Making Financial Plans For Emergencies
Any financial arrangement exercise is not ideal without planning for such circumstances because emergency financial situations can happen to anyone. The purpose of an emergency fund is to act as a safety net in case of unforeseen expenses.
This will guarantee that it won’t have a negative effect on your financial situation and won’t steal your entire financial security.
A financial emergency can result from a variety of situations, including a sudden illness, an accident, medical emergencies, urgent home repairs, a job loss, urgent car repairs, and more.
The main justification for having an emergency fund is obvious: without one, a person would either have to deplete their savings or make concessions in order to obtain the necessary funds in the event of an emergency.
People who simply swipe their credit card for cash are common. Contrary to popular belief, using credit cards to cover a financial emergency is never a good idea. The quickest way to obtain thousands of dollars is through a car title loan; however, this is a temporary fix.
When you use your credit card to get a cash advance so you can get the money you need, the credit card company will charge you a cash advance fee and interest. This method of borrowing money and handling finances in an emergency is very expensive.
What is the best sum to set aside as emergency cash as a result? Various viewpoints exist regarding it. A minimum of 3 to 6 months’ worth of income should be set aside each month for emergencies, according to some professionals. This sum can vary depending on lifestyle, family size, and marital status.
Everyone needs to keep some extra cash on hand for unplanned expenses. However, the sum you should set aside is based on your monthly income and expenses. While the exact amount of your emergency fund is debatable, the minimum amount should be enough to cover your living expenses for at least three months. Though some financial advisors recommend saving for a full year, it’s also best to save for six months.
These funds must be set aside in a convenient location that is accessible when needed. It might be cash on hand, bank account funds, liquid assets, or fixed deposits. This will guarantee that the fund is always instantly or quickly accessible when it is needed.
Where to Keep the Cash
The factors that can assist you in deciding how cautious you want to be depend on your circumstances and what can bring you comfort. You may need to quickly access the money from your emergency fund if an emergency arises, so keep it in a secure location that is easy to get to. Your best course of action is to open a savings or money market account. But you should always look over their offer to see what the interest rate, minimum balance, and other conditions are.
You can stop when you feel you’ve saved enough. Now that you’ve done that, you can try to start putting your extra savings into accounts or investments that offer higher interest rates and are more difficult to access.