Build up your emergency fund with these tips from Kiplinger. You know you need an emergency fund — easily accessible cash to pay for unexpected expenses. Without one, you could find yourself looking around the house for valuables to pawn, racking up credit-card debt or maybe even considering a payday loan to cover the costs of an emergency. But you may be wondering how you can find enough Read more

We're thrilled to present this smart Business Insider story here on Savvy! In the world of personal finance, where does an "emergency fund" come in, and why save for emergencies at all? Because life happens, and you never know when you'll have to pay for it. This year alone, I've spent nearly $1,000 taking my cat, Ringo, to the veterinarian. RELATED: Tips For Reducing Your Vet Bill An Read more

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy! Rainy days are inevitable. Lately, they seem to stretch into rainy weeks and months. To guard against these unexpected tough times — emergencies — an easily accessible stash of cash is a must! Build It Up Experts recommend that you have at the minimum 6-9 months of your living expenses in a savings account for potential rough Read more

An emergency fund will go a long way in this struggling economy and uncertain job market. However, a recent study by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling says that 64 percent of respondents can't scrounge up $1,000 for an emergency. They would instead have to resort to means such as borrowing from people or charging it on their credit card. Some said they would pawn items to get the Read more

This anonymous poster in our Savvy Confessions group wants help on building an emergency fund. Chime in with your thoughts below. I just graduated college and have started at my first job. I am really lucky and I love the job. I make decent money and wanted to start some budgeting before I start blowing every paycheck like I see all of my friends are doing. I am torn between paying more toward Read more

The concept of spending less than we earn seems simple enough, yet many of us struggle to put the idea into practice. Living within your means is a great start to financial stability, but living below your means is a way to ensure that this path isn't disrupted. Step one is eliminating a reliance on credit cards for anything but emergencies. Step two is creating an emergency fund so that you Read more