How to build an emergency fund while you’re paying down debt Mallika Mitra for Freedom Debt Relief Sep 28, 2026 Sep 28, 2026 Updated 8 hrs ago 0 A happy family online shopping at home. SeventyFour // Shutterstock Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Mallika Mitra for Freedom Debt Relief kAm(96? J@F’C6 5C@H?:?8 :? 563E[ :E’D 62DJ E@ 86E EF??6= G:D:@? 23@FE A2J:?8 :E @77] qFE H9:=6 49:AA:?8 2H2J 2E E92E 563E :D ?646DD2CJ E@ D64FC6 2 962=E9J 7:?2?4:2= =:76[ J@F 5@?’E H2?E E@ D24C:7:46 2?@E96C <6J 6=6>6?Ei 2? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7C665@>563EC6=:67]4@>^563E\D@=FE:@?D^6>6C86?4J\7F?5D^Qm6>6C86?4J 7F?5k^2m]k^AmkAmp? 6>6C86?4J 7F?5[ 2D E96 ?2>6 :>A=:6D[ :D 2 3F4<6E @7 >@?6J J@F D6E 2D:56 :? 42D6 E96 F?6IA64E65 92AA6?D[ =:<6 H96? J@F’C6 562=:?8 H:E9 2 ;@3 =@DD[ 42C EC@F3=6[ @C 2 DFCAC:D6 >65:42= 3:==] u:?2?4:2= 25G:D@CD FDF2==J C64@>>6?5 3F:=5:?8 E96D6 7F?5D FA 6?@F89 D@ E92E J@F 4@F=5 4@G6C J@FC 6IA6?D6D 7@C E9C66 E@ D:I >@?E9D] qFE 5@?’E =6E E92E =@?86C\E6C> 8@2= 5:D4@FC286 J@Fi x7 J@F’C6 ;FDE DE2CE:?8 @FE[ :E’D 7:?6 E@ 7@4FD @? 2 >@C6 249:6G23=6 2>@F?E[ D2J[ Sd__ @C S`[___]k^Am People are also reading… Smyth enrollment report shows elementary school is home to most students Smyth schools receive about $9.4M in grants for projects at CHS, MSHS Virginia Voices: Lieutenant Governor gets to know Wytheville 1,374 pages: Smyth School Board receives study of school buildings' needs Food City's investment in new Marion store exceeds $15M Despite opposition, concerns about rights, Marion council adopts loitering ordinance Chilhowie Apple Festival to celebrate USA's 250th 7 Smyth schools to benefit from security funding Feels Like Home: Lewis' Country Store prepares to open in Chilhowie A look at Smyth board's OK of data center zoning regs Monarch Watch: Citizen scientists tag, launch monarchs to join migration to Mexico Grayson Highlands State Park hosts Fall Festival Sept. 26-27 Rain, wind, and resilience: Hokies rally to win messy game at Boston College Smyth, Wythe TRIAD chapters win grants to continue helping senior citizens Keys to victory in Virginia Tech football's road opener against Maryland kAmw2G:?8 >@?6J @? 92?5 4@F=5 96=A <66A J@F 7C@> 92G:?8 E@ DH:A6 J@FC 4C65:E 42C5 :? 2 A2?:4 2?5 3@CC@H:?8 >@C6] qFE 9@H 5@ J@F 32=2?46 4@?EC:3FE:?8 E@ 2? 