Originally Posted by Tinkerbell

Over time, this simple rule has proven to be a winner for me:

1/3 of your income to live;
1/3 for expenses
1/3 for savings

That is broadly it. Pay yourself first, get rid of debt as quickly as you can, do not use your credit card often (and try and pay it in full every month), don't ever max it out, invest wisely and diversify. Long term is long term. If you can pay cash, pay cash. If you had to pay for something in cash, would you really buy it?

Be patient and have discipline (as a pilot, you've got that down!). You don't even need to earn an astronomical salary to end up with a more than decent amount of money in the long run. Organization, patience, discipline, and wise decisions are key.