emergency

Pessimism Pays - Why Expecting the Worst Can Save You Money

Everyone's heard the adage, "Expect the best, prepare for the worst," but the truth is that many people are overly optimistic about the future. Being a worrier may sa

A second emergency fund you never spend?

I ran across this idea in a book by some financial guru years ago. The book was packed with an odd mix of obvious and kooky ideas, of which this was one of the latter. For some r

Figuring the Size of Your Emergency Fund

The usual rule of thumb is 3 to 6 months' income. Of course that's silly--the size of your emergency fund needs to be based on your spending, not your income. But even 3

Live Like There's No Tomorrow

Two weeks after my husband had gotten a glowing performance review and his manager sent care packages for all our of our kids, he was told over the phone at a client meeting that h

Broken down? Turn your pencil into a flashlight.

If there's one thing I know about travel, it's be prepared. But it's sometimes easier said than done. We all know we should carry emergency supplies in the trunk of the car, and one of those essentials is a flashlight. [more]

3-6 months of living expenses?

Personal-finance experts often recommend having 3-6 months' worth of living expenses saved and easily accessible. In his July 1, 2007 Getting Going column ("Popular Advice

Do You Need a Disaster Survival Kit?

I've always thought of disaster preparedness as something for the highly paranoid or mildly insane. Current events have led me to believe in being better safe than sorry.