We've laid our income as a foundation deep into our commitment to living on less than we make. Our four walls of necessary expenses have been raised to ensure we survive the next 30 days. Finally, we will tie it all together with that last piece of a home that protects against that which falls from above. The roof.
In a house, a roof holds the walls together in tandem with the foundation so they are sturdier, less moveable. It provides a second anchor point in that regard. For our budget and personal money management, the roof is represented by our emergency fund. Our emergency fund protects our four walls in the case of an economic storm like sudden job loss, critical illness, or even the engine falling out of your car.
Like the roof provides a second anchor point for the walls of a home, so too does the emergency fund provide extra security for those budget items. That is because we set up our emergency fund, our roof, to be big enough to cover our expenses (and even our income) for 3 to 6 months.
Say you happen to suddenly lose your job. How would you feel if while you looked for a new job, your family's expenses were all covered? Food will still be on the table. The lights won't be shut off. The water still flows freely from the tap. Would you feel less stressed? Would you feel more free to look for the right job instead of what job hires you next?
With a complete Money House, you now have a safe place to go in times of financial strife. A place you can call home that is welcoming and secure, because you have built it that way. From this place of peace, security, and even comfort, you can regroup, plan, and strike out from again to achieve your next goal.
Thanks Todd, good words to ponder. Have a great week!