Paying yourself first means just that.As soon as a person receives any payment for any labor or service they have performed.They take a percentage of it and put it away for themselves before paying their debts and other obligations.Most finance books stress this.I also had heard this advice when I was nearing the end of adolescence.The staff member at that college I attended but never finished because I left,did state that people must pay themselves first because there are times when you will need money for carfare and other urgent matters.