Let’s talk about something most personal finance blogs won’t tell you: you will probably use your emergency fund. The whole point of building one is to have money available when life throws a curveball, and believe me, it will.
I learned that lesson in a way I wasn’t exactly prepared for. It wasn’t a catastrophe. There was no dramatic car accident or urgent hospital visit. But it was enough to make me realize exactly why I’d been saving for so long.
One Tuesday, my washing machine decided it was done. I mean, really done. The kind of done where it’s more expensive to fix than to replace. And of course, the old me would’ve panicked. I would’ve put it on a credit card or asked family for help. But this time? I didn’t have to do that. I just checked my emergency fund, moved the money over, and handled it.
It was a weirdly empowering feeling—not because I had money for a washing machine, but because I didn’t have to scramble for it. I didn’t have to get caught up in the “how am I going to afford this?” cycle. I could just breathe and take care of the problem.
And that’s exactly what an emergency fund is supposed to do.
I know a lot of people feel a little guilty when they have to dip into their savings. They think, “I should’ve kept it pristine for a real emergency.” But here’s the thing: an emergency is anything that takes you by surprise. It’s not just the catastrophic moments; it’s the everyday ones too. The leaky pipes. The broken appliances. The car repair you didn’t see coming. These are all emergencies that deserve a spot in your safety net.
The other thing I learned? The idea that your emergency fund is “untouchable” is a bit of a myth. It’s supposed to be there for when life happens. If it didn’t get used, I’d start questioning what I was saving it for.
Now, this doesn’t mean I’m running out to buy a new washing machine every time one breaks. But what it did teach me is this: having the cushion means I can handle things without stress. I don’t have to let anxiety control the situation. I can just deal with it—and move on.
So, if you’re nervous about using your emergency fund, I get it. But if you’ve built one, it’s not a failure to use it. It’s success in action. Your savings are there to give you the freedom to take care of whatever life throws at you—without it turning into a financial nightmare.