Saving for Turbulent Times: Why You Need Rainy Day Funds

September 15, 2026

A car repair you did not see coming. A medical bill that insurance does not fully cover. A broken appliance that cannot wait until next month. Unexpected expenses have a way of arriving at the worst possible time. You may not be able to predict when these costs will appear, but you can prepare for them. A rainy day or emergency fund gives you money to draw from when something goes wrong, helping you cover an urgent expense without immediately turning to a credit card or loan.

According to a 2026 survey by Secure Save, nearly 25% of respondents reported having absolutely no emergency funds saved, while over half reported being under high financial stress. Having savings put aside for a rainy day may not alleviate all of your financial stress, but it can help significantly. 

“People with emergency savings have a higher level of financial well-being and spend less time thinking about and dealing with their finances,” says Paulo Costa, a Behavioral Economist at Vanguard. “Having that buffer available lets them prepare for the unexpected and avoid the worry and financial stress.” 

Staying Out of Trouble

A recent survey by NerdWallet found that nearly 40% of Americans say they are already planning on using a credit card or other loan to cover their expenses this year. But an emergency fund can help with surprise expenses. Instead of having to take out a loan, build up debt, or start falling behind on your bills, you can rely on the money you proactively saved. 

When it comes to the unexpected cost of not having an emergency fund, yet another unforeseen issue is retirement leakage. This happens when people withdraw from their retirement savings accounts early in order to cover expenses. A quarter of Plan Advisor’s respondents reported having already had to reduce, pause, or borrow from their retirement this year. 

How Much to Save 

Most experts suggest setting aside 3 to 6 months of basic living costs, which include all of your housing, food, and transportation expenses. If you don’t know what your saving goal should be, the 3-6-9 rule can help you determine how many months of expenses you should save up for. 

If you are a renter, do not have children, and have a steady paycheck, then you should save up three months of take-home pay. But the most common target is six months of pay, and it applies if you have children, a mortgage, or a two-income household. The rule is that even if just two of those apply to you, you should still plan to save up for six months of expenses. 

If you or your partner are self-employed or work freelance, then you need to save up nine months of expenses. Because your income is unpredictable, an unexpected bill can have a more significant effect on your finances. An adequate savings fund can give you peace of mind and protect your career. Some major expenses, combined with a few slow months, could force you back into an unwanted 9-5 position. 

Know Your Budget

It can be difficult to know what your savings target should be if you haven’t taken the time to budget your expenses. Begin by calculating your monthly income, then list all your expenses. 

The general budgeting rule is 50/30/20, where 50% of your income goes towards needs. For most people, allocating the remaining 30% to wants and 20% to savings and debt repayment is a good baseline. 

You should also review your budget to make adjustments when needed. Periodic check-ins like this can also help you save money by eliminating subscriptions you no longer need or switching to companies with better deals. 

Saving Strategies 

If your savings target feels too big, start small. Choose an initial modest goal of $500 or $1,000. When you reach your first goal, reward yourself. Taking a moment to recognize what you’ve accomplished before setting your next target will help you build momentum to keep saving. 

If you have a regular paycheck, setting up automatic monthly transfers to your savings account is an easy way to save. Even just $50 a month will add up quickly. 

Other times, you may have an influx of money from the sale of a home or vehicle, a family inheritance, or a holiday or birthday gift. But for most Americans, their tax refund is the largest check they receive all year. While these large lump sums of money can be tempting to spend at once, putting at least a portion aside can help you build an emergency fund instantly.

There is no single way to save, nor a perfect amount to have saved up. Everyone’s situation is unique, but the most important step is to start. Saving something up is always better than saving nothing. 

“The data clearly show that emergency savings are a cornerstone of financial well-being. By prioritizing these savings, individuals can significantly reduce financial stress and improve their overall financial health,” says Costa.

Insureyouknow.org

At Insureyouknow.org, you can do all your emergency fund planning in one place, review your budget, and set new savings targets. By saving up for life’s unexpected events, you can become financially resilient.

A Second Set of Eyes: What Guide Dogs Offer the Visually Impaired

June 1, 2026

In the late 1920s, an article called “The Seeing Eye” was published. It told Americans about a successful guide dog training program for WWI soldiers in Germany. Letters poured in from readers, asking where they could find a guide dog of their own. A century later, there are an estimated 10,000 guide dog teams currently paired together in the United States alone. Guide dogs not only offer people with visual limitations greater independence but also companionship.

If you’re thinking about being paired with a guide dog, then here’s everything you need to know.

Who Qualifies?

There are several organizations that train and pair guide dogs, and they all have similar requirements. With The Guide Dogs of America, or GAD, individuals qualify for a guide dog if they are legally blind, 18 years old or over, and financially able to care for a guide dog. Applicants must also be able to walk 1-2 miles a day, or at least 30 minutes without stopping, independently or with a cane.

Training in orientation and mobility (O&M) is also required. O&M is training that helps visually impaired individuals navigate the world with confidence. It involves sensory and spatial awareness, searching skills, independent movement, and protective techniques. Every potential guide dog applicant must submit an O&M evaluation before being accepted into a training program.

What to Expect at Training

After an application is received, an instructor will reach out to the applicant for an interview. This is to get to know them and their lifestyle, so they can match individuals with the right dog.

Once individuals are accepted into the program, they are placed in the next class at the training campus. There, students will learn how to interact and work with guide dogs. Applicants are considered prospective guide dog handlers and therefore require training.

Before a guide dog is officially paired with its handler, an emotional bond must form between them. The right match is important so that they both feel safe with one another and can develop a deep level of trust.

“I wanted to expand my mobility ambitions rather than shrink them,” says Mike Brace, a paralympic skier who used a cane for many years. He was eventually paired with guide dog Izzy. “Izzy has allowed me to do more,” says Brace. “She gives me freedom of movement and independence. I can go anywhere with her and know that I will be able to find my way.”

To find a compatible training center nearby, the International Guide Dog Federation has a search-friendly database of training centers worldwide.

Benefits of Having a Guide Dog

While a guide dog’s primary purpose is to help its handler get from point A to point B, its assistance goes well beyond that. Having a guide dog brings new opportunities for social outings and interactions for its owner, resulting in greater self-confidence.

These highly trained dogs can help their owners travel safely using a skill known as obstacle avoidance. They help the handler navigate unexpected obstacles, such as a trash can or a blocked sidewalk. Another skill they use is traffic awareness, in which a dog will refuse to move forward if there is oncoming traffic. These guide dogs are so intelligent that they can disobey their handlers in certain instances, such as these, to keep them safe.

The dogs are also trained to spot essential landmarks, which are locations their handler will encounter in daily life. This means being able to go into a restaurant and quickly find the front counter and restrooms. Other landmarks include crosswalk poles with traffic buttons, benches or chairs, elevators, and exits.

For many visually impaired people, guide dogs can be a vital lifeline to more mobility and independence, but they also become family members. “You build up a very strong bond, being with it 24/7,” says John Welsman, a UK resident currently guided by a dog named Breck. “The dog is not only your mobility aid, it is your companion and communication aid.”

Guide dogs are also in a caregiving role. They learn to read unspoken signals, such as changes in posture or facial expressions, and can tell if their handler needs something. This creates a deep level of trust between them. “Assistance dogs care for humans, and humans also do their best to care for their assistance dogs,” says Suvi Satama, a professor at the University of Turku who studies the caregiving role of guide dogs. “In this way, vulnerability becomes relational, and both parties give and receive care.”