The Moment I Realized I Needed an Emergency Fund (and How I Built It)

By Beelinger Staff
Estimated read time: 6 min

It was a Tuesday. My car wouldn’t start. The tow was $120. The repair estimate? $734.

And my checking account? $43.78. 😅

That was the day I realized I didn’t just need an emergency fund—I needed a financial parachute like, yesterday.

Emergency Funds Sound Boring—Until You Need One

I used to think emergency funds were for people with “real” jobs and big incomes. I was scraping by, juggling student loans, and figuring my next paycheck could handle anything.

But life doesn’t wait until payday. And emergencies? They don’t RSVP.

How I Started—Even on a Tight Budget

I decided I’d start with just $10/week. If I could swing Starbucks, I could swing savings.

Here’s what I did:

• ✅ Opened a separate savings account just for emergencies
• ✅ Set up an auto-transfer for $10 every Friday
• ✅ Used round-up tools like Acorns to passively build it

It wasn’t magic. But after 3 months, I had $140. After 6 months, I was closing in on $400. That would’ve saved me during the car fiasco.

What I Consider an “Emergency”

Your emergency fund isn’t for concert tickets, late-night takeout, or “treat yourself” weekends. Here’s my emergency-only list:

• 🚗 Car repair
• 🏥 Medical bills
• 🔌 Utility shut-off prevention
• 📦 Job loss buffer

It’s not for comfort—it’s for survival.

Tools That Helped Me Stick With It

• Chime – Automatic savings + no fees
• Rocket Money – Tracks bills and finds savings to stash away
• Notion Budget Tracker – Helped me prioritize saving over spending

How Much Should You Save?

The classic advice is 3–6 months of expenses. But honestly? Start with one week. Then one month. Then keep building. Progress is the goal—not perfection.

What I’d Tell the Old Me

I used to think saving was for “later.” But later came fast. And broke me for a second.

Now, I treat my emergency fund like financial therapy. It quiets the panic. And that’s worth every saved dollar.