – Financial Growth

Goal: Make your money work for you, developing financial strategies, making your money have babies. 

• Save and invest at least 15–20% of income consistently.
• Diversify with index funds, ETFs, or real estate.
• Increase income through career growth, side hustles, or entrepreneurship.
• Avoid lifestyle inflation (spending more just because you earn more).
• Learn about taxes and optimize contributions (RRSP, TFSA, RESP if kids).

You’re growing when your investments start producing passive income.

In summary, there are level to the game, learning them will save you tones of time in lost or squandered money.

If you don’t disagree with the article or thing we need to add some, add a comment.

Created by

Lee Adams