Even though the COVID-19 global pandemic began more than two years ago, we are still feeling the effects and disruptions in our lives. If we've learned anything from COVID-19, it's that the only thing certain in life is uncertainty.
It is a fact that unexpected events occur. You can sit down and make all sorts of financial plans and budgets but life, on the other hand, has its way of striking. Whether it's a medical emergency, a major home or vehicle repair, a death in the family, or any other unexpected event, your finances are thrown out of the window. These situations can be emotionally as well as financially draining. Even the most meticulous planners can be caught off guard by an unplanned or unprepared event.
There is no way to predict the future, but the best way to deal with them is to be prepared for the unexpected ahead of time. Just as you should adjust your plans to accommodate unexpected weather, you should also have a financial backup to accommodate unexpected expenses. Here are five tips to help you deal with unexpected expenses and be better prepared for a rainy day.
1. Tighten your belt
As a general rule, for wealth creation and financial freedom, we need to save aggressively over a short period of time. People looking to retire early too need to cut expenses and save more in a short time. Cutting down on your expenses becomes avoidable if you feel that your financial situation is not good and if you feel that there are bad times ahead. To stay prepared for such a situation, one needs to cut back on non-essential and discretionary expenses. Examine your spending habits and make a note of any such expenses you could forego. It will make you save more and make your cash last longer during a crisis. Frugality, minimalism and short-term sacrifices, to the extent you feel comfortable, will surely pay off in the long run and save you in your rainy days.
2. Set up an emergency fund
The primary step in preparing for a rainy day is to set aside a sufficient emergency fund. When unexpected expenses exceed your monthly budget, an emergency fund can help you stay afloat.
There is no universal measure for emergency funds. As a general rule, save at least three months' worth of your regular expenses. This amount of money cannot be saved overnight. The trick is to start saving small amounts regularly and consistently so that you can accumulate your desired amount over time. Even if you can only save a small amount, it will give you a sense of security if you need money right away. To avoid being tempted to spend your emergency fund, keep it in a separate savings account.
3. Get adequate insurance coverage
It is easier said than done to protect your loved ones and prepare for the worst-case scenario, but it is critical in today's world to be prepared for the unexpected. It is vital to ensure that you have sufficient insurance coverage for all possible scenarios. To help mitigate the financial impact of any unexpected event, people of all ages and income levels should purchase insurance policies as required, covering the different risks that they are exposed to. This includes the risks of the 4 Ds' - death, disease, disability and damages.
Apart from life insurance and health insurance, one must also explore other insurance covers like personal accident, critical illness, travel insurance, global health insurance, etc for personal coverage. In addition, vehicle insurance with comprehensive coverage, home insurance, shopkeepers insurance, fire & marine insurance, professional indemnity, etc can also be explored on a need basis.
4. Have a passive or secondary income
Sometimes, the salary from your primary job is not enough to make ends meet. So, having a side hustle or a passive source of income pays off. As a result, you can save and invest the money you earn from them to create wealth, an emergency fund or to fund your discretionary expenses, without affecting your monthly budget. It is an excellent way of improving your financial security and hedging against your primary income source. Having multiple income sources can be a boon in times of crisis and it is something everyone should aspire for.
5. Have low liabilities
It is always better to have low liabilities and debt, regardless of your financial situation. As a general principle, your monthly debt repayments, or EMIs, should ideally be lower than 30% and never more than 50% of your net income. Having too much debt can lead to a cycle of overwhelming stress and the inability to save for future financial security. With credit easily available, most of us would be tempted to fall into the debt trap, spending more on non-asset creating, personal and consumer loans, at the cost of future wealth creation. In times of financial difficulties, your debt burden will be the primary cause of high stress on you and your finances.
Summing Up
You don’t require any crystal ball to be prepared for unexpected events you couldn’t have predicted. You don’t need to know where they will occur, or even what they do, to protect your personal finances and safeguard your financial goals. The above things can help you not just tide over bad times and situations of financial stress but also prepare you to face uncertainties in life with confidence. As the new year starts, let us step up our finances and indeed our financial objectives and behaviour and set the right tone for the rest of the year.
