Having an emergency fund fully built will help you manage your finances in the event something unexpected should arise. This can include car trouble, an appliance needing replacing, or an injury that requires you or your partner to be out of work.
Most people save $1000 in an emergency fund before working on paying off debts and saving for other things. If you want to build your emergency fund fast, check out the helpful tips below! My husband and I have employed most of these techniques for building our own emergency fund and I know that they work!
1. Sell items you no longer need. It's likely you have several items in the closet, attic or basement you haven't used in months or even years. Declutter these areas and sell unwanted items on eBay, Craigslist or local Facebook groups.
2. Start a side hustle. There are tons of tips online on ways you could make a little extra money online, but anything you can do on the side to "hustle up your emergency fund" is essential. During the winter, offer to shop for the elderly or wrap gifts for busy parents in your neighborhood. In the summer, mow lawns or walk dogs to earn extra cash.
3. Cut back on expenses. You may love that $5 cup of coffee on your way to work, but that's $25 you could add to your emergency fund if you cut it out! Figure out other changes you can make to stop spending and start saving.
4. Record your spending. If you don't have a written or digital budget already monitoring your spending, start one ASAP! It's important to see where your money is going, so you can redirect more of it to your emergency fund.
5. Use coupons. Start browsing sales ads and clipping coupons that work with sale prices to save more on groceries and household items. This will make it easier for you to fund your emergency account.
6. Have date nights at home. It can be tempting to go out every weekend and spend $75 on a nice dinner and movie. However, if you found more frugal ways to spend time with your honey, you can have the emergency fund built quickly!
7. Carpool to work. Ride to work with co-workers to save on gas money. Find 5 people who live nearby, and alternate who drives every day. That right there can save you $20+ per week!
8.Toss your change in a bucket. Saving your change each day will help you increase your emergency funds quickly. We typically carry coins around and they may get lost in the sofa or dropped in the parking lot. Empty your pockets nightly, cashing in the change once your bucket (an oatmeal jar or large pickle jar is perfect!) is full.
9. Start buying used. Many times, you can find things that you need at a fraction of the cost by buying gently used. Shop consignment shops for clothing and shoes. Also, browse eBay and Craigslist for appliances or furniture if the need arises
10. Reduce energy bill. Think about ways you can cut down on the money you spend on electricity each month. Make sure the lights are off when you leave a room, and rely more on blankets or fans to control the temperate in your home.
11. Renegotiate bills. Are you paying the lowest you can for cable or your cell phone? Give your provider a call and see if there is any way they can save you money to put toward your emergency fund. Sometimes, you can even score a lower interest rate on your credit card just by calling, or if you're a freelancer or a business owner, a practical step to ease cash flow and keep your finances on track is to get invoice finance. This can give you a faster route to growing your emergency fund.
12. Have money automatically transferred to savings. Most banks will allow you to set up an auto-draft from your bank account to savings account. You should do this with each payday, moving over $20 or more. The more you move, the quicker your emergency fund will be built! Be sure to bank with a trusted company.
13. Rent your belongings. If you have room in your home that isn't being used, consider renting it out for a weekly or monthly fee. The same can be done for an extra car, an RV, a boat, or a vacation home. Stash this money for your emergency fund.
14. Cash in credit card rewards. If you have a credit card or perhaps a debit card that offers rewards for spending, cash those in. Put the money straight in your savings account, and try not to use the credit cards anymore until your emergency fund is full!
15. View it as a bill. See your emergency fund as a weekly bill. It's something you must pay! This will put you in a mindset to get that fund full faster than normal.
What do you think about these tips for building an emergency fund fast? Have you tried these techniques yourself? Do you have other helpful tips to offer? Let me know in the comments!
*This is a collaborative post. All views and texts are my own.
Julian says
We have used a lot of these recommendations in order to keep ourselves sane over the last few years. The automatic transfer has been the most effective for us because we set a "law" that we can't ever take money out of our emergency fund unless absolutely necessary. We didn't actually miss the money that was automatically transferred and when we did need it we had a nest egg to help us weather the storm.
