The Importance Of Saving Money For An Emergency Fund

If you suddenly have to fix an unexpected expense, such as a car repair, or you would like to take time off between your old job and your new job without having to worry about your living expenses, would you feel panicked or prepared?

Almost half of all Americans dread facing a shortage of income or an unexpected financial hardship because they have insufficient money to pay for an unexpected event. In the back of your mind, you know that you should be planning for such an event, but hoping that it will always remain sunny probably isn't going to help you from worrying when the storm hits.

Whether scientists call it a rainy-day fund, an emergency fund, or just a savings account, financial security is never a bad thing. If you're wondering why it's useful or how to get going, now is a great day to begin building your financial future.

Why you should save money for an emergency fund

You might be compelled to be as responsible as much as you can when it comes to the management of your funds and spending and come up short with a big bill you didn't anticipate. That's why it's essential to save for an emergency fund.

Apart from the effect on your financial health, unexpected crises can affect your psychological health by causing considerable emotional strain, urgency, or even panic.

You can't budget an emergency in the same manner you can budget for a holiday or shopping list item. Having to handle an emergency expense isn't optional. It needs to be a priority, just like all other budgetary expenditures.

Many people plan for an emergency payment by taking on debt, which results in spending more later. Having an easily accessible financial resource you have worked hard to save can help solve your unexpected expense issue and avoid financial hardship later.

How much money you should save

Just as you save for retirement, you will be anticipated to save for an emergency. For example, if you need to leave to devote a week to a family member, the rates would be different from the expenses you'd have to make if you lose the ability to travel for two days or for two hours.

It's suggested that people of earning one's own means create a cushion of no less than $500 in savings and store it in case there's a sudden encounter of financial need. Taking a closer look in your budget and resources can help determine what will be possible and what will have to be difficult. Such a place to set your initial savings goal.

How does this measure up against the price of traveling in an emergency, or buying airplane or car tickets now? Look at past expenditures and use those numbers as a guideline to start saving as soon as you can.

You would also want to think about your current net income, ideally if a natural disaster wiped out your place of employment or you had to take time off to care for an elderly parent. Do you have enough money for the week, month, or longer?

The minimum amount you're able to add to your emergency fund is your initial target. If it is inconceivable for you to save that sum quickly, don't worry about it. For that reason, most emergency reserves are built over time, so save carefully.

How you can start your emergency fund

A savings account is one option to consider, particularly if you plan to begin with a smaller amount of money.

If you obtain an windfall of cash, such as a lump sum or a tax refund, these would be a good choice to start savings. Find a financial institution that enables interest-earning savings accounts and doesn't demand a large minimum deposit. You'll need the savings to pay interest; however, the first step is to earn interest. The most important thing is to have a place to go keep your hard-earned money.

Setting a goal will help you get an idea of how much you can save, so it is a good idea to set some short-term goals first. Determine how much more affordable it is to save each payment period or each month.

Automating your savings is one way to accomplish your goals. You can modify your direct deposit to stash money in your emergency account, which makes it simple to keep your savings out of sight and out of mind. You can set up automatic transfers from your checking account to your savings account in order to have a steady emergency reserve.

When you are motivated by positive reinforcement of your efforts, make use of your mobile or online banking to send email or text message updates on a weekly basis or monthly regarding your savings amount. Whenever you see the balance increase, you will be predisposed to respond to future financial surprises with confidence.

More emergency fund options to consider

If you're a student, you might be able to apply for a student emergency fund if a financial emergency arises. Many institutions also offer financial resources, like a paid leave of absence for colleagues who must care for a sick family member.

Don't count on these options as your sole emergency money source, but knowing alternatives will be helpful at times of an exceptional emergency.

A smart way to build up an emergency fund for medical expenses is to establish a health savings account (HSA). The contributions may be withdrawn tax-free for medical care-related expenditures. If your employer provides health insurance coverage, they can also contribute to your HSA and increase your contribution.

How you can grow your emergency fund

One of the best ways to improve the size of your emergency fund is to make your contributions to it whenever you have additional discretionary income to spare. If you discontinue a particular subscription, consider adding the money you save to your savings. If you get a raise at your job, look into increasing your savings by $1 a day.

Some checking accounts enable you to set up automatic roll-ups, so if you spend $18.50 at the supermarket, it will automatically add $0.50 to your savings. Rewards checking is also a smart way to make more planning funds each month.

When you see those attractive little pieces of unexpected income, such as a rebate or a bonus tax refund come, add them to your emergency fund. However much it's fun to spend those unexpected earnings, you may appreciate having a few reserves in the bank to take care of emergencies.

Start saving no matter what the weather looks like

If you haven't yet established an emergency fund, don't panic. Also, don't wait for a rainy day and wish for a rainy day fund until one actually arrives. Start saving, or increasing your savings, today. Remember, it's never too late to start saving money. Kasasa writes about saving money a lot, so take a look at some of our top savings posts to get a better head start.

Consider how nice emergency cash will help you deal with your monetary problems.