Life loves to throw curveballs. One day you’re chilling, the next your car needs a $1,500 repair. Without an emergency fund, you’re screwed — or stuck adding more debt to your life. Good news? You don’t need to be rich to build one. Here’s how to stack your first emergency fund even if you’re living paycheck to paycheck.

1. Set a Starter Goal

Forget the massive “save six months of expenses” advice for now. Start small. Aim for $500 to $1,000. It’s enough to cover most urgent stuff like car repairs, medical bills, or surprise vet visits.

2. Make It Untouchable

Your emergency fund needs to be sacred. Open a separate savings account — preferably one that’s hard to access (no debit card linked). It’s not your weekend fun money. It’s your “oh sh*t” fund.

3. Save Automatically

If you rely on willpower to save, you’re gonna lose. Set up an automatic transfer every payday — even if it’s just $10 or $20. Over time, that small drip becomes a waterfall.

4. Hustle for It

Side gigs, freelance work, selling old crap you don’t use anymore — find ways to bring in extra cash fast. Every extra dollar should go straight into your emergency fund until you hit your starter goal.

5. Cut Temporary Expenses

Slash fast food, booze, Netflix, impulse shopping — whatever you can — until you get that emergency fund in place. Think of it like sprinting: sacrifice hard for a little while so you can breathe easy later.

6. Use Windfalls Wisely

Tax refund? Bonus at work? Random birthday cash from Grandma? Instead of blowing it, throw it into your emergency fund and watch your balance jump.

7. Keep Growing It

Once you smash your first goal, don’t stop. The ultimate goal is three to six months’ worth of expenses. That’s true financial armor — it protects you from job loss, medical emergencies, and whatever else life slaps you with.

Final Thoughts

Having an emergency fund isn’t just about money — it’s about peace of mind. Knowing you’re covered when life hits the fan is a badass move. Start now. Start small. But start.