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The money tip I selected was about creating an emergency fund for the unexpected. I have full faith in this tip, for sure. When I was a

young girl, I had no idea about money, lack of money, savings, poverty or wealth. It was not until we were in middle school that we

became aware of these things as school had a way of opening our world to bigger issues than what we had experienced.

Now that I am an adult, I realize how important it is to have an emergency fund to draw from. Life events can create financial hardship

in the blink of an eye. An act of God, a car breaking down, a medical emergency, could all create financial difficulty if you have not

budgeted for them.

Once you have been in the place of needing an emergency fund, you will quickly realize the value of one$-$ or two! I have found that

sacrificing today to save for tomorrow has helped more than just myself. I have been able to lend to others as they have had

emergency needs arise. At first, the only thing I could do to save money was to round up in my check register. I know it may not be the

BEST solution, but it worked for me$.$ I would record the correct amount of the check in the space to record it but round up in the

balancing column. I cannot tell you how many times that little trick saved me$.$ Before I knew it$,$ those pennies added up to dollars and

before I knew it$,$ my little emergency fund was growing.

Another way I created an emergency fund was to have a certain amount taken out of my paychecks automatically. It was deposited

into an interest yielding savings account, twice a month. Start small, like $$5$ or $$10$ dollars a pay period. Before you know it$,$ it will add

up$.$ I did this so I would be able to have a Christmas fund or have money to pay personal property taxes at year end. I now have

confidence knowing that it is there if needed.

Since implementing an emergency fund, I have invested in my future and started investing in an IRA and other such accounts. With

vetted investment companies who actively manage their accounts, my initial startup capital has more than doubled. I cannot tell you

how satisfying it is knowing that planning for my future with small, manageable bites of my funds, has a way of instilling a little peace

in this otherwise chaotic world of ours.