Reply #5: It IS about priorities.

[sugapablo]

"I've made" is still current. Never broke $32K in a year in my life. Always hopeful though! :)

Bought a crapped out house that wouldn't have even passed a section 8 inspection. Fixing it up. It didn't even have heat in every room when I got it. Coming along VERY nicely now. No mortgage.

Everyone in my family pre-pays their funeral expenses. No one would ever want to stick their children with expenses. (Priorities.)

Have good health care. Apendectomy had no co-pay. :) People have sacrificed much to keep crappy jobs with good insurance. (Priorities.)

Savings helps prepare for financial emergencies like those you mentioned. It can't cover everything, as catastrophic illness or circumstances can always happen, but you have to try and prepare for them.

I mean, if you live on the florida or gulf coast, or on a major fault line, or in an avalanche zone, or in a flood plain, you're taking big risks.

I live away from water, on high ground, away from hurricaines, tornadoes, earthquakes, etc., quite purposefully. No joke. It's about priorities.

Can't prepare for EVERYTHING, but with a miniscule amount of preperation, keeping your priorities in check, you can take care of most things.