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How can I build up an emergency fund when money is tight?

Take a good look at where your money is really going.  Figure out where you can cut back, e.g., reduce trips to fast food restaurants, take sandwiches to work to save money, avoid convenience stores and vending machines, drink water instead of expensive soda, and buy bread in bulk at the discount bread stores.  Hold a garage sale and sell items you do not need or use, and put profits in an emergency fund.  Buy all goods with paper money and save all your change in a change jar, and then take that to the bank and deposit it in your designated emergency account.


Author: Phyllis Zalenski, zalenski@iastate.edu
Related Information:
“Living on Less,” University of Missouri-Columbia Extension
A 4-page publication on learning how to spend less but still live well. (PDF file)
 
“Cutting Costs to Live Within Your Income,” University of Florida Extension
A one page, easy-to-read listing of cost-cutting ideas.
 
“101 Ways to Save Money,” Alabama Cooperative Extension, Alabama A & M and Auburn Universities
101 easy to implement ideas(PDF file)
 
“Twenty-Five Ways to Live on Less,” Rutgers Cooperative Extension
2-page publication(PDF file)
 
“Bouncing Back When Your Income Drops 6: Cutting Corners and Economizing,” Penn State University Extension
6 pages on "Bouncing back when your income drops" (PDF file)
 
“Cutting Costs,” Virginia Cooperative Extension
Ways to cut expenses, reduce the necessities, family participation, family activity.
 

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Date last updated: 07/24/2002
Technical issues contact: jvohsman@iastate.edu


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