To be honest, I have given this goal much thought and am currently very much in the process of saving the funds for said emergency fund. In fact, in my goal “learn how to successfully invest”, I have claimed a goal amount and date: $2,000 by July 4th 2013. This is roughly the amount to pay 3 months of my only current/long-term expense, student loans. Figured each goal deserves at least one status update entry.

Current savings: $1,400

I’d say I’m right on schedule :) 23 hours ago

Car stuff again… sigh3 weeks ago

Received a totally unexpected and completely welcome check in the mail as a once in a life time birthday present… need to sit down and decide how best to invest it tomorrow. I can tell you right now though, that part of it will be going towards a solid emergency fund! 1 month ago

M and I were talking last night, and realized we better start saving $$ if we want to be able to afford to move next winter when our lease on the apartment is up. I really want to get into a house that gives me less exposures by being a single unit free of smoking neighbors and diesel based landscaping crew. Moving is expensive, what with deposites, truck and potential movers, etc. would like to have at least $3,000 set aside for this process in an ideal world. That would mean saving $500/month. Better start the fund, and continue to focus on saving. 1 month ago

Tonight I’ve been feeling angsty about finances. So sick of things being tight, and the resulting stress. Time to turn this around, and look at the positive!

My successes:
- I’ve paid for all of my own basis necessities for the last 3+ years
- I’ve paid my mortgage and HOAs religiously since I bought my own home 2.5 years ago
- I live in a beautiful place with a man I love and who adores me
- I’ve helped my sweetie pay over $3,000 worth of car repairs in the last six months
- I bought my own car, and am making the regular payments
- I cover my own insurance
- I’ve paid my own treatment room rental for the last 3.5 years, and even managed to hold it together when my business partner left me in the lurch
- I’m up to date with all my licensing
- I consistently meet my payments on all money owing
- I invest in my health

And I’ve done this all while starting my own successful business from scratch :)

sure, I’m actively welcoming in prosperity, and really look forward to when there is a little more wiggle in our monthly cash flow budget, and yes there are some big things I’m really looking forward to being able to afford… but over all, I’m doing pretty well. phew!

In terms of this goal “having a 3 month security fund” though, I definitely need to tighten the belt down the last remaining bit and prioritize this if it is going to happen. 1 month ago

Chose to buy new clothes for work at the beginning I this month since I’d been making do for quite a while. And now my honey’s car is finally giving out on the breaks eat that have needed replacing for a while. Thankfully because we’ve been having a good month I think we will be able to make ends meet. Going to be so great to step out into getting ahead and moving forward with our goals rather than continuing to play catch up like this. 2 months ago

This month’s income projections are looking really strong. Looking forward to catching up and being able to set at least a few hundred aside as a cash flow buffer and security fund :)

P.S. Transferred $50 to my freedom/security fund this morning :) Yippee! 2 months ago

I’m meeting my most pressing needs that are non negotiable and have the money to pay my monthly bills, but some days it feels like a frightfully close call! I’m not spending spontaneously on stuff either, well, not beyond the very occasional $5 treat during my weekly food shop or something like that. Mostly I’m toeing the line exactly, and it just has to do with my overarching life style being high quality and a little expensive to maintain and having taken a large hit on my earnings last fall with moving my practice. Thank God last month was better. Here is to manifesting prosperity from here on out! 3 months ago

Step by little step, am getting closer… there are just a lot of baby steps along the way! 4 months ago

I saw an interesting idea online: forbid yourself from spending any $5 bills that come into your possession. I’ve been practicing this since January 1 and now have $40 worth of $5 bills saved. 4 months ago

i’ve set up my direct deposit through work to add $50 per paycheck to my savings account. if i don’t see the money i don’t seem to miss it. so far this has worked really well. 4 months ago

Seeing a whole bunch of new clients is really helping my finances. I was able to get ahead on my cc payments this month, and also set some $$ aside for catching up on paying my taxes. Definitely in a more positive place. It is going to take continued attentiveness to reach this goal but at least I am headed in the right direction again :) 4 months ago

It is really not as hard as it looks. Work out how much you need, Setup a plan and start saving.

I would say you have to get this done within a year of starting, otherwise you might be living outside of your means.

And make sure the money is out of reach and invested in a above inflation interest account. 5 months ago

unexpected car repairs setting me back :( 6 months ago

in moving my business and moving my home at the same time. Just spent a couple hours catching up on clerical work, and no wonder I’ve been feeling a bit broke! Definite decrease in clients the first two months after I moved. Luckily things are starting to pick up now that my loyal peeps are getting in the flow of coming to see me in my new treatment space or paying me extra for coming to them on-site :) 6 months ago

well, definitely still have a WAYS to go on this particular goal… but some good changes have taken place! My marketing efforts are providing tangible results, and I’ve got three clients back to back on Thursday alone! My partner just accepted a new job, which ultimately will pay more when factoring in promised bonuses for meeting certain hurdles I am confident he’ll reach with ease… and in the meantime I’m doing MUCH better on living on less $$ each week :) 7 months ago

My life is wonderful. It is what I make of it. I get to choose my own mood and take reasponsibilities for my own attitude. Sometimes it is just so much easier than others to be positive and optimistic!

The reason I want to build an emergency fund in the first place is because I want a sense of security, success, independence, and excitement and joy when life sends me curve balls instead of panic/overwhelm/fear of not having enough resources to pull it off or be well on my own.

Here I am, with less in the bank the when I started this goal, wondering how to pull myself out of the overwhelm and exhausted state of discouragement I find myself flopping around within.

More sleep, more journaling, more meditation I think. Also need to acknowledge and honor my desire for LESS perfectionism, less guilt, less acceptance of my partner’s sulking and negative projections/self talk. It is a downer that I don’t need!

Phew. Feels good to take a deep breath and take stock. Everything is going to be ok. We are through the biggest parts of our recent situations. Now I just have to gather the energy and fortitude to wrap up a few of these projects. 8 months ago

Having a rainy day fund available in the bank is awesome. It takes discipline, (that’s my wife), but its sooooo worth it. I love the peace of mind from knowing that we can handle any unforeseen bumps in the road! 8 months ago

It’s been too much ebb for quite some time. Glad I seem to be getting it together and entering a stage with a little more flow! 9 months ago

At least in working on paying off my credit card I create more room for emergencies without fear of maxing the account out. Really looking forward to having significant funds in savings though! 15 months ago

I was sick yesterday. Having to call into work and have my receptionist reschedule my clients for two days scared me as I realized that while I’ve been making enough to cover all my obligations with beautifully consistantly, there is incredibly little wiggle room or security buffer in my budget and monthly earnings right now!

If I get sick I want to feel comfortable and secure as possible, able to rest and heal rather than facing the added stress of fearing i won’t be able to make my morgage payment if i get sick for a week!

In order to accomplish this goal I’m going to have to: 1) cut expenses back more. 2) Make more money consistantly and save it.

Ways of accomplishing this:

1) a. Attract a new roomie to share the rent on my treatment space at work.
b. Put off buying anything non-essential for a couple months… aka jewerly, stones, clothes, gas, plane tickets, etc. (Though I’ve been pretty good here overall the last six months)

2) a. Charge what I’m worth and stop giving random discounts
b. See 12+ clients a week consistantly
c. Spend more time and creative energy marketing and bringing in new clients.
d. Stay healthy and ready to see my clients!
e. Branch into fresh avenues of income, including teaching and distributing more products. 17 months ago