Whether you think of it as a rainy day stash, emergency savings or strategic reserve fund, a cash cushion is essential to enhancing peace of mind. So let’s take the $1,000 emergency fund challenge. Select a few from this list of ideas, (gathered partially from my thrifty Vermont youth) or use your own and see how quickly you can pad that rainy day fund. (Kudos to EatingWell for advocating the farmer’s market challenge where you and your pals vow to taste absolutely everything that’s offered.) Try ditching your music purchases for a while and share tunes with friends or download favorite radio programs and podcasts.

Source: Forbes July 29, 2017 13:30 UTC