Emergency, Rainy Day and Sinking Funds – What are They and Why do you Need Them?
Emergency, Rainy Day and Sinking Funds – What are They and Why do you Need Them? By: Greg McKinney Mineola Texas Y ou’ve probably heard many terms thrown around when creating and using your budget. An emergency, rainy day, and sinking fund are just a few of the accounts personal finance experts use. What do they mean, and do you need all of them? Keep reading to find out how these funds work and who should consider them. What is an Emergency Fund? The name says it all. An emergency fund covers you in the face of an emergency. But what type of emergency? There are many ways to view an emergency fund, but the most common way is a fund to protect you should you lose your job or be unable to work for any other reason. Say, for example, your company closes unexpectedly. As a result, you suddenly lose your income; how will you cover your bills? A fully funded emergency fund could cover your expenses for three to six months. This gives you time to figure out your next steps ...