I have to admit, I had no idea what an emergency fund was until I stumbled upon a YouTube video from ANC Money. They broke it down so well that it finally clicked for me. So, what exactly is an emergency fund? It’s basically a stash of cash that you can tap into when life throws a curveball—whether it’s an unexpected medical bill, car repair, or even a job loss.

According to a financial adviser featured on ANC Money, your emergency fund should ideally cover 3 to 6 months of your monthly expenses. This got me thinking: “Do I even have enough saved up for a rainy day?” Spoiler alert—I didn’t.

Here’s something else I learned: your emergency fund doesn’t have to just sit in a savings account gathering dust (and barely any interest). You can actually put it in an investment portfolio that allows you to withdraw within three days if needed. This was a game-changer for me! All along, I thought a bank was the only place to keep an emergency fund, but it turns out there are better options out there.

The key is to find a place where your money can grow faster than it would in a regular savings account. It’s like hitting two birds with one stone—you’re prepared for emergencies, and your money is working for you.

As for me, I’ve got stocks through COL, but no emergency fund…yet. My plan is to start saving 10% of my salary every month until I build up enough to cover 3 to 6 months of expenses. It might take a while, but I’m determined to get there.