Direct Deposit

Direct deposit is an employer paying you electronically straight into your bank account rather than by check. It typically clears one to two days faster than a paper check, costs nothing, and can't be lost. Its underrated use is splitting: most payroll systems let you route a fixed amount or percentage to a second account, which is the simplest automation in personal finance — savings leave before you ever see them, so the decision to save is made once rather than monthly.