Emergency Fund – The Boring Superpower
Liquidity planning
This seven-part series walks through how to think about your emergency fund, from deciding whether three months or twelve months of expenses is right for you, to where to park the money, handling unexpected expenses and unemployment, using a Roth IRA as a secondary cushion, why a HELOC can be a trap, and how to build your fund from zero.
Articles in this series
3 Months vs. 12 Months: Calibrating to Job Security
3 Months vs. 12 Months: Calibrating to Job Security ==================================================== The standard advice is to keep three to six months of living expenses in an emergency fund....
Where to Park It: HYSA, T-Bills, or Money Market?
Where to Park It: HYSA, T-bills, or Money Market? ================================================== An emergency fund that earns nothing is a common and unnecessary mistake. Cash sitting in a...
The "Unexpected Expense" Scenario: Car vs. AC vs. Pet
The "Unexpected Expense" Scenario: Car vs. AC vs. Pet ====================================================== The emergency fund is almost universally described in terms of the dramatic scenario:...
Unemployment Scenarios: Severance + Unemployment + EF
Unemployment Scenarios: Severance + Unemployment + EF ====================================================== Losing a job produces an immediate financial question: what income do I have, from...
Using Roth IRA as a Secondary EF: Pros and Risks
Using Roth IRA as a Secondary Emergency Fund: Pros and Risks ============================================================= The Roth IRA is the most flexible retirement account in the U.S. tax...
The HELOC-as-EF Trap: Why It Fails in Recessions
The HELOC-as-Emergency-Fund Trap: Why It Fails in Recessions ============================================================ The home equity line of credit is a seductive emergency fund substitute....
Building from Zero: Side Hustle Cascades
Building from Zero: Side Hustle Cascades ========================================= Building an emergency fund from zero while managing normal living expenses is the personal finance problem that...