Hey, hey you. You reading the post. Go grab your wallet or purse before reading this post. Great, you’re back. Now, I want you to look into your wallet/purse whatever. You know, the thing that you put your cash and credit cards in, ok now count your money. Ignore the credit cards. They’re not real! Pull out your change, any dollar bills that you may have and count it. Ok, now move over to your piggy bank. This one might take awhile. Count the cash in there. Only your cash. If you have a spouse or kids you can’t include their cash! Now, do you have cash anywhere else in your house?
Finally, add the cash that you have in your checking and savings accounts. How much cash do you have?? $300, $727.26? or $5,000.
What would you do if there was an emergency and you couldn’t get to the bank? Or, if the atm wasn’t working? Or, a snowstorm is coming and you need to buy some food? Or, the Government is shutdown and you don’t get paid. Do you have CASH??
This could be filed under just another savings post. But, what I’m actually talking about is having cash money, dollar, dollar bills on you. Dave Ramsey and other financial gurus talk constantly about the power of cash. They believe that spending with cash is a different feeling than when someone uses a credit card.
For me, I kind of feel like a bad a@@ when I use cash. I’m creeped out by the articles that I’ve been reading where people are derided for using cash. It feels like our cashless future is now. I also get creeped out when I think about institutions and businesses employ people who have no idea how to count cash. In the rush to do everything online have we left behind a whole group of people who are disconnect not only from online banking, but from brick and mortar banking as well?
I currently have cash at home-hidden creepers there’s no freaking way you could find it, cash in my pocket, cash in my banks. It’s not enough though. We’ve all read the articles stating that most Americans would have a difficult time getting their hands on $2,000 cash in an emergency. Are you one of them? Be honest. Can your partner come up with Two grand? I have more cash saved this year than I’ve had in years. The last time I save this much cash I was when I was planning a six month trip to Europe. Why was it so easy to value that then and why am I stumbling when it comes to taking care of my personal well-being and getting a substantial emergency fund together?
I feel like a complete idiot when I think about this.
If you don’t have Two Grand available to you without having to use a credit card, sell something, or borrow from friends then you need to get on that right now. What are you willing to do (that’s legal) to prioritize saving the cash then jump starting your Emergency Fund after that. I would consider saving $2,000 as being similar to the small wins that Dave Ramsey talks about when people are working their debt snowball. Basically, each time you pay off a small bill you get the thrill of a win.
What are you spending money on that could be nixed for awhile so that you can accelerate saving at least $2,000? Don’t give me the Christmas is coming excuse. Small children could play with a box and be happy. We all know that “Cash is King” so why don’t we act like it?
Some things to do to accelerate saving your $2,000 dollars.
- Cut down on eating out
- Stop shopping for awhile-For the past 6 months I haven’t gone shopping. Not only have I saved money and paid off credit cards, I also took my mom to New York CIty for Labor Day Weekend-my treat
- Take your lunch to work
- Take the bus to work or do what you need to do to cut down driving expenses -am thinking gas costs
- Pick up a side hustle-I had a lot of success picking up extra work via Craigslist.
- Track your spending and make the obvious adjustments
I’ve become a slightly crazed, somewhat anxious supporter of the Savings Movement. The Cash Movement. The Emergency Fund Brigade. You get the picture. Go save some money so I don’t have to watch you get interviewed online about being furloughed and getting financially screwed because you have to have that check. I’m not judging you if you’re in that position. I’ve been in that position! I’m just pleading, begging, shouting, asking, people to focus on making their financial house a priority. Start with some cash money. I think you’ll like how it feels when it starts to add up.
Do you have at least $2,000 available to you? Do you carry cash on you (obviously not tons!) Are you currently working on your emergency fund? What are you doing to accelerate your savings?
Great song, some bad words…just so you know!
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Great post Michelle! Come to my Zumba class on Friday morning at 7:45 during FinCon! OK, back to the post. I actually almost never carry cash. And I feel bad when I pay for cash because I feel like I can’t track my expenses or I’m not earning rewards points when I pay for cash. But I’m getting a little better with that. I will work on stashing more cash at home tho. Because I’d currently need my bank to get ahold of my cash in an emergency. I always carry around a $2 bill. And I think I have like 10 bucks in my wallet. Thanks for the reminder!
Hi Crystal! I didn’t know you would be teaching a class. I’m kind of a b$tch in the morning, but if I’m motivated I will def. join in! I thought you were doing the envelope system right now? The key for me is to avoid all situations that involve spending cash…during the week! My prime spending time is always during the weekend. My Vietnamese American friend always gives me $2 bills for good luck! See you in St. Louis.
