Why Does It Feel Like Every Time You Get Ahead, Something Happens?
A few years ago, if you had asked me what an emergency fund was for, I probably would have told you it was there in case I lost my job. And while that’s certainly true, I’ve learned something different over the years, both in my own life and from coaching families. Most people don’t get knocked off track financially because of one catastrophic event. They get knocked off track because life keeps showing up, over and over and over again.
This year has been a perfect example.
My wife and I have had one of those seasons where it feels like every time we turn around, there’s another unexpected expense waiting for us. We have a leaking gutter that needs to be replaced because it’s allowing water to seep into the basement every time it rains. Our cat, Bruno, made three trips to the veterinarian and racked up more than $1,000 in medical bills. The HVAC needed a new capacitor, my son’s truck required a $1,000 repair, and the garage door opener finally gave out.
On top of that, we’ve had several home maintenance projects, including painting the exterior of the house, along with a handful of other expenses that I can’t even remember at this point.
None of those things were irresponsible purchases, and none of them were extravagant by any means. In fact, most of them were completely predictable if you stop and think about it. Pets eventually need medical care. Vehicles eventually need repairs. And homes certainly require ongoing maintenance and upkeep.
That’s life.
The problem is that life rarely spreads these expenses out conveniently over time. Instead, they seem to show up all at once.
As the saying goes, when it rains, it pours. And sometimes… it literally pours into your basement through a leaking gutter.
Shaking my head.
That’s exactly why emergency funds matter. Not because we’re expecting disaster, but because we know life is going to happen.
I’ve seen the same thing happen with clients.
One couple finally started making progress paying down debt when their HVAC system failed in the middle of summer. Another client had a water main break between their house and the street. Another needed emergency dental work. Another had a transmission fail. Another had a refrigerator go out. I could go on and on. None of these people were reckless. None of them were making poor decisions.
They were simply living life.
What happens next is what creates the problem.
Without an emergency fund, those expenses usually end up on a credit card. The credit card balance grows, interest starts accumulating, and suddenly the money that should have been used to move forward is being used to pay for something that already happened.
That’s how people get stuck. Not because they don’t make enough money or they don’t care. Not even because they’re bad with money. They get stuck because every unexpected expense steals money that was supposed to go toward their future.
The vacation gets delayed (or goes on the credit card)
The retirement contribution gets reduced.
The debt payoff slows down. (or the credit card gets used again)
The savings account never seems to grow.
Eventually people start wondering why they’re working so hard and still not getting ahead.
The only reason my wife and I didn’t feel overwhelmed during this recent season was because we had already done the work of building a fully funded emergency fund and every one of those unexpected expenses got paid…in cash.
We didn’t pull out a credit card. We didn’t borrow money. We didn’t have to stop investing or change our long-term plans.
Did I enjoy spending the money? Not at all.
But I wasn’t upset about using the emergency fund because that’s exactly what it was there for.
I think that’s what many people misunderstand about emergency savings. The goal isn’t to build an emergency fund and hope you never touch it. The goal is to have money set aside so that when life inevitably happens, you’re prepared.
An emergency fund doesn’t just protect you from unexpected expenses. It protects your momentum. It protects the progress you’ve worked so hard to make.
Without an emergency fund, a major repair, medical bill, or unexpected expense can quickly turn into credit card debt. That debt creates interest payments, steals future income, and delays other financial goals.
With an emergency fund, those same expenses become temporary inconveniences instead of long-term setbacks.
It keeps one bad month from turning into three years of debt payments.
And in today’s world, where everything seems to cost more and financial margin feels harder to create, that’s more important than ever.
Inflation has pushed the cost of nearly everything higher. Americans are carrying record levels of debt. Many families feel like they’re earning more money than ever before but somehow have less room in their budget than they did a few years ago.
That’s why having a plan matters.
If you’re not sure whether your emergency fund is where it needs to be, I created a free Emergency Calculator that will help you determine exactly how much you should have set aside based on your family’s situation.
You can access it here:
👉 https://www.tjrfinancialcoaching.com/emergencycalculator
Take a few minutes and run the numbers. You may discover you’re closer than you think. Or you may realize it’s time to start building a stronger safety net. Either way, you’ll have clarity. And clarity is always the first step toward peace.
Dream Big. Live Free.
TJ Recinella
Money Relationship Coach
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Dream Big. Live Free.
Your future deserves it.
About the Author
TJ Recinella (Owner/ Founder of TJR Financial Coaching)
TJ is a financial coach that helps couples who earn good money but feel like they have nothing to show for it. They’re unsure about their financial situation and frustrated that they aren’t where they should be. He provides a path forward and helps them believe in themselves so they can get unstuck, gain confidence, take control and change their financial future.
Let’s chat—book a free call:
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