Great resource and a ton of helpful tips. Emergency funds are a must-have these days.
Peachy @ The Peach Kitchen says
I am trying to build our emergency fund and these awesome tips are very helpful!
Kiwi says
Great list of was to start saving. A lot of them are lifestyle adjustments and cutting back on unnecessary spending!
Mimi Green says
These are great ideas, I'm cutting down my expenses. I've started a coin jar. I'm also doing the weekly money challenge. I can't wait to see how it goes by the end of the year. I've always been a coupon gal.
Chubskulit Rose says
There are 5 of your list that we are currently doing. I will try some more on your list, thank you!
Maureen @Scoops of Joy says
As a single mom, these tips are so important and I'm so glad I found your post. I need to start getting more serious about building my emergency fund. Thank you for sharing the tips.
Dawn McAlexander says
We have tried to sell off a lot of things that we no longer need or want. It has helped at times, but it has also been tough to sell some things. I just wish money would magically appear lol.
Bonnie G says
Having an emergency fund is definitely important. Unfortunately for some that is not attainable. I love these ideas on how to save fast though.
Gwendolyn Mulholland says
These are all great tips and most are relatively painless so you can start building an emergency fund without feeling the pinch too bad. I have found meal planning means less eating out so that frees up money to set aside.
Heather says
I think it would be great to have a vacation home, just to make money on it. But that would mean a second mortgage and the rent would surely have to pay for that mortgage. Maybe one day. We already transfer funds to savings and hopefully blogging business will pick up enough for me to make ends meet when my husband is out of work with his surgery.
Anosa says
I already do these things but we never seem to have any money in the emergency fund, it always seems to get spent. I really need to up my game this year because money is always the thing i stress about
Jeanine says
I think this is so important. I learned that a few years ago when a major emergency came up and we had $0 put aside. Ever since then I've made sure to have an emergency fund!
Jenn @ EngineerMommy says
Keeping an emergency fund is so important to make sure you have enough money for the unexpected. These are great tips to build up that savings quickly.
Kristi says
Great ideas. Especially 15. We have money automatically deducted so we don't miss it but have access to it in an emergency.
Seattle Travel Blogger says
This article has some great pointers.
I really like treating savings like you would treat a bill. And pay that one first! 🙂
Rebecca Swenor says
These are all great tips to building your emergency fund fast. Sell unused items is a great way to make extra money. Cutting expenses that are not needed but wanted and buying used are both great ways to save money too. Thanks for sharing the tips.
Michelle says
These are all fantastic ideas to build up an emergency fund quickly. I really like the ideas of selling unused items and having date nights at home. Happy new year!
Nancy @ whispered inspirations says
Great tips! My hubby and I always have an emergency fund account. You never know what can come up.
Kecia says
Lots of great ideas to building an emergency fund! I think selling unwanted items is the best way, for us anyway.
Meagan says
These are great tips. It is so important to have an emergency fund.
Jen Rattie says
I love all of these tips! I've never thought about cashing out my credit card rewards straight to my bank account. That's really smart.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
This is a great resource for anyone looking to save up some cash. I'm bookmarking this for reference.
Jeanette says
We already do a lot of these, but I like where I need to treat this as a bill and put money in it all the time. I am excited to do that! We need our emergency fund growing!
Paula Schuck says
This is an excellent resource for saving money quickly. Saving up your spare change is surprisingly lucrative. It's amazing how much money we all have floating around our homes.
Amanda says
Everyone needs to have an emergency fund and if you follow these steps you will have an emergency fund set up in no time. Will be sharing this with some of my younger family members so they are prepared for anything.
Alli Smith says
It's always nice to have an emergency fund set aside and these are all great tips to build one fast. I personally love having date nights at home. It's just so much more relaxing. I do like to go out, but not as often as I used to.