They say life happens while you're busy making other plans. This goes double for personal finances.
One minute, you're saving steadily for life's grand adventures and then the next, life has come along and, well, happened.
Building your savings isn't just about having money on hand when the water heater decides to quit the week before you have a house full of holiday guests. Sometimes, life comes calling. These big changes mean tapping into that chunk of money you have stashed away – money that can truly be a lifesaver.
The good news is that, if you've done the work to build a strong savings foundation – say 6-8 months salary – you'll have the money you need to keep moving forward no matter what life brings.
Below, you'll meet three families* who have done the hard work of stashing funds away. You'll also see how they each used these savings to navigate life's big changes. You may even discover a tip to boost your own savings efforts and ensure you have a robust savings strategy in place to help you manage life's unexpected and high-impact events.
When You're Suddenly Spread Too Thin
Daniel and Lisa Grand had everything: a two-income household bringing in about $180,000 a year and money in the bank. Nothing could stop them. That is, until 2017 brought the Grands a comedy of errors that made them grateful for their diligent savings habits.
First, there was their son's bar mitzvah. It was a grand celebration on par with the family's dreams. But Lisa chuckles when she describes the dwindling effect it had on their savings:
“The memories we made will last forever. Our savings? Not so much.”
But 2017 wasn't done with the Grands. First, Lisa had a cancer scare that took a bite out of what was left of their savings. Then, her job went from full-time to part-time due to a corporate financial crunch. With less money coming in and bills piling up, the final wham-pow of 2017 came when Daniel was unexpectedly downsized.
"Remember that comedy of errors? Hilarious!" Lisa quipped.
Today, the Grands are back to being a two-income household and Lisa, who moonlights as a standup comedian, uses the experiences in her act. Even after living on savings for over six months, she still manages to find the funny in life's curveballs and aspires to help others do the same.
Lisa's Savings Tip
"Get smarter about your money – how much you have, where it is, and how you're spending it."
Lisa jokes about becoming one of her relatives from the Depression era, destined for a life of saving soup can labels. "These events were a good incentive for our family to get our financial act together. Our financial literacy went through the roof."
When a Diagnosis Changes the Agenda
When Alex Miller met his second wife, Regina, they found they shared similar savings habits. Both professors at a local university, they lived below their means, preferring the cushion in the bank to the new car in the driveway. They were doing everything right: continuously adding to their savings and each funding their retirement accounts.
Then Regina's health took a serious turn. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2006 but was able to continue her work as an opera instructor for nine more years. That's when her health made early retirement a necessity. Fortunately, their savings habits made it a possibility – for both Regina and Alex.
Now, the Millers spend more time together because life dictates they do so. Their healthy savings mean that this diagnosis they could never have predicted still lets them live their day-to-day lives – and with real breathing room.
Alex's Savings Tip
"If you can live below your means, it will literally pay dividends in the future. No matter what you're able to save, your future self will thank you."
Even as a one-income household, the Millers can still afford life's unexpected needs like a new starter for the car or an unexpected dental bill.
When You Can't Control the Timing
As a fundraiser at a private day school in Long Island, Gene Richards wasn't earning a king's ransom even though he was bringing in big donor dollars for his employer. However, he and his family did have a bit of money in the bank, thanks to a small inheritance from his grandmother that he had carefully guarded in savings.
When the opportunity came along for his family to move back to Maine and take over his family's homestead, the Richards saw adventure and a quieter lifestyle. Gene had always planned to open his own consultancy for the nonprofit sector. Six months down the line seemed like a good time to make the move.
The school had other thoughts. Seemingly slighted by Gene's plan to transition out of his position, the school gave him 24 hours to clean out his desk. Gene was shocked but undaunted, thanks to his savings.
"While it's not the response I expected from the school, the savings gave us a cushion," Gene says. "We could eat and provide for our second child on the way. Our small savings afforded us flexibility."
Gene's Savings Tip
"Get the money out of your account before you see it."
Gene has money automatically transferred from his checking account weekly into a savings account, which makes it harder to get to if a spending itch arises. The "never see it, never miss it" approach is key to his family's growing savings, and he's even more disciplined with their savings ethic now that he's a business owner and not an employee.
Whatever life manages to throw your way, the professionals at First Horizon Bank can help you become a savvy saver. From CDs to savings accounts and everything in between, the folks at First Horizon Bank will help you find the savings tools to fund life as it happens, even when it doesn't always happen according to plan.
Disclosure:
* Individuals' names have been changed to protect their privacy.
