When you get that first real paycheck, resist the urge to splurge. It sounds obvious, but most people fail at this exact moment. The biggest trap? Immediately upgrading your lifestyle—new car, fancier apartment, premium subscriptions. Seems like you've earned it, right? Wrong. Once you start living that lifestyle, it becomes your baseline. Going back feels impossible. That's the real danger. The key is locking in the savings habit first. Let your income grow, but keep your expenses flat. Build that discipline early, and compound it over time. Your future self will thank you for it.