Emergency Funds: A Quick And Easy Way To Start One
One of the biggest reasons that many individuals fall into debt is that they do not have emergency funds available to take care of the emergencies that arise in their lives. Unexpected expenses can arise at any moment and can be devastating to an individual or family that is not prepared for it. It is very important for everyone to have an emergency fund and here are a few quick tips for creating one.
Beginning An Emergency Fund
It is very easy to create an emergency fund. The first step is to calculate how much money you spend on your monthly expenses each month. It is important to add in some extra money to cover those expenses that are unexpected but tend to occur with some frequency, such as having to purchase a new pair of shoes because the old ones are worn out or spending extra money in gas because you have to travel much farther than you expect.
The next step is to choose a time frame to save for. Everyone should try to have enough money in savings to cover at least six months of their expenses, in case they lose their job or face a huge financial issue, but many individuals could get by with around three months worth of savings in the bank. Individuals that make more money should be trying to put more money away, but even individuals that are living paycheck to paycheck will be able to save some money for a rainy day.
Time To Save Money
Saving enough money for a good emergency fund will take some sacrifice on the part of the individual, but it will be well worth it in the long run. There are many daily expenses in most individual’s lives that they can do without for a period of time and the money saved can be placed directly into the emergency fund so that it can build quickly. Unnecessary items that many individuals spend money on during their daily lives, such as specialty coffees or expensive lunches out during the work week, can be sacrificed for the greater good of padding your emergency fund.
Many individuals find that the items that they sacrificed to create their emergency fund are not as important to their daily lives as the items first seemed. These individuals continue to avoid the extra expenses and save more money towards their emergency fund or for things that they desire to make their lives better. Learning to save money can be difficult for individuals that do not have much experience with saving money, but the skill will help the individual live a better life and assist them in preparing for their future.
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This was a great post. Establishing an emergency fund is so important! But it’s also important to protect that emergency fund and make sure you don’t divert your savings into investment or spending. I found some really helpful tips for protecting an emergency fund here http://blog.greensherpa.com/index.php/personal-finance/3-tips-to-protect-your-emergency-fund/
I really enjoy the article. Cool.