Whether you have been bad at saving money your whole life and are just starting to get better at, or you recently have had a pay increase or a large lump sum payment and you are wondering what to do, financial advice is everywhere and it can get quite confusing. Reading an article in a financial magazine can feel like you’re reading another language and this can discourage you even more.

But fear not! As a beginner to the world of finances, there are a few things you should know that will help make your financial journey easier in the long run.

Here are 4 finance tips for beginners.

Pay Off Debts

No matter how much money you have in your debit or savings accounts, if you have debt hanging over your head you are never truly “doing well” financially. Pay off debts as soon as possible and make sure you aren’t constantly racking up new ones.

Save More

So you finally have some money saved – that’s great news and you should be proud of yourself! The next step is that you should continue trying to save more money. You can do this in a variety of different ways.

Start by using a separate savings account that you never touch. This will help diminish any temptations to spend your savings on anything. You should also cut back on things in your life that you are spending too much on. For example, take a close look at your gas and electric bills each month. If you are like most people, you can probably cut back a lot. If you learn to do this, you’ll save energy while reducing costs for yourself and it’s a win-win.

Invest

Once your debts are all paid off and you have a good chunk of savings, it may be time to start considering investing. If you don’t know where to begin, it may be best to talk to a professional financial adviser or even just a parent or close friend who is good at investing.

Investing doesn’t have to be akin to gambling. There are smart and low risk ways to do it that will help make you money much more quickly than you thought possible.

Don’t Obsess

At the end of the day, always remind yourself that money is not the most important thing in the world. Your health and happiness, as well as that of your loved ones, should always be prioritized over money. It can be easy to lose sight of this and become a finance nerd but it’s a great thing to remember because even if you make a bad financial decision you can tell yourself that it’s only money and everything will be OK.

Becoming good at finances doesn’t have to be difficult or stressful – just let these pro tips guide you!