An emergency fund is a fantastic tool that can be lifesaving against income loss or financial emergency cases. Having a set amount of money aside for use only when necessary, can be the difference between paying for emergencies and being forced into debt. For this reason, an emergency fund must be used correctly.

This article looks at five ways to make your emergency fund go further and four things you should avoid.

How to use your emergency fund

When building and using an emergency fund, you must understand fully what it is and how to use it correctly. Let us look at how you could use your emergency fund to make it work for you and conserve your funds as much as possible.

Tip 1: Always Replenish Whatever You Take from It

As you will likely use your fund to pay for a considerable expense or substitute months of income, it must contain as much as you expect to need.

Therefore, whenever you take money from it, be sure to top it back up. In the event of an income loss, this may not be possible right away but replenish it as soon as possible.

Replenishing your fund is particularly important if you must use it for large purchases that take up a chunk of your money.

This may take longer to do, but it must get done eventually. You do not want to face another financial emergency and have nothing to fall back on, so keep track of how much is in your fund.

Tip 2: Keep Your Emergency Fund Somewhere Accessible but Separate

In times of emergency, you must have easy access to your money, so it is sensible to store it somewhere you can realistically access it. A savings account is an excellent place to start but be sure it is one you can draw from when you need to, as some savings accounts do not allow withdrawals.

Let us look at the kind of account you should be looking for when you need an emergency fund. To help you keep your emergency fund growing, you can choose a savings account with a high yield to earn interest as you add to it.

Most high-yield accounts also allow you to get your money quickly, which makes them great for an emergency fund.

However, there is an important caveat. Your emergency fund is likely to be a large amount of money, and the temptation to spend from it can be overwhelming at times – especially if you keep it alongside your regular bank accounts.

So, it is sensible to open your emergency fund account with a different provider, so you do not see it every time you spend.

Tip 3: Use It Only When You Have No Other Options

The point of your emergency fund is that you can turn to it when you are in an actual emergency. Think medical expenses, job loss, or homelessness.

Therefore, it is crucial that you only turn to it when you have no other options. If you have a regular income, your income should be the first thing you use to pay for things, not your emergency fund.

As we have seen, the temptation to spend from your emergency fund can be challenging, especially when it comes to big purchases.

However, it is essential to be mindful. You likely have good reasons for setting up your fund. You should try to be mindful of those reasons when the temptation hits.

Tip 4: Limit What Constitutes an Emergency

Your idea of an emergency will depend on your responsibilities and needs. It is important to have some ground rules.

For example, when it comes to big purchases, you might be tempted to play around with what constitutes a financial emergency. But what can feel like an emergency now is unlikely to feel that way when a true emergency comes along.

It is vital that when you are setting up your fund, you think about what would indeed constitute an emergency.

Take some time to figure out a list of things you might need money for and work your fund around that list. Your list will depend on your priorities. But a general rule is to think about medical bills, vet bills, and car trouble.

Tip 5: Make Your Fund a Priority

Your financial priorities are likely to be bills and debt, but make sure to set something aside for your emergency fund. While other things may take priority, your fund is still a significant financial expense that you should take as seriously.

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Remember that your emergency fund doesn’t have to take massive amounts of your monthly income. It can be as little as the amount you can afford to contribute each month.

However, your fund should be considered a substantial investment. You should make sure to put something aside each month, no matter how much.

What To Avoid Doing with Your Emergency Fund

It can be very easy to misuse your emergency fund, so consider how to use it and avoid making mistakes. Let us look at some things to avoid doing when building and using your emergency fund.

Tip 6: Do Not Include Money That Is Used Elsewhere

The money you put into your emergency fund should be entirely free to use when you need it. This means the money you intend to use for savings or pension contributions should not be used to build your emergency fund. Since that money is already allotted to something else, and likely cannot be used in an emergency.

It would help if you also tried to avoid relying on your credit card to pay for emergencies. It can be tempting, especially as credit cards are easy to access.

However, an emergency fund can save you from using one when unexpected purchases occur. With the money, you need to be sensible to avoid debt and the extra charges with your credit card.

Tip 7: Resist Other Financial Uses

Having a chunk of money set aside without using it can seem counterintuitive. Especially if you have other financial goals you are working towards.

You may be tempted to use your emergency fund to top up your savings or cover another financial goal, like saving for a house or contributing to retirement. 

The critical thing to remember about your emergency fund is that you should consider it a different financial goal.

You should have a goal amount that you can turn to whenever. That does not mean you cannot continue to have other financial goals and contribute to them. But your emergency fund should be considered vital.

Tip 8: Learn the Different Between Accounts

An emergency fund and a savings account are two very different things. A savings account is likely to be used if you want to purchase something. An emergency fund is only used when you need something.

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/best-places-to-keep-your-emergency-fund/

It can be easy to confuse the two, as they are essentially chunks of unused money sitting around waiting to be used.

