The E-Fund Slowly Creeps UP

Like most PF bloggers, I'm working on establishing an Emergency Fund. I never really had an emergency fund to speak of, all my money sat in my checking account and at times I spent it all. Not good as they say.

As I have embarked on this new fiscal chapter in my life, I have for the first time, established an emergency fund. This fund is at my local credit union and it is a straight statement savings account, no debit card access to it at all. I have been faithfully snowflaking the money I earn photographing houses for a title company to this account. I have also deposited the drips and drabs of income that I get from a bunch of side projects. Previously, the money I got from photograping houses ($15-$25 per house) would have gotten spent without me knowing where or what I spent the money on. I'd put the checks in my account and then forgot to transfer that money to my ING account, or I'd cash the check and fritter the money away (laundry, coffee out, god knows what!)

I took my first "paycheck" from my occassional part time job and put it in my E-Fund today. That money was "bookmarked" for my car note, but since I had already paid the car note for the month, I took the money and dropped it into the Credit Union. I have managed to save $822.95 in less than 3 months to the Credit Union Account. $822.95 is a lot of money for me to have saved since the middle of March.

Dave Ramsey and his followers talk about Gazelle intensity in terms of debt reduction. I'm using some medium Gazelle intensity in bolstering my savings account. I'm doing what I need to do to bolster my savings account.

I will admit, it does feel good to have that money in my credit union account. If you told me a year ago, or even 6 months ago that I would have almost $1,000 saved (and not pre-spent or "earmarked" for something) I would have asked you what drugs you were taking. Seriously, I would have wondered if you accidentally ingested something. Me, save $1,000? PLUEZZE. But you know what, I did manage to save almost $1,000 and have managed to do it in less than 5 months. How sweet that is!