Sharon
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 22:48:11 GMT -5
Posts: 11,137
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Post by Sharon on Jan 21, 2011 20:58:02 GMT -5
A new rear transfer case for my car. It was leaking in an odd place (where there wasn't a seal). When the mechanic pulled it apart they found a pin hole in the area where the oil pump sat. The metal was so thin in that area it was about to fail completely. $1200.00.
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❤ mollymouser ❤
Senior Associate
Sarcasm is my Superpower
Crazy Cat Lady
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 16:09:58 GMT -5
Posts: 12,857
Today's Mood: Gen X ... so I'm sarcastic and annoyed
Location: Central California
Favorite Drink: Diet Mountain Dew
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Post by ❤ mollymouser ❤ on Jan 21, 2011 21:12:38 GMT -5
I think many people have an "Emergency Fund" in case of a job loss and a possible delay in finding new employment. With local unemployment at 18%, and statewide unemployment at 12.5%, this seems particularly prudent in my opinion.
I also think that some people just call their non-retirement savings as an "Emergency Fund" ~ and it may actually be there for any of a number of reasons: vacations, appliance replacement, car repairs and replacement, home improvements/repairs, vet bills, medical copays, vacations, etc.
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TheOtherMe
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Dec 24, 2010 14:40:52 GMT -5
Posts: 27,120
Mini-Profile Name Color: e619e6
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Post by TheOtherMe on Jan 21, 2011 21:51:08 GMT -5
My first cat was not healthy from the day I got him. However, I loved him. I got him in 1979 and didn't put him down until 1996. I have never and never will calculate what the vet bills were. I do know his major surgery cost well over $2K and I used a week's vacation so he didn't have to be hospitalized for another week. However, I do not regret one penny I spent on that cat. I loved him unconditionally and he loved me unconditionally. I'm retired now and my pension doesn't leave much room to save. Have a very old, high mileage car and am saving now for at least a decent down payment for when the car dies.
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Tiny
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 29, 2010 21:22:34 GMT -5
Posts: 13,362
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Post by Tiny on Jan 21, 2011 23:30:01 GMT -5
Hmm, I've never really had an "emergency" that I didn't have some inkling would happen. I've got a car maintenance fund, a Cat Fund, and others... so when something breaks I've got money to cover it (after putting it on my Charge Card).
The most expensive "Oh My God, NOT NOW!!" expense was when the roof on my Fixer Upper started leaking 6 months before I had scheduled to have it replaced... The roof was old and on it's last legs - I knew that - I bought a Fixer Upper. I was checking the attic after every rain storm (cause I knew the roof was questionable and I wanted to catch any problems while they were small), but one valley failed dramatically with no warning I had a cascade of water running from the attic to the basement. It was pretty spectacular and frightening. New roof cost me 6K - which wasn't a surprise... I had to re-arrange my Fix Up the Fixer Upper projects abit and spent money on the roof 6 months sooner than I had planned. Water can be pure EVIL....
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vickysf
New Member
Joined: Jan 11, 2011 22:21:46 GMT -5
Posts: 8
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Post by vickysf on Jan 24, 2011 23:08:16 GMT -5
One of our cats required surgery that cost $1200 three years ago. That doesn't sound like much, but at the time we had no savings and $30K in consumer debt. There was never any thought about having the cat put down instead - he was (and is) a healthy young beastie, and we knew the surgery would save his life. That was the straw that broke the camel's back, however - I finally woke up and thought "This is NO WAY to live". My husband and I started delivering newspapers to pay off the debt.
Interestingly, now that all our debt is gone and we actually have a fairly healthy EF, we haven't had an emergency like that since. *touch wood*
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kdamron
Familiar Member
Joined: Jan 17, 2011 10:52:02 GMT -5
Posts: 566
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Post by kdamron on Jan 25, 2011 13:23:54 GMT -5
For me it was last year when puppy child was diagnosed with Parvo at seven months. Cost a little under 4K but she's happy, healthy and annoying the cat on a daily basis now! I had the money, so it was no big deal other than seeing that much drain out savings...
