Tip #3 in the It’s An Emergency! savings challenge is sneaky:
Avoid having emergencies.
Step 1:
Sit down and have a scary brainstorming session with yourself or your partner. What things could possibly go wrong that you can predict? Think: car, health, septic system, layoffs.
Step 2:
Consider what you can do right now to minimize the disaster quotient if one of those worst-case scenarios comes to pass.
- Take your car for a tune-up.
- Do basic maintenance on your home and property.
- Make yourself valuable to your company.
- Maintain relationships that could help if you were job hunting.
- Get that aching tooth x-rayed.
Step 3:
Spend a little to save a lot down the line and focus on your insurance.
- What doesn’t your health plan cover?
- Could you afford your deductible in a car accident or health crisis?
- Do you own renter’s insurance? (If not, why not? It’s cheap!)
- If a neighbor’s kid is hurt on your property, are you liable?
Lazybones. When was the last time you got an oil change or called your doctor?
