Build the Habit, Then Optimize: A Simple Approach to Personal Finance
Build the Habit, Then Optimize: A Simple Approach to Personal Finance
My name is Emmanuel Akrong, CEO and Founder of CedisPay.
A few years ago, I tried to improve my finances by doing everything at once—cutting expenses, saving aggressively, and investing. But I quickly felt overwhelmed and stuck. The problem? I was trying to optimize before I built the habit of managing my money consistently.
Many people face the same challenge. Everywhere you turn, there’s financial advice like:
While these are great financial goals, trying to do everything at once often leads to inaction. The key to financial success isn’t complexity—it’s consistency.
At CedisPay, we believe financial wellbeing is a journey, not a one-time event. That’s why we built tools to help you establish strong financial habits first—before diving into complex strategies.
Step 1: Start Small – Build the Habit of Tracking
Before you can optimize your spending, saving, or investing, you need to know where your money is going.
The Problem
Many people fail at budgeting because they try to optimize before they track. It’s like trying to lose weight without ever stepping on a scale.
Action Step
Track every expense for the next 30 days.
How CedisPay Helps
The goal isn’t to cut back yet—it’s simply to pay attention. Awareness naturally leads to better choices.
Step 2: Automate the Basics – Make Saving Effortless
Many people struggle with saving because they rely on willpower. The solution? Automate it.
The Problem
If saving feels like a chore, it won’t last.
Action Step
Set up an automatic transfer of a small amount—GHS 50 or whatever is manageable—every month.
How CedisPay Makes This Easier
Once saving becomes a habit, you can increase the amount or explore investment options.
Step 3: Celebrate Consistency, Not Perfection
Most people fail at budgeting because they expect perfection.
The Problem
You won’t always stay within budget, and that’s okay.
Action Step
Instead of stressing about perfection, focus on reviewing your budget weekly or monthly.
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How CedisPay Helps You Stay on Track
Consistent small check-ins create better money habits over time.
Step 4: Optimize Once the Habit is Established
Once you’ve built the habit of tracking, saving, and budgeting, you can start optimizing.
The Problem
Most people jump into cutting expenses or investing before they even know how much they’re spending.
Action Step
Now that you’ve built consistency, start fine-tuning:
How CedisPay Helps You Optimize
Step 5: Small Wins Compound Over Time
Saving GHS 10 a week might not seem like much, but over time, it builds momentum and confidence.
The Problem
People think they need to start big—but consistency beats intensity.
Action Step
Don’t focus on how much—focus on sticking with it.
The CedisPay Advantage
The Bottom Line: Start Simple, Stay Consistent
Most people don’t succeed financially because they try to do everything at once.
But the key to wealth isn’t complex strategies—it’s consistent small actions:
Once these habits are in place, optimizing becomes easy.
At CedisPay, we designed our Financial Wellbeing Budget App to make personal finance simple, automatic, and stress-free. Because success isn’t about doing things perfectly—it’s about doing them consistently.
What’s one small financial habit you’re working on? Let’s discuss in the comments!
Empower Your Financial Journey with CedisPay
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great advise and piece , i encourage all to read and apply