[Mamabug]

I know not every one has savings, but please be gentle with me as this issue is causing me genuine anxiety.

Any advice on how to get over my terror at spending our 'rainy day' funds on something that actually does fall under the criteria???

I am so used to having our safety net that I am starting to feel very distressed at the thought of spending it and having only a small amount left in the account.

It is staring to keep me awake at night, and I am desperately looking at our expenditure to work out how I can start to build the fund up again very quickly to a similar level.

Our roof is leaking. It is raining a lot. We need either repairs or a new roof - I honestly think replacement is the better long-term option and will be cheaper long term than a repair now and a replacement in another few years.

This is the stuff our fund was for, but I just can't get my head around spending the money - I've turned into a miserly, Scrooge McScrooge.

[Hashley]

I just text my husband a similar thing. I'm glad we have savings to cover a lot of unexpected moving costs, but it feels like we are spending $1k a day! I had to transfer a few hundred to cover a direct debit I was putting off, because I just didn't want to spend any more money! (the threat of a dishonor fee swayed me in the end)

So I can empathise OP. I think it's good to have a little resistance to dipping into the savings, otherwise there would be no savings to dip into. Stressing isn't productive but being motivated to replenish it and thinking of ways to increase your cash flow, that you may not have had reason to in the past is a good thing.

[bark]

I'd be getting your roof f ixed or replaced you do'nt want to be f orking out more $$$ if you don't do it soon.

[countrymel]

I fully understand.

I don't call them 'rainy day' funds - to me it is the 'secret stash'.

DP has finally come to understand how important it is for my general sense of calm to know there is that buffer there - the last time we needed to gouge at it (cue sleepless nights!) he got the bank statements out and explained that the money we have already paid off the mortgage was 'kind of' like a secret stash because of the redraw facility!

I didn't believe him but I appreciated the gesture.

Deep breath Mamabug... if a leaking roof isn't cause for breaking into the rainy day funds I don't know what else can be.

They WILL build up again, faster than you think, and you will all be safe and dry in the meantime.

[BadKitteh]

We have recently dipped into our rainy day fund. We didn't take it all, only some however, I find it quite stressful. In saying that though I think your roof replacement is important and should be done. Having a dodgy roof in this wet weather we have been having would have me even more stressed!

Perhaps look at your budget and see if you can save more to help build your stash back up faster. We are trying to do that but have had a few other expenses crop up so not overly successful yet.

[bright*future]

I freak out about it too. For me I think the reason is it is so hard to get that figure in the first place, and I become protective of it LOL!

But I agree with PPs, get the roof fixed now, it's not just gonna go away and I think everyone is in for more rain.

[paddyboo]

do you add more money to your "rainy day" funds each week/month or is it a set amount? We put about $300/month in our slush fund so if I ever need to draw on it to pay for something I know the balance will come back up.

[Mamabug]

I'd be getting your roof f ixed or replaced you do'nt want to be f orking out more $$$ if you don't do it soon.

Definitely getting it done - we have quotes coming in thick and fast - it is just coming to terms with losing a huge amount of our buffer.

For me I think the reason is it is so hard to get that figure in the first place, and I become protective of it LOL!

I think you've got it! We did work hard, made sacrifices, went without to get that fund.

We are also trying to sell a house (just bought the one with the leaky roof ) and I am not enjoying having two mortgages. I keep thinking of all the lovely money I could be putting into the fund if we could just sell the house....cue more sleepless nights....

[upup]

OMG I am glad I am not the only one. I recently had to spend my slush fund on a new hot water system which ate away my slush fund. I got really stressed but had to keep reminding myslef that that was why I had the stash.

[belnryan]

Yes i am the same and with all of this wet weather Dh is only getting his basic wage (half of his wage is made up of crew allowance and o/t) so who knows when the "rainy day fund" will get back to my acceptable level.

I think i need a rainy day fund and an emergency fund.

We recently bought a new house and 6 weeks in the hot water system blew up, then like you our garage roof began to leak and needed major repairs, the car needed minor repairs but it came in at a fair bit, and then on Tuesday my dog had middle of the night emergency surgery to remove her eye. So for us a run of bad luck has seen our fund halve.

Now to play with the budget and be scrooges to get it back to a comfortable place. Oh and to hope this rain will go away for a while.