<prompt> Human: Ive seen a lot of posts about how to save for x or to buy y. So I thought Id share some saving advice that I was taught and many forget. Its called the gap: the difference between income after tax and basic must have items lodging, food clothing The larger this gap the more you can do. Be it save more, buy a car or what not. A lot of people suffer from having a small gap which makes savings much harder. The fastest way to increase your gap is following 2 rules1. when you get a raise increase keep your standard of living the exact same 2. Dont confuse categories. Food is a basic need but eating out 5 times a week isnt. A house is a basic need but look at the agv rental cost in the area if you rent for more than avg you are taking from your gapThe gap is where you get to have all your fun, do as you want with it. Its yours but dont spend more than your gap.  <response>: Yup, I call it surplus monthly cash flow. After-tax income - Expenses SurplusI always make sure to count any debt minimum payments in the monthly expenses, but not any extra payments to debt, or contributions to savings. I like to figure out my actual required expenses, then consider it a separate logical process to decide how to allocate my surplus which may very well be as extra payments towards debts, or into savings accounts, etc 