Find Something to Cut
Eliminating expenses is the surest route to building a cash safety net. There are many costs you can easily hack away at in your home — dry cleaning bills, dinners out, domestic help. Yet you may be able to save even more, and painlessly, by paying closer attention to the fees you pay for financial services. Switch to a low-fee stock index fund. Make sure you've got overdraft protection on your checking account and aren't needlessly ringing up fees by using another bank's ATMs. Reassess your life insurance needs. If you've quit smoking or lost a lot of weight you may be eligible for a meaningful discount on another policy, and if you've paid off the mortgage or the kids have left home you may be able to reduce your coverage. The savings could add up to hundreds of dollars a month.