Jump Start Your Emergency Fund - Love More Live Blessed (2024)

Jump Start Your Emergency Fund - Love More Live Blessed (1)

Uncategorized

by Crystal Mendezupdated on March 1, 2017February 12, 20167 Comments on Jump Start Your Emergency Fund

An Emergency Fund is essential! Especially when trying to get out of debt, but building an emergency fundcan take time. Right now we are following Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps and #1 is Save 1,000 for an emergency fund.

To me that looked like it would take forever. Where would we come up with $1,000 extra bucks?

Know what? It wasn’t that bad and as of 7/9/15 our Emergency fund was fully funded! Woohoo. And the best part is that it’s exactly 7 months later and we have not touched it. We’ve actually earned money on it!Jump Start Your Emergency Fund - Love More Live Blessed (2)

If you need to jump start your emergency fund start with these simple ideas:

  1. Start a bare bones budget. Pay your “needs” first. Needs are things like rent, food, gas, payments on your vehicles, utilities.. things like that. Check out this post on Wants vs. Needs for more info.
  2. Cut out nonnecessaryexpenses for now.You don’t need cable if you don’t have an emergency fund or if you’re in debt and can’t make ends meet. Just saying. I am a hardcore #TWD fan and I go watch it at my mom’s house every Sunday.Any money left over after paying your “needs” goes straight to savings. See this post for ideas on saving money now.
  3. Open a separatebank account. I highly recommended Capital One 360.We use Capital One 360 for the emergency fund savings. I like the online banking and I like that it’s separated from our main account. I honestly think if the money was in an account in our regular bank we would have used it by now. The fact that it’s “out of sight out of mind” really helps.Transfer the money each time you get paid. If you transfer right away you won’t be tempted to use it.
  4. How can you earn extra money this month? Pick up some overtime, mow lawns, babysit, sell items at the flea market or craigslist or FB yard sale groups.Whatever you have to do just do it. You may be tired and cranky for the extra work but it will be worth it in the end. You’ll end up with your emergency fund fully funded and peace of mind!

Already have your emergency fund fully funded or almost there? What are you doing to find that extra money? Leave a comment below.

Do you get the Resource Page?

Jump Start Your Emergency Fund - Love More Live Blessed (3)

Each week I'll send you the latest Resource Page. In it, you'll find

  1. Handy tips for focusing on positivity throughout your week.
  2. Tricks for getting your kids to listen to your every word (just kidding,Girl-- I'm still working on getting my kids to listen!) But I will send you fun activity ideas for you and your kids to do together.
  3. Useful tools that I come across, like meal planning ideas and such!

Jump Start Your Emergency Fund - Love More Live Blessed (4)

Crystal Mendez

Crystal is a work from home mom who loves to write about home life, living with a demanding toddler and the journey towards debt free living.

You may also like...

Reviews, Uncategorized

Ninja Single Serve Coffee Bar Review

Uncategorized

7 Things You Didn’t Know About Selena

Uncategorized

Home Matters Linky Party #90

  1. Jamie @ Medium Sized Family says:

    Posted on February 12, 2016 at 9:20 am

    Reply

    We have certainly cut way back in our budgeting in the hopes of getting debt paid off. But I agree with Dave that the $1,000 emergency fund is a must have first! Great tips.

    1. Crystal Mendez says:

      Posted on February 12, 2016 at 8:42 pm

      Reply

      Thanks Jamie! We are currently in cut back mode too! Feels weird, but I don’t mind being weird! Thanks for stopping by!

  2. Rachel Osborn says:

    Posted on March 4, 2016 at 2:24 pm

    Reply

    We’ve taken Dave Ramsey’s classes too!! Hubby disagrees with a few of his principles, like paying off all debt immediately…some things, like his school loan, has such a low interest rate, we actually make more money investing instead of paying off that debt. You have great tips though!! We are trying to rebuild our savings after buying a car last year, and we use many of your tips listed. 🙂
    Rachel Osborn recently posted…Home Matters Linky Party #76Jump Start Your Emergency Fund - Love More Live Blessed (8)

  3. Michelle James says:

    Posted on March 6, 2016 at 7:44 pm

    Reply

    This is a great post! Some really great tips! Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty
    Michelle James recently posted…Tips-Spring Decorating with Silk FlowersJump Start Your Emergency Fund - Love More Live Blessed (9)

  4. Jeanne Grunert says:

    Posted on March 7, 2016 at 10:53 am

    Reply

    Excellent ideas here! Every family can benefit from having an emergency fund. Thank you for sharing them on the #HomeMattersParty
    Jeanne Grunert recently posted…Do You Need to Protect Daffodils from the Snow?Jump Start Your Emergency Fund - Love More Live Blessed (10)

  5. Jamie says:

    Posted on March 7, 2016 at 1:34 pm

    Reply

    Great tips!! We went through the FPU course and now have everything paid off, except the house – which we’re working on! #HomeMattersParty
    Jamie recently posted…St. Patrick’s Day Leprechaun Trap #CraftJump Start Your Emergency Fund - Love More Live Blessed (11)

    1. Crystal Mendez says:

      Posted on March 7, 2016 at 10:09 pm

      Reply

      Jamie that is so awesome and encouraging for me. I went through FPU when I was single. My husband has not but does listen to Dave’s show and is totally on board with going debt free! I can’t wait to get there but it’s a process!

