Fee-only planner and author Shannon Lee Simmons shares the formative experience that shaped her approach to rainy-day money and why the act of saving beats chasing a perfect number. We cover how to size an emergency fund based on your income risk (entrepreneur vs. salaried), the psychology of having cash on hand to avoid debt, and a pragmatic target: cover core bills and groceries for at least one cycle. You’ll learn how to protect your sleep at 3 a.m., keep “mad money” untouchable, and build a buffer that fits your real life, not someone else’s rule of thumb.

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