Understanding that wants and needs are two very different things is essential for having an emergency fund. However, it would help if you kept the two separate and ensured you turned to your emergency fund for needs rather than wants.

Tip 9: Avoid Using It for Planned Purchases

The point of an emergency fund is to have it there when you need it for unexpected purchases and expenses.

For this reason, it should not be used for purchases you know you will be paying out for. This includes a deposit for a house, car payments, or a holiday. These things might be necessary but are expected and should be planned for appropriately.

Summary

An emergency fund can be a lifesaving tool for anyone experiencing income loss or a financial emergency.

It provides the opportunity to pay upfront for emergencies without facing debt or unnecessary borrowing. So, anyone who is thinking about setting up an emergency fund must know how to use it properly and not waste it.

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If you are a homeowner or a tenant who pays electrical utilities, you may be inclined to know whether you can cut energy costs by making your building more energy-efficient.

However, your home’s energy efficiency can be affected by things like the weather where you live and how well your home was built.

Completing an audit is the first step to identifying opportunities to reduce your energy consumption, save money, and improve the comfort of your home. By making your home more energy-efficient, you also cut down on your carbon footprint and impact on the world.

What is Assessed?

An energy audit may sound intimidating because of the negative connotation most of us associate with the word “audit.”

However, this audit assesses the needs and efficiency of your home’s electrical use while seeking opportunities for energy savings.

You can use the information you get from this audit to make smart decisions about your home, which will help you save money.

During an energy audit assessment, you can expect the energy specialist to walk through all the rooms of your house to evaluate the physical condition of the building, including door and window seals, insulation, and ventilation.

They will also check the functions of mechanical systems such as appliances, heating, air conditioning, and lighting. They should also perform a blower-door test to depressurize the house and its airflow test.

Your auditor will likely discuss numerous ways in which you can cut down on phantom loads, upgrade appliances, and strategize ways to minimize your heating or cooling needs. You can use the information you get from this audit to make smart decisions about your home, which will help you save money.

The audit report may also include information related to your local climate, thermostat settings, roof overhang, and solar orientation. This information can be used to improve the accuracy of the estimates by looking at how much energy you use over time.

How to Prepare for an Audit

• First, to find an accredited auditor, check to see if your utility company has an in-house specialist who can support your audit. If they don’t, you can check with the Residential Energy Services Network.

• It is a good idea to ask for references and ensure that the auditor uses a calibrated blower door to test the building ventilation.

• Before the audit, come up with a list of questions for them to help you understand your home better. For example, maybe you have noticed that a specific room is always cooler than others, or you are having issues with condensation on the windows.

• If you already have some efficiency upgrade ideas in mind, a specialist can help you prioritize the ones that will have the most significant impact.

• Be sure to provide copies of your monthly energy bills that demonstrate your energy use patterns.

• Some auditors may already have access to these, but it is good to be prepared to make good use of everyone’s time.

• It all comes down to this: the more prepared you are for your audit, the more accurate the recommendations for making your home more energy efficient will be if you follow them.

How Much Does It Cost?

HomeAdvisor reports that energy audits cost between $100 and $1,650, or $409.

Keep in mind that the larger your home is, the higher the cost. Even though you will have to pay an upfront fee to have a professional come and do an energy audit, the money you will save each month will cover the fee and add up over time.

It is also important to keep in mind that with so many community sustainability initiatives, there are often opportunities for government grants and or power company subsidies to help cover the cost of energy audits and retrofits. With their audits, many power companies offer free sealing or supplies, free testing, or other things.

How Much Will You Save?

According to Millionaires, energy audits can reduce your annual energy consumption by 30%. So long as energy prices remain stable, this would translate into a 30% savings on your energy bill. However, keep in mind that this may only be possible if you follow through with the advice that is given to you by the energy specialist.

Making energy-efficient improvements to your home may include updating lighting to LED lightbulbs, replacing old appliances with energy-efficient alternatives, replacing windows, or updating heating and cooling systems.

As you may realize, this could require a hefty initial investment that may take longer to recover. However, your home will be more comfortable as it will be able to moderate temperatures during cold winters or hot summers, leading to a better quality of life.

Still Unsure?

If you still are not sure whether you want to have a professional audit completed, you can start with a do-it-yourself home energy audit instead.

You may be able to access free, simplified tools from state agencies or local utility providers, or you can complete a fundamental assessment without any specialized tools. Make sure to follow a checklist that has been carefully thought out so that you can inspect your home and look for ways to make it more energy-efficient.

Image credit: [Arthon Meekodong].

Amazon is one of the first places most people visit to do their shopping, whether they are looking for beauty products, food, or home goods.

Most often appreciated for its convenience, Amazon is loved for its low prices and seemingly endless products. But most people do not realize how easy it is to save even more money on Amazon and get the most out of your purchases.

The following article looks at the top eight ways to save money while shopping on Amazon.

