Kiplinger

Emergency Funds Can Have a Surprising Downside

Why save for opportunities when everyone tells you to only save for emergencies instead?

Because you'll be operating from a place of abundance, not scarcity, and that can make a world of difference.

It's valuable for each family to have a cash emergency fund that can be tapped for true emergencies -- like a car breaking down or furnace repair in winter -- but this needn't be more than a few thousand dollars. Typically, an emergency fund is a pot of money equal to three to 12 months of living expenses.

Once you've comfortably saved for an unforeseen, short-term emergency, then you can turn your attention to higher aspirations.

Let's Get Real

It was devastating to our family when

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Kiplinger

Kiplinger5 min readRobotics
Retirees: Your Next Companion May Be a Robot
Elliq, a foot-hight robot that looks like an oval lampshade on a small base, greets Monica Perez first thing in the morning, asks her how she feels, and reminds her about taking medications and any upcoming appointments.  “I have good-quality friends
Kiplinger2 min read
Stock Market Today: FedEx Warning Amplifies Wall Street Jitters
Stocks capped off a terrible week with another slide as a warning from one of Wall Street's bellwether firm's stoked concern about the U.S. economy. After Thursday's close, delivery giant FedEx (FDX, -21.4%) – whose financial results are often seen a
Kiplinger4 min read
Got Crypto? The IRS Really Wants to Know
The 2022 crypto price crash understandably has some investors concerned. But for those of you who haven’t run for the hills, it’s worth knowing that cryptocurrency currently has the attention of not only the Biden administration, and Congress, but th

Related Books & Audiobooks