Sometimes, well, most of the time, life is unfair and unpredictable. We will face situations that can strain our finances and well-being. So, why do we need to budget for emergencies? Whether it’s an unexpected injury, illness, or death, family emergencies can significantly impact our financial situation and lives. It’s crucial to prioritize your savings/emergency fund to help tackle these emergencies. In this blog, we will heavily focus on the importance of planning for emergencies and having an emergency fund.
One of the key aspects of financial planning for family emergencies is budgeting for them. This should also be the first step you take when creating your family’s financial plan. Budgeting is the straightforward process of tracking your monthly spending by calculating your net income against your expenses. Budgeting is useful for many aspects of life, for instance, it can save you from emergencies by cutting wasteful spending and building an emergency fund.
Some of the initial items in your budget should be necessities, eliminating harmful debt, and establishing an emergency fund. An emergency fund is a savings account set aside for unexpected expenses not covered by your regular budget. These may include medical bills, car repairs, home maintenance, funeral costs, or any unforeseen event requiring immediate cash. However, an emergency fund does not cover eating out, buying a new car, or subscription services. It’s designated for necessities only.
Why is budgeting for emergencies necessary?
The primary reason is to ensure you and your family can maintain your livelihood during emergencies. You can still afford food, gas, utilities, and rent.
A robust emergency fund also prevents you from falling into harmful debt. With an emergency fund, you can avoid borrowing money, using credit cards, or tapping into retirement savings or long-term goals. Learn how to avoid dangerous debt, here.
Another compelling reason to budget for emergencies is to reduce stress and anxiety. Having an emergency fund gives you peace of mind, knowing you have a safety net to handle any situation. You won’t fret about how to pay for unexpected expenses or their impact on your future plans. You can focus on managing the emergency itself and supporting your family.
How much should your emergency fund hold?
The answer depends on your personal situation and risk tolerance. Most financial experts recommend having at least three to six months’ worth of living expenses in your emergency fund. This means you can cover essential bills and expenses for three to six months without income. This includes necessities like groceries, shelter, transportation, utilities, and clothing. Check out our tips on how to grow your 3-6 month emergency fund.
The amount you set aside may vary based on your income, expenses, lifestyle, and goals. Your circumstances and comfort level will determine whether you need more or less. Some people with irregular income might want 12 months saved, while those with steady income might require just three months.
The key is to save as much as you can afford and feel comfortable with. The important thing is to start saving as soon as possible and make it a habit. You can begin small and gradually increase savings over time. Windfalls like tax refunds, bonuses, or gifts can also boost your emergency fund. A well-funded emergency fund shields you from crises, helps you stay focused during emergencies, and prevents falling into detrimental debt cycles. Listen to these money saving tips to get started.
Burnalong provides an end-to-end wellness solution focused on helping people achieve their human potential; through a scalable digital platform, social support and motivation, proprietary data and analytics, and AI. People can take classes alone or live with others where they can see and hear each other, and join communities, for added social motivation. Our platform includes access to more than 35,000 live and on-demand classes, taught by 7,500+ instructors, across 60+ categories (spanning physical, emotional, and financial wellness, including programming for chronic conditions, prenatal, children, and disabilities), reflecting the diversity, and diversity of needs, of the population
My name is Jack, and I am a financial consultant and personal finance coach. I started teaching financial literacy in high school. During that time I designed financial content for other organizations and started several businesses. After 6 years of teaching, I resigned my position to focus on my financial consulting business. Though I have been coaching for free for many years, I landed my first paid clients in 2023, officially starting my coaching business. I have a passion for financial literacy and want to share my passion with others. I get fired up when people take control of their lives, live financially free, and win with money!