Leave a Reply

Jump Start Your Emergency Fund - Love More Live Blessed (2024)

FAQs

What are the 6 simple steps to jump starting your emergency fund? ›

Six Simple Steps to Jump-start Your Emergency Fund
  1. Take it day by day. Putting aside months' worth of living expenses might seem like an impossibly tall task. ...
  2. Pick something and cut it. ...
  3. Make it easy on yourself. ...
  4. Don't let debt get in the way. ...
  5. Keep your funds accessible—but away from temptation. ...
  6. Now, up the ante.

What are the three questions to ask before using emergency fund? ›

Here are three questions you could ask yourself to help determine whether it's time to use your emergency savings: Is this an unexpected expense? Is it necessary? Is it urgent?

How much money should you save in case you have an emergency FLVS? ›

While the size of your emergency fund will vary depending on your lifestyle, monthly costs, income, and dependents, the rule of thumb is to put away at least three to six months' worth of expenses.

What is a good starter amount for an emergency fund? ›

The long answer: The right amount for you depends on your financial circ*mstances, but a good rule of thumb is to have enough to cover three to six months' worth of living expenses. (You might need more if you freelance or work seasonally, for example, or if your job would be hard to replace.)

What are the 7 steps in the emergency action plan? ›

The Seven Elements of Successful Emergency Action Planning
  • Consider the situations. ...
  • Determine the correct actions. ...
  • Create rally points. ...
  • Verify safe routes. ...
  • Account for everyone. ...
  • Drill (or not). ...
  • Keep reviewing.

What are five examples of reasons you may need an emergency fund? ›

We've all experienced unexpected financial emergencies—a fender bender, an unexpected medical bill, a broken appliance, a loss of income, or even a damaged cell phone. Large or small, these unplanned expenses often feel like they hit at the worst times.

What are the three C's of an emergency action plan? ›

Training your brain before you find yourself in a high-pressure situation may help you save a life or potentially help someone in pain. There are three basic C's to remember—check, call, and care. When it comes to first aid, there are three P's to remember—preserve life, prevent deterioration, and promote recovery.

What are the three important steps to follow in an emergency? ›

To take appropriate actions in any emergency, follow the three basic emergency action steps — Check-Call-Care. Check the scene and the victim. Call the local emergency number to activate the EMS system. Ask a conscious victim's permission to provide care.

How many students does FLVS serve? ›

Overview of Fl Virtual School District

Fl Virtual School District contains 3 schools and 11,719 students.

Is FLVS flexible? ›

FLVS courses are designed for semester-based terms. Since time is not a constant in our online courses, you will have flexibility of pace and can discuss details with your teacher upon activation in the course.

What is the 50/30/20 rule? ›

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

What is a good emergency fund? ›

Aim to save three to six months' worth of expenses in your emergency fund. Margarette Burnette is a NerdWallet authority on savings, who has been writing about bank accounts since before the Great Recession.

What is an example of an emergency fund? ›

Here are a few reasons you might need to dip into an emergency fund:
  • Home repairs.
  • Car repairs.
  • Medical bills.
  • Veterinarian bills.
  • Family emergencies.
  • Living expenses in case of job loss.
Mar 28, 2024

What is the rule of thumb for emergency fund? ›

The general rule of thumb is to keep three to six months' worth of basic essentials stashed in your emergency fund. But how much you need to feel financially secure may differ.

What are the steps to setting up an emergency fund? ›

Goals-Based Planning: Stay on Track
  1. Consider using a basic savings or money market account. ...
  2. Look for an account that pays you back. ...
  3. Save enough to cover three to six months of expenses. ...
  4. Start small. ...
  5. Only tap the account for true emergencies. ...
  6. Replenish the account if you draw on the funds.

What is a 6 month emergency fund? ›

To prepare for income shocks, many experts suggest keeping enough money in your emergency fund to cover 3 to 6 months' worth of living expenses. So if you spend $5,000 per month, your first emergency fund savings milestone should be $2,500 to cover spending shocks.

How to build a 6 month emergency fund? ›

An emergency fund should cover three to six months' worth of expenses, but saving that amount takes time. To help get you started, begin with small goals, such as saving $5 a day. Then work your way up to a reserve to cover several months' worth of expenses.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Mrs. Angelic Larkin

Last Updated:

Views: 5859

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (67 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Mrs. Angelic Larkin

Birthday: 1992-06-28

Address: Apt. 413 8275 Mueller Overpass, South Magnolia, IA 99527-6023

Phone: +6824704719725

Job: District Real-Estate Facilitator

Hobby: Letterboxing, Vacation, Poi, Homebrewing, Mountain biking, Slacklining, Cabaret

Introduction: My name is Mrs. Angelic Larkin, I am a cute, charming, funny, determined, inexpensive, joyous, cheerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.