Consider an Amazon Prime membership

Amazon Prime is a subscription service offered by Amazon for $139 per year or $14.99 per month. While this may seem steep for a subscription service, it is a great way to get the most out of Amazon, especially if you are a frequent shopper.

Not only do you receive faster, free shipping on thousands of items with no minimum spend, but you also gain access to free perks such as Prime Video, Prime Music, and thousands of e-books. You also get greater flexibility on shipping options, which we will discuss further. 

• It is also possible to save money on your Prime membership. Prime is available at a much cheaper rate for students, with a yearly membership currently at $59 and a monthly membership costing $6.49.

• You can also get it at a discounted rate if you have an EBT or Medicaid card, in which case a monthly membership costs $5.99. For households wanting to save money, Prime memberships can be shared between two adults and four teens or children.

If you still are not sure about the commitment of membership or want to try it out before you pay out, Amazon offers a Prime trial for free. The trial gives you access to all the perks of a fully paid Prime membership for thirty days, at which point you can either continue with a paid membership or cancel your trial at no cost. 

Be Aware of Shipping Deals

As briefly mentioned above, Amazon Prime membership comes with access to several different shopping options, all free for members.

Some of the most favorable options include one-day shipping with a qualifying product, Amazon Day shipping, and same-day shipping, available if you spend over $35, usually before noon.

In addition, if you do not mind waiting a little longer, no-rush shopping is a great option. It gives you discounts and rewards for a little longer delivery time.

Even if Prime is not for you, you can still take advantage of Amazon’s shipping deals available to everyone and still save some money. Free shipping is available to everyone on orders over $25, where items are eligible, and typically takes around five to eight days to arrive.

This is a great option if you need more than one item and can save you a considerable amount in shipping costs.

Set Up Subscribe & Save

The Subscribe & Save program is offered by Amazon for those items you purchase frequently. It allows you to set up a schedule of monthly deliveries of your items and receive a 15% discount in return.

You can get money off items like makeup and skincare, food, and household products. The program is great for saving you the hassle of manually repeating purchases while saving money.

Subscribe & Save is an excellent option if you want a ‘set it and forget it’ approach to shopping for the necessities you need to purchase regularly.

Depending on your needs, you can adjust your schedule to fit how often you will need it and skip a month if needed, making it an even better option for avoiding unnecessary purchases. You also qualify for free shipping with the program.

Track Prices and Set Up Alerts

Alerts are a great way to get notified when items you want or need are on offer, especially if it is something you do not need to purchase urgently and can afford to wait for.

One of the most popular options is Camelcamelcamel.com, which automatically tracks product prices and emails you to notify you of savings and deals available. You can save a considerable amount by waiting for an item to drop in price and purchasing it at a lower price, particularly where items start high.

https://www.retailmenot.com/blog/tips-for-saving-money-at-amazon.html

Amazon Assistant is Amazon’s extension for your browser, comparing product prices and ratings and notifying you of deals and offers. As well as notifying you of a price change, the extension also shows you other products related to what you are searching for and recommends options that may be cheaper or have a better rating.

Keep an Eye on Daily Deals

Amazon’s home page frequently displays deals of the day, but there is also a dedicated page for limited-time deals. The Daily Deals page refreshes every day with new options available each day. It is well worth regularly checking to ensure you do not miss out on the opportunity to save some money, especially if there is something you need.

While the items available daily may not always be the best items, you are more than likely to eventually come across something you need. If you have an Amazon Echo, you can also use that to find out about the deals available that day or available to you.

Use the Trade-In Program

Anyone can use the Amazon Trade-In Program, in which you can trade in old devices and products such as books, phones, and TVs in exchange for Amazon credit or a gift card. Although you will not receive any physical cash, it is an excellent option for anyone who frequently purchases from Amazon and could use the credit toward future purchases. You may also receive a discount on Amazon devices if you trade in one of your own.

The Trade-In Program uses complimentary shipping and, in some places, offers free drop-off points, meaning there are no unnecessary costs on your end. When they get your item, it will either be repaired and resold or recycled in the right way, saving you both time and money from having to do it yourself.

Take Advantage of Coupons

Despite the already low prices, Amazon coupons are available regularly. The ‘Special Offers’ section of product pages is the best place to look for coupons, which you can clip to apply the savings to your basket.

You may not get a lot of money off most items, with most coupons offering around a dollar off, yet coupons are a great way to get money off the things you need.

The majority of coupons are available on groceries and personal care products, so keep an eye on the offers sections of these products.

Consider Signing Up for Amazon Family

Amazon Prime members also get access to the Amazon Family program, which deals on essentials like diapers, baby food, and sanitary products. In addition, you can schedule your deliveries when they will be needed and receive a 20% discount if you have five deliveries set up per month. Amazon Family is a great option for parents needing quick, easy, and cost-efficient deliveries.

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