Sheet 02 of 08
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The Starting Line · Pre-Flight Check

Financial Foundations

Investing before the basics are in place is like setting off on a long drive with a flat tyre. Tick these off before you put your first pound in a fund.

Click Yes on each item when it's in place. If something is a blocker right now, click No and use the notes field to capture what needs doing. There's no shame in not being ready — this is exactly what the checklist is for.

The Non-Negotiables

Before You Invest A Single Pound

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Emergency fund is in place
3–6 months of essential spending sitting in an easy-access savings account. Not invested. Not locked away.
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High-interest debt is cleared
Credit cards, buy-now-pay-later, payday loans. Paying 20%+ interest on debt while earning 8% from investing is a losing trade.
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Monthly budget is balanced
Income covers all outgoings with money left over. Investing money you might need next month creates pressure to sell at the wrong time.
Good to Have in Place

Foundations That Make Investing Easier

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Workplace pension is enrolled
If your employer offers matched contributions, not enrolling is leaving free money on the table. Check your payslip.
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Stocks & Shares ISA is open
You don't have to put money in yet, but opening one reserves your £20,000 annual allowance for this tax year. Free to open, no commitment.
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I understand what I'm investing in
Not expert-level knowledge — just enough to explain it to someone else in one sentence. If you can't, keep learning first.
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I can genuinely afford to lose this money short-term
Markets can fall 30–40% and take years to recover. If you'd have to sell in a panic, the amount you're investing is too high.

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