ABSTRACT
Research on financial success shows that wealth accumulation is built on three pillars: ability to live below your means, commitment to regular saving to avoid debts and create a buffer, and growth of wealth through investing. Yet, the UK population is struggling to deal with these, and in many countries consumer debt is at historically high levels even years after the global financial crisis. This chapter examines the importance of budgeting, saving and investing as the essential building blocks for attaining your goals. It discusses how living within your means is seen as the key to wealth and financial independence because it allows you to avoid debts and have the surplus income to save and invest. Debt is generally divided into two types – good debt and bad debt. Debt should generally be avoided to pay for current spending or disposable items. There are two main types of debt: unsecured and secured debt.
