The First Stack: How to Build a Bulletproof Financial Base
Most Men Don’t Have a Money Problem. They Have a System Problem.
You can have a good job.
A decent salary.
And still feel like one emergency could wipe you out.
I’ve been there.
Not long ago, I was going through a divorce with £12.5k in debt, zero savings, and no backup.
I wasn’t reckless. I paid into my pension. I thought I was doing things right.
But I was blind to what was happening under the surface.
Because I was used to comfort.
Two salaries. A stable life.
Until it all changed.
That was my wake-up call.
I didn’t need more motivation.
I needed a system.
The First Stack
This isn’t about side hustles or chasing coins.
This is about control.
This is the financial base I built that changed everything.
Step 1. Save £1,000 Fast
This is your first fire extinguisher.
It won’t fix everything, but it gives you peace of mind.
Save it aggressively. Sell something. Cut spending. Make it happen.
Step 2. Kill Your Debt with the Snowball Method
Here’s how I did it:
Pay the minimum on everything.
Transfer to zero percent cards if you can.
Then throw everything you’ve got at the smallest debt.
When it’s gone, take that same monthly payment and roll it into the next debt.
Repeat until you’re free.
I lived on cash.
I cut subscriptions.
I worked extra hours.
And I cleared it in under six months.
Momentum is everything.
Step 3. Save 3 to 6 Months of Expenses
This is what real stability feels like.
When I had six months saved, I could breathe again.
No more bending to bad jobs. No more panic when the boiler broke.
If your job is secure, three months might be enough.
But six months gave me true peace.
Use [my spreadsheet] to calculate your number.
Step 4. Match Your Employer Pension Contribution
This is free money.
Take it. Every time.
I did this early and I’m glad I stuck with it.
Step 5. Automate 20 Percent of Your Income into Investments
Pick a simple index fund like the S&P 500.
Set up a monthly transfer.
Forget about it.
Wealth builds in the background while you build your life.
What Comes After the Stack?
Once the pressure lifted, everything shifted.
I upskilled. Took on bigger projects. Became valuable to the right people.
I specialised. I raised my rates. I stopped taking low-value work.
But that wasn’t enough.
I wanted more freedom. More control. More upside.
So I started writing.
I started building.
I started creating leverage.
If you feel stuck, don’t try to jump ahead.
Start at the bottom.
Build the stack.
Then rise.
Lets go
David