{"id":1516,"date":"2021-07-26T17:08:03","date_gmt":"2021-07-26T21:08:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skypointfcu.com\/wph\/workarea\/?p=1516"},"modified":"2022-06-15T13:15:25","modified_gmt":"2022-06-15T17:15:25","slug":"quick-can-you-come-up-with-400","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skypointfcu.com\/wph\/workarea\/blog\/quick-can-you-come-up-with-400\/","title":{"rendered":"Quick \u2014 Can You Come Up With $400?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Life is expensive: Find yourself in need of an ambulance, tow truck or mechanic, and a hefty bill will likely follow. And many people just can\u2019t pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forty-four percent of adults say they either couldn\u2019t pay an emergency expense of $400 or would have to sell something or borrow money to cover the cost, according to a 2017 report from the Federal Reserve Board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not so much a matter of if but when you\u2019ll need to absorb a surprise expense. So ask yourself: How would you come up with that 400 bucks? Whatever your answer is, we can help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re, uh, not sure where the money would come from<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not sure how big of an expense you could handle or which account you\u2019d pay it from? Acquaint yourself with your finances and take these first steps toward managing your money<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you get a handle on your finances, you\u2019ll set aside some savings in an emergency fund. That\u2019s a reserve designated to cover unexpected expenses you can\u2019t put off paying, like emergencies that affect your health or ability to earn money. If your boiler or furnace breaks, for example, you\u2019ll have money available to get it fixed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also tap this fund to handle other financial crises, like a loss of income or major medical bill. With this cushion, you\u2019ll be less likely to rely on credit cards and high-interest loans when you face these surprise expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019d have to borrow or sell to cover $400<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now is the time to start that emergency fund. Keep it in a high-yield savings account<\/a> that\u2019s separate from your go-to bank account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start with a goal of $500. That could be enough to cover a furnace repair without going into debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve saved that much, continue contributing until you reach $2,000. (These money-saving tips<\/a> may help you reach your goal.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00bb MORE:<\/strong> Emergency fund: what it is and where to keep it<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019d pull $400 from your emergency fund, of course<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nice, you\u2019re managing your money well enough to have a buffer for emergencies. After you tap the fund to cover a surprise expense, work on replenishing the money spent. Whether you\u2019re working toward a $500 or $2,000 fund, continue contributing. The end goal is a safety net that could cover three to six months\u2019 worth of expenses in case of job loss or another major event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More From NerdWallet<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n