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Deleted
Joined: Apr 19, 2024 19:28:29 GMT -5
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2011 15:44:52 GMT -5
[/size] Much cheaper for the SPCA to put him down. [/size] Or a few hundred, depending on your choice. [/size] Multiple?? Sounds like you're a bit too harsh on the car. After spending 12+ hours replacing one with my dad after blowing one, I was much kinder on my cars. Most of you have confirmed my suspicion. Emergencies are never really a very high dollar value [i.e. 3-9+ months of expenses and/or salary] and most could have been planned or saved for [i.e. HVAC], and even insured against. Seems to me the old adage of 3, 6, 9 or whatever number of months you use is too conservative for most and will result in years of dead money laying around when it could be invested.[/quote] Who says part of your EF can't be in stocks/bonds and part of your retirement plan?
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Cookies Galore
Senior Associate
I don't need no instructions to know how to rock
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 18:08:13 GMT -5
Posts: 10,729
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Post by Cookies Galore on Jan 25, 2011 15:53:04 GMT -5
For me it was last year when puppy child was diagnosed with Parvo at seven months. Cost a little under 4K but she's happy, healthy and annoying the cat on a daily basis now! I had the money, so it was no big deal other than seeing that much drain out savings... Yay! I'm glad puppy made it!
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jkscott
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 28, 2010 13:36:50 GMT -5
Posts: 156
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Post by jkscott on Jan 25, 2011 15:58:24 GMT -5
My DH's dog had to have a gall bladder removal surgery - $7K Lena If that was my dog... RIP.
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Post by boosmom on Jan 25, 2011 19:30:03 GMT -5
Around $8K, relating to the house.
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Post by grumpybastage on Jan 25, 2011 23:30:50 GMT -5
$4,000 medical deductible in '07.
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Post by grumpybastage on Jan 25, 2011 23:32:00 GMT -5
The ICU stay and surgery for four days was $113,000. Thank goodness for health insurance.
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Post by yogi on Jan 26, 2011 0:01:08 GMT -5
The most recent emergency that comes to mind is when a deer decided to run into the side of my car. I paid my deductible of $500 to fix the damage. Other than that, I haven't had any other emergencies recently (knock on wood).
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The J
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 11:01:13 GMT -5
Posts: 4,821
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Post by The J on Jan 26, 2011 10:52:01 GMT -5
Around $1k when my ex (wasn't ex at the time) was borrowing her brother's car, the radiator hose blew, and she drove it until the sparkplugs melted.
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Mrs. Dinero
Well-Known Member
100% about truth & justice. Always trying to give mercy a chance.
Joined: Dec 28, 2010 17:09:17 GMT -5
Posts: 1,508
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Post by Mrs. Dinero on Jan 26, 2011 11:04:14 GMT -5
$5k for DH's dental implant and $2,500 for a tree removal have been our most expensive "emergencies".
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Epiphany
Established Member
meowzers!
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 9:54:10 GMT -5
Posts: 476
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Post by Epiphany on Jan 26, 2011 13:38:53 GMT -5
30 foot stone retaining wall falling during heavy rains. Not covered by insurance because it would have to be flood insurance which they don't even offer in our area because we are not even close to a flood zone. Cost was 9k and ate our entire EF.
Of course this incident can be relating on another thread asking about paying later for being cheap up front. Original quote to put up the wall was 26k. We didn't have that so we bought the block and paid a friend who worked in landscaping to put it up initially saving us 15k. It wasn't right from day one and then cost 9k to repair after falling so we really didn't save much from trying to do it on the cheap. And to me it still isn't done completely correct even after all that.
We've had several emergencies in the 1-2k amount ranging from expensive and sudden car repair, boiler failing, medical, dentist, etc. I am very comfortable having a VERY large EF.
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Post by soon2bmomof3 on Jan 26, 2011 13:51:17 GMT -5
Medical: DD's 4 day stay at Texas Children's Hospital - total came out to be around $23,000, of which we paid around $600. Thank God for health insurance!
House: Hurricane Ike damaged our roof causing rain to leak into the attic, soaking up several sections of ceiling drywall and it eventually collapsing. Repairs for roof and ceiling were around $4000 (don't remember how much we got back from insurance, but not that much). We replaced the carpet as well, so $3000 (we replaced all of it, not just the parts that got wet). Another $2000 for painting the whole house when we were trying to sell b/c the people that repaired the ceiling and drywall didn't match the paint properly and you could tell which sections were repaired by the difference in paint. Except for the roof and ceiling repair, we did everything else months/year later.
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