When your emergency fund is gone...

I got a really important comment recently on my YouTube channel and I thought I would share it with you. 

Last year I saved $8,000 for our emergency fund twice. First, I wrecked my car I saved another $8,000 and my husband's car broke down... repairs were way more than the car was worth so we got a very used replacement car (paid cash YAY!!!!!) but now have to rebuild brick by brick. I know we can do this... but I am discouraged.

Wow, this comment spoke to me. I've been there. I've been there so many times. We've worked to build up our savings only to have life happen and have the ground ripped out from under us. 

So what do you do when your emergency fund is gone? 

My answer might not be what you're expecting. But trust me when I say that a lot of time and thought has gone into it. So what do you do? You give thanks. 

Wait, before you punch your computer or throw your phone across the room, hear me out. I've been there, with my emergency fund gone, looking at a zero balance savings account and feeling crushed. 

Each time I've had to withdraw money from our savings account it hurts. I think about the long hours we worked to save that money. I think of the extra time my husband put in away from us. I think about all the long nights I spent working only to get up early with my babies.

And then I remind myself how grateful I am that the money was there. When our car AC went out and I had two small children to drive around in the Alabama heat. When my transmission needed repairing. When our fridge suddenly died over Easter weekend, when my son needed medical testing, when our inside AC unit had to be replaced. My emergency fund was there to see me through. Whether it was our starter fund of $1,000 or our larger emergency fund. The money was there.

Yes, it's hard to see it all go in one fell swoop. But each time I am grateful it was there. I didn't have to swipe a credit card and rack up interest. I didn't have to go back into debt. I didn't feel the bitter sting of desperation.

The money was there when I needed it. I won’t lie, some part of my panics when the emergency fund gets too low, but I take a deep breath and remind myself that I did once, I can do it again.

I had the means to earn the cash and the willingness to save the cash I can do it again. I know how it feels to have that money when I needed it and that’s a driving force to do it again.

So if you’re in the thick of it like this sweet reader, know that you’re not alone. I have been there. Many of us have been there. And also know that while it’s frustrating and exhausting you can do it again. Each time I've had to withdraw money from our savings account it hurts. I think about the long hours we worked to save that money. I think of the extra time my husband put in away from us. I think about all the long nights I spent working only to get up early with my babies. And then I remind myself how grateful I am that the money was there.

When our car AC went out and I had two small children to drive around in the Alabama heat. When my transmission needed repairing. When our fridge suddenly died over Easter weekend, when my son needed medical testing , when our inside AC unit had to be replaced. My emergency fund was there to see me through. Whether it was our starter fund of $1,000 or our larger emergency fund. The money was there. 

Yes, it's hard to see it all go in one fell swoop. But each time I am grateful it was there. I didn't have to swipe a credit card and rack up interest. I didn't have to go back into debt. I didn't feel the bitter sting of desperation. 

The money was there when I needed it.