I switched to a modified envelope system where I’m using my debit card with only a certain amount of money in it!
Ok, I got it!
No cash on me at all! I can come up with $2000 but most of that is reserved for bills. I’ve had the perfect storm of unexpected expenses lately — towing, flight back home for a funeral, and unpaid medical bill I forgot about so I’m a bit cash poor these days. Yikes!
You had a huge number of expenses-wow!I always seem to run a bit cash poor so I’m really trying to turn that around. I’m finding that the more cash I have the calmer I feel.
Great post! I feel all inspired!! I feel so much better now that we have an emergency fund. No clue how we got through life without one!
Thanks Cat! I’m finding that I’m getting more and more annoyed with myself for not getting a handle on this. I’ve just been lazy. So, now I’m working hard on not being lazy and really attacking this issue. Happily it’s going into winter and I’m a lot more motivated when I have nothing to do but read, exercise, and snowboard.
Yep, love cash. Also love being debt free. 🙂
I was raised with a be prepared mentality, so have food storage which I could live off for a while, cash as well as my own investments etc. I try to keep the car at least half full all the time. Even when I travel I prefer cash. I take out the amount I am ok with spending when away and that’s it. I don’t carry it all on me all the time, but it sure helps keep the budget in check!
That said, my daughter wants more of her own cash, she has a little box she puts money she finds in. This afternoon we are having a chat about money and she wants to start making money (from outside the home, not just chores for me), so we are starting by selling some things. Be interesting to see how it goes. I would love her to have her own $2,000 and to learn the value of cash, saving and being prepared. She’s currently saving to go to the USA and she’s only 6.
Wow! I’ve always been taught the value of hard work, but saving was missed. When I have kids I will take them to the Young Americans Bank in Denver. It’s the only bank of its kind in the U.S. http://yacenter.org/young-americans-bank/ Isn’t it great!! I am so proud of your daughter, she will figure out a way to make money (that you like) and shock the heck out of you!
Michelle,
Good for you! Definitely take any kids you may have some day to the Young Americans Bank in Denver. We did that with our daughter years ago – guess who’s well on her way to being wealthier than her parents ever dreamed of? It’s a fantastic program.
I have been intrigued with that bank since it opened! I’m glad to hear that it is a great resource. Now, I just need to work on the marriage and kid!
I don’t have physical cash on me because I like to use cards to either track expenses for tax time and/or use credit cards for rewards. I do have easily accessible cash with my bank, but I guess if that shit hits the fan Im in trouble. 🙂
It’s so hard trying to find that balance. Tonya, in every zombie movie New York and L.A. are taken first. Maybe you need gold instead of dollar bills??
This is why I’m ramping up my emergency fund savings these next two months. Although someone suggested counting my Roth IRA as my emergency fund since there are no penalties to withdraw my own contributions. Still have to think about that one… The only thing I hate about hoarding cash is the lack of growth – interest rates suck nowadays!
Lisa, do not count your Roth IRA. You don’t want to get in a habit of cashing in retirement savings as young as you are. If you don’t touch that savings it will make such a big difference for you even in your thirties. Don’t worry about interest rates for that $2000, that’s the minimum amount that you should have available to you in a pinch. Plus your emergency fund. I’ve decided that the $2000 is separate from my ER fund.
Yes, but not on me. However, with both my banks having branches a block from my apartment and at least six ATMs within a block I cannot imagine a situation in which I could not access my cash from somewhere. Plus, we could probably last two weeks or more on the food and supplies we have on hand. When Katrina hit we had everything we needed and more until the grocery stores opened again. So I feel fairly prepared. I only have about $100 or so cash actually in the apartment.
I do like to pay for small incidentals, like an occasional cup of coffee in the afternoon for example, with cash. I like giving myself an allowance for the week and sticking with it. It’s also nice to see if I can get to the end of the work week with some still in my pocket. Taking my lunch and having coffee & breakfast at home before I leave for the office have helped, too.
I think a lot of people don’t have enough food in the house so I think it’s great that you mentioned it! I keep a certain amount of cash on me at all times just in case. Nothing crazy but enough that makes feel a little powerful. It’s a lot of fun leaving the house with cash and seeing if you can get things and still return home with some cash in your pocket. I’m on this rant and this train of thought about cash and emergency savings because I think that there is a growing disconnect in how people feel about money because they never FEEL actual money. Everything is automated to the point where money is almost an abstract concept.