We all know that we SHOULD have a decent amount of savings behind us. When we’re young, it’s all well and good to spend money as soon as you get it. But, as your responsibilities grow, it would be irresponsible to think you can continue to act that way. In fact, the majority of us learn the hard way that having money behind you is essential in case of various emergencies. It only takes one unexpected bill, or a poorly timed breakage, to leave you ruing those items you didn’t even need to buy.

But, while some of us fast get into the habit of saving money, others aren’t as quick to join the trend. There can be a lot of reasons for this, from a sheer inability to save, to a lack of spare funds. Rest easy, though, that none of the obstacles you put in your way should stop you from saving at least a little each month. If you’ve never gotten around to setting up a savings account, it’s time to train yourself into saving.

Start by opening up an account, then make sure to factor a set amount to put in there each month. Treat this as any of your other bills, so that you never slip into skipping months. View it as just another one of your outgoings. It may even help to set up automatic amounts to transfer as soon as you get paid. That way, you can’t shirk the responsibility whenever you want to. What’s more, this can work, even for those of us without much spare money to play with. The chances are, once you really think about it, you have more than you realize. After all, skipping that meal out means $20 for the savings fund. And, that’s plenty to be going along with. Spare that much each month, and you’ll soon have a decent amount behind you.

So, as you can see, anyone can get into saving if they want to. Yet, there are still a fair few people out there who don’t see the point in saving. After all, life is for the living, and money should be spent, shouldn’t it? Thinking like that is all well and good until you face an expensive situation or two. The good news is, this post is written with the non-believers in mind. If you don’t think the need for savings applies to you, read on to find out about a few of the emergencies you don’t want to face without them.

A rumble in your engine

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Okay, so it doesn’t have to be a rumble in your engine. It could be a juddering in your exhaust, or a failure to start up altogether. Either way, issues with vehicles are one of the most common expenses we face. In fact, if you own a car, you can be sure you’ll need to fork out on repairs at least once a year or so. That’s just the way the car-owner cookie crumbles. What’s worse, these issues often happen without warning, and when you could most do without them. You can guarantee that, if something’s going to go wrong, it’ll do so at the end of the month. If you’re unlucky, you might even find yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere, and in need of a tow truck on the spot. That’s not going to be a possibility if you don’t have a savings account to fall back on.

Even if you are lucky enough to break down in a safe spot, or get your car back home again, you’ll struggle to get it running again. And, if you rely on that vehicle to get you to and from work, this could be a massive issue. You’d likely have no choice but to call around friends and family in an attempt to scrape the money together. After your third or fourth unsuccessful call, you’ll wish you had taken that savings advice when you had the chance. In fairness, a broken down car isn’t fun, even when you do have the money to fix it. But, at least you can reduce the stress when money isn’t a worry.

Home repairs

Any homeowner knows a fair bit about home repairs. Whether it’s a fallen roof tile or a broken boiler, there’s always something which needs attention. While some of these issues can wait until payday, many of them can’t. And, these can become a real issue when you have no money left in your account. A broken boiler in the middle of winter, for instance, is not something you can ‘pay for later’. In fact, an issue like this can set you back a good few grand if you’re unlucky. It’s unlikely you’ll have that amount of money, even after you’ve just been paid. Hence, savings and homeownership SHOULD go hand in hand. As if that wasn’t enough, consider that home maintenance is an essential part of smooth running in any house. Fail to keep on top of this, and you can be sure to face even more extreme expenses down the line. So, you could argue that not having savings behind you is counterproductive. One thing’s sure; you’ll certainly pay for not protecting your home. There’s a significant chance the expense you face will make you realize that setting aside $50 a month wouldn’t have been such a hard stretch.

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Trouble with the law

The majority of us will likely fall into trouble with the law at some stage in our lives. Of course, the extent to which this applies varies from person to person. But, even something as simple as a parking ticket can become a real issue if you can’t afford the fine. Everyone knows, after all, that the amount on that ticket only rises with each day you don’t pay. Before you know it, you could face an amount which far outweighs your means, even on a frugal day. And, when that happens, you may face court sentences and even jail time. All because you parked in the wrong place and didn’t have the money to clear your name.

Of course, in some cases, the trouble we get in is even worse. Whether guilty or not, being accused of a crime could see you up in front of a court. And, when that happens, you’ll have no choice but to hire the services of a criminal defense lawyer like Michelle Suskauer. Depending on the extent of the case against you, representation could end up costing a fair amount. And, the only workable way to ensure you can meet the costs is to have a decent savings pot to dip into. The better your representation, the better your chances are of avoiding a sentence.

Health emergencies

While the majority of us have health insurance, a health emergency can still leave us out of pocket when we’re working without savings. For one, it’s worth noting that there are issues which aren’t covered by insurance. As such, there’s always a chance your condition won’t be covered. Even if it is, you may find yourself in a position where you have to pay out, and then claim the money back. But, with medical bills on even small issues going through the roof, this is rarely possible unless you have savings.

Medical issues aside, an emergency with your health may also mean taking time off work. So, not only will you possible need to pay for treatment, but you’ll also lose your source of income. Talk about a double whammy. It seems, then, that the only way to prepare for things going wrong with your health is to get saving.

Vet bills

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Along the same vein, pet owners may have to fork out on vet bills unexpectedly. No matter how well you care for your animals, there will be times when they too need medical help. And, given that our pets are part of the family, you won’t want to delay treatment for them any more than you would for yourself. But, let’s not forget that vets fees are expensive. Even something as simple as a round of medication could set you back. Heck, even an initial assessment will cost a whole load. Many people would argue, then, that you should never take on a pet if you don’t have the savings to care for them. And, we know what you’re thinking; there are pet insurance plans out there. Again, though, these often require you to pay out and claim that money back. Which means that, if you don’t have the money in the first place, your pet could well suffer for it.

A final word

We’re sure you’ve guessed by now that these aren’t the only emergencies which require money before they go away. But, you get the idea, don’t you? In short, your life will be much trickier if you don’t have savings to back you up. So, forget about living from day to day; start making a financial plan to support your future.