Hit my first $10k emergency fund today - didn't think I'd get here so fast

I've been squirreling away bits of my paycheck for about 18 months, aiming for $6k. Then a freelance gig came through unexpectedly last month, $2,200 extra, and I just dumped it all in. Checked my savings this morning and saw $10,150. It's not life changing money for some folks, but for me it's the safety net I never had before. How do you resist the urge to dip into yours when something shiny pops up?

3 comments

3 Comments

nathankim4d ago

Super stoked for you man, that's huge! I did the exact same thing with a random bonus last year, just threw it straight into my savings without even thinking about it. Honestly, the only way I keep from dipping in is I pretend that money doesn't exist at all - like it's a locked box I can't get into unless the house is literally on fire.

harperp244d ago

Same here. Got a random check in the mail last month and had it in the savings account before I even opened the envelope.

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wells.christopher4d ago

Feeling you on that one. I do the same thing, I just tell myself that account doesn't even exist for normal life. The only time I've ever touched mine was when my water heater blew out and flooded the basement. It hurt to pull the money out, but man, it would have hurt a lot more to have nothing. That feeling of having a real cushion is worth way more than any new gadget or weekend trip. Good on you for getting there so quick, it takes a lot of discipline.