Getting a start on emergency funds is relatively easy

It may be tempting to use your fund for incidental or frivolous purposes, so make sure you don’t deplete this resource for any purpose other than an actual emergency.

How to Build an Emergency Fund

Starting early is the key to setting up an emergency fund, because it helps you build up a comfortable cushion against unexpected emergencies later in life. Here are two simple ways to begin saving for one.

• Set aside a comfortable amount from your salary each month. Calculate your living expenses for the desired period and make that your target for an emergency fund. You can then divert a portion of your paycheck-perhaps by setting up an automatic transfer-to that account each month. Once the fund is built up, invest extra savings for the long term or other goals, such as the down payment on a mortgage. Once you’ve maxed out your retirement savings, that money could go into an investment account with higher risks and rewards.
• Save your tax refund. You Alabama title loans may be tempted to think of a tax refund or stimulus check as extra money for discretionary spending. Instead, consider diverting it toward your emergency fund to give you an added financial cushion.

You probably want to park your emergency fund in a vehicle that can be easily liquidated should a financial need suddenly arise. While storing cash in a savings account may be the safest approach, there are other relatively secure ways to store a part of your emergency fund that offer greater interest-earning potential. These include high-interest savings accounts, money market accounts, and no-penalty certificates of deposit (CDs), which don’t charge savers a fee if they need to pull their money out before the maturity date. You’ll have the access you need in an emergency but won’t be incurring fees and time delays associated with other vehicles, such as brokerage accounts.

You may want to build an emergency fund before venturing into volatile investment vehicles such as stocks. Whereas the latter offer greater long-term growth potential than cash and cash equivalents, their

value can suddenly decrease in the event of an economic downturn, as the 2020 economic crisis and lockdown made vividly clear. Should that be the moment you need to tap them, you could lose more value. An emergency fund protects your portfolio against that risk.

Helping Employees Save

A number of major employers have introduced programs encouraging emergency savings because of the effects of financial instability on productivity and retirement security. Here’s a sampling of programs from three major companies.

• Truist Financial Corporation. Through its Truist Momentum program, the parent of SunTrust and BBT banks offers $750 to employees who complete an eight-part financial education program, then open and fund an emergency savings account. More than 21,300 employees have graduated as of , according to company spokesman Mike McCoy.
• Levi Strauss. The apparel brand gives hourly employees up to $240 in matching funds through its Red Tab Foundation when they make qualifying contributions to their savings accounts over a six-month period. Workers also receive a $20 bonus when they link their bank account to the company’s online platform.
• Prudential. Retirement plans administered by Prudential can allow employees to divert part of their paycheck toward a savings account, encouraging them to create a financial safety net. More than 2,200 workers had a balance as of , with an average contribution rate of 4.1%, according to Prudential’s Monique Freeman.

Example of an Emergency Fund

Here’s a hypothetical example showing how to assemble an emergency fund. Let’s say a married couple has monthly expenses totaling $5,000. This includes the couple’s mortgage payments, food bills, car payments, and other necessary outlays. Using the three-month rule, the couple needs to set aside at least $15,000 (or $30,000 for six months and $40,000 for eight months) to address any unexpected financial burdens.

If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, you may want to start with more modest goals, such as putting 2% of your net income into a rainy day fund and slowly increasing your contribution rate every few months. Even a modest safety net can help buy you a little time should you face an unforeseen financial crisis.