The Reasons Why Homeowners Need Oh No Money
Oh no! Countless homeowners yell this in an emergency. You’ll say it soon if you haven’t said it recently. Whether your toddler flushes a building block down the toilet, or the ceiling starts to leak, fielding emergencies is a normal, albeit annoying, part of looking after a house.
Oh no money can help you take on these issues in stride. Otherwise known as an emergency fund, these savings provide a safety net for sudden home-related repairs that come with a big “oh no!” and an even bigger bill.
The Importance of Oh No Money
A safety net provides a cushion that can help you in many ways. Here are three of them below:
1. Address Issues without Delay
A leaky roof, malfunctioning HVAC systems, or burst pipes may happen unexpectedly one day, but you have to rush to fix these problems to protect your home. Handling unexpected repairs is much easier when you have a well-stocked emergency fund at your disposal. You can hire professionals without worrying about their costs.
2. Stay on Top of Upkeep Even After Job Loss
Recessions, unexpected layoffs, and long-term illnesses can strike at any time, reducing how much money you earn. Your emergency fund can fill in during lean financial times, so you can still take on urgent repairs even if you don’t earn as much.
3. Protect Your Peace of Mind
You can feel stressed out about the future if you know you don’t have savings. Even if you don’t run into unexpected problems, this anxiety can affect your life. By contrast, knowing you have some savings set aside can help you feel a lot more confident about your situation, regardless of what happens.
What if You Don’t Have Enough Oh No Money?
Depending on where you are in your savings journey, you might not have enough money to cover your next oh no event. Maybe you just started an emergency fund or drained it recently to replace your furnace. When your savings fall short, don’t panic. You have other options.
1. Borrow Money
You can consider a personal line of credit to make up the difference. Plenty of homeowners round out their emergency funds with these credit lines, so they’re always prepared.
If you can’t qualify for a line of credit on your own, you may explore cosigner personal loans instead. Why is a cosigner important? You essentially get to piggyback on someone else’s good financial name to qualify for better rates or more money. These personal loans come with lots of conditions, so you should consider these options carefully.
2. Explore Home Maintenance Plans
Some renovations and repair companies provide financing plans for their customers. These plans often allow you to pay off your big bill in several, smaller payments, so each installment isn’t as hard to handle as a single lump-sum payment. Like personal loans, financing plans might come with interest and finance charges, so be sure to get all the details before you accept one.
3. Delay
Not all situations that warrant an “oh no!” are emergencies. Sometimes, you can delay your repairs for a brief period, taking the time to save up what you need to pay out of pocket. You can accelerate your savings by cutting back on the fun stuff and limiting non-essential spending until you can repair your home.
Bottom Line:
Be prepared before the next time something happens that makes you say, “oh no!”. Set up an emergency fund today and start saving.