Do you get overprotective of your EF..

[Thevail]

even when there's an (E)mergency?

Theoretically we have an EF to make life easier to manage without debt and credit. But even when we have an emergency, I just find myself wincing and avoiding admitting we need to use the EF money.

Is this just me?

[CarolBee]

You aren't alone in feeling that way! I feel the same way, too...we work so hard to save money and when things break, or a car repair is needed, it's hard to turn loose of that money (even though that's what it is there for!) I feel better about it when I think about paying interest on the same amount on a credit card vs. my no-interest-charged EF!
It sometimes feels, though, that it takes less time to spend it than it does to replace it!

[Must-Stash]

Nope, not just you. There are at least two of us. I think though that our name is legion.

We just had a totally unforseen and steep car repair bill yesterday that was paid for out of the EF. The first reaction was gratitude for the EF. The second reaction was anxiety over replacing that amount ASAP.
It's priority one.

[elphie]

I am the same way! I hate spending money once it is in my savings account; its good though because I try to find every way I can not to take the money out and more than once I've found another way to pay for something. Once I needed a car repair that was imminent but not immediate so I had an impromptu yard sale and made about 1/2 of the money I needed. Another time dh sold a gun from his collection that he never used. My anxiety over dipping into the EF forces me to really think if there is another way to get the money.

[Natalie]

What? I'm not the only one?

[mombottoo]

I'm not overprotective, but we have a clear understanding about what constitutes an emergency.

[rowdy35]

I would have to say YES,,,, i don't want to touch that money no way no how !!!!

[Mimilu]

I am the same way! I think I see my EF stash as a sort of security blanket and am afraid of turning loose of it....fear of what will happen if something happens before I can save up more.



Lynn

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[Jilly]

It seems I've worked so hard to get my EF where it is that if I had to dip into it, it would be like taking one step forward and two steps back!! I am soooo proud of myself, and almost look at it as a security blanket. But, in reality, is it merely a false sense of security because in a wink of an eye, it coul be needed to "save the day"?

[fixer]

The fact you have a hard time using your EF shows you get it. For us, it hurts as much now as it did when we were young and living hand to mouth. This feeling will serve you well throughout your life. Just because you have the money,it should not be easier to spend.

[LastDragonfly]

What? I'm not the only one?

I have that "failure freak out" when we have used our EF...I shoulda put more $$$ in the bank,......shoulda, coulda, woulda syndrome occurs when we use our EF, followed closely by Oh thank God, we had the EF.

[patticakes]

I am glad to see I am not the only one. Once the $$$ are in the account the world better be ending before go grab that ca$h.

[TheMartianChick]

As you can see from my siggy, we don't have a lot put aside in the emergency fund. However, I did borrow $450 from it to keep from using credit about 2 weeks ago. As soon as I got paid, I replaced the total amount and wouldn't let myself weasel out of it. It puts a crimp in this weeks budget, but it feels so good to have the money back where it belongs. I could get used to having money in the bank!

[Michelle]

I'm not overprotective, but we have a clear understanding about what constitutes an emergency.

:yes: that's how we are too. We're not afraid to use it. It is disappointing sometimes to dip into it, but we remind ourselves that is why we have it.

[knitnmom]

I feel the same way, so much so, I started a second EF! Now I have two! I have one I refer to as "no touchy" and the other one I refer to as "short term" meaning it's more like a Freedom Account.