No matter how well you plan, unexpected surprises can derail your budget. While it’s a good idea to have an emergency fund, if you have one, how do you decide when to dip into the fund? Is replacing a broken microwave an emergency?
There are a set amount of expenses that aren’t emergencies, but they regularly occur – replacing car tires, a child’s lost knapsack, etc. Even a relatively minor expense can derail a sensitive budget. An anti-emergency fund helps save for variable expenses (both expected and unexpected) that inevitably take place. Insurance premiums, birthdays, and higher heating costs in the winter all fall into the category of inevitable expenses.
Planning for the “it’s bound to happen” events can help eliminate financial stress. In all the years I’ve helped clients create retirement plans, only one client wanted to include a line in his budget for the eventual replacement of large appliances. How will you pay for new appliances if you don’t have extra disposable income? If you’re forced to dip into pension savings to afford a new refrigerator, you may be faced with penalties, taxes, and the inevitable decline in your account’s value.
Planning and saving can help prevent the fastballs in everyday life from turning into a crisis. My in-laws have a jar by the washing machine, and every time they do a load, they pay a dollar, earmarked for the inevitable cost of a new machine/repair. Your “anti-emergency fund” can either be a separate account, or a line item in your budget. If you budget for repairs and then don’t need them, then the additional cash can cushion your account.
The markets aren’t the only force that can wreak havoc on your savings. Having both an emergency fund and an anti-emergency fund can prevent a surprise from turning into a fiscal catastrophe. Fully funded emergency and anti-emergency accounts can safeguard your retirement savings and provide cash when you need it most.