6>6C86?4J 7F?5 H9:=6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7C665@>563EC6=:67]4@>^563E\D@=FE:@?D^9@H\E@\A2J\@77\563E^QmA2J:?8 5@H? J@FC 563Ek^2mn k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7C665@>563EC6=:67]4@>QmuC665@> s63E #6=:67k^2m D92C6D 7@FC E:AD E@ E24<=6 E96D6 4@>>@? 7:?2?4:2= 8@2=D D:56 3J D:56]k^AmkAmz6J E2<62H2JDik^Am kF=mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ63dgaeegg``caae2d327`72hc22g3a56eQm$E2CE:?8 D>2== :D <6J—6G6? S`__ 2 >@?E9 E@H2C5 D2G:?8D @C 563E 42? 3F:=5 >@>6?EF> 2?5 4@?7:56?46]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ64h2_fhb`7476a674f_e66fdgbgg`2g6_Qm*@F >:89E 7:?5 :E 62D:6C E@ 3F:=5 J@FC 6>6C86?4J 7F?5 :7 J@F 2FE@>2E6 56A@D:ED :?E@ D2G:?8D 7C@> 6249 A2J4964<]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ654a_ae36a3dgde7ef_4gega`dg755eahQmp 9:89\J:6=5 D2G:?8D 244@F?E 42? 96=A J@FC 6>6C86?4J 7F?5 8C@H 72DE6C H9:=6 J@F 49:A 2H2J 2E 563E]k^=:mk^F=m k9bm`] %2<6 q23J $E6ADk^9bmkAmx7 J@FVC6 9@A:?8 E@ D:>F=E2?6@FD=J 3F:=5 2? 6>6C86?4J 7F?5 2?5 A2J @77 J@FC 563E[ 2==@42E:?8 2?J 2>@F?E @7 >@?6J :D 36EE6C E92? ?@E9:?8] $E2CE H:E9 2?J 2>@F?E J@F 42? C68F=2C=J 277@C5] u@C 563E A2J>6?ED[ E96C6’D FDF2==J 2 4=62C 2>@F?E—DF49 2D 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7C665@>563EC6=:67]4@>^8=@DD2CJ^>^>:?:>F>\A2J>6?E^Qm>:?:>F> A2J>6?Ek^2m @? 2 4C65:E 42C5—E92E J@F ?665 E@ 92?5 @G6C 6249 >@?E9 D@ J@F 5@?’E C24< FA =2E6 766D[ 244CF6 >@C6 :?E6C6DE[ 2?5 9FCE J@FC 4C65:E D4@C6]k^AmkAmp?@E96C H2J E@ E2<6 323J DE6AD :D E@ A2J 5@H? @?6 @C >@C6 D>2== 563ED 7:CDE] ~?46 J@F 86E C:5 @7 2 563E[ E92EVD 2 A2J>6?E J@F ?@ =@?86C 92G6 E@ >2<6[ 2?5 J@F 42? 2AA=J E92E >@?6J E@H2C5 2?@E96C 563E]k^Am kAm%96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7C665@>563EC6=:67]4@>^=62C?^563E\D@=FE:@?D^563E\2G2=2?496\GD\563E\D?@H32==^QmD?@H32== >6E9@5k^2m :D 2 4@>>@? DEC2E68J 2?5 :E :?G@=G6D =:?:?8 FA J@FC 32=2?46D 7C@> D>2==6DE E@ =2C86DE] *@F D6?5 2?J 6IEC2 >@?6J E@ E96 D>2==6DE 563E H9:=6 >2<:?8 >:?:>F> A2J>6?ED @? @E96C 563ED] %96? H96? J@F 86E E@ J@FC 7:CDE A2J@77[ J@F FD6 E96 >@?6J E92E H2D 8@:?8 E@ E92E 7:CDE 563E E@ A2J @77 E96 D64@?5] ~?46 J@FC D?@H32== 8C@HD[ J@F 42? 2=D@ C62==@42E6 >@?6J E92E H2D 8@:?8 E@H2C5 2 A2:5\@77 563E :?E@ D2G:?8D]k^Am kAmp?@E96C 563E A2J\@77 DEC2E68J D@>6 D2G6CD =:<6 :D E96 563E 2G2=2?496 >6E9@5] xEVD ;FDE =:<6 2 563E D?@H32== 3FE J@F @C56C J@FC 563ED 3J :?E6C6DE C2E6 D@ J@F 42? E24<=6 E96 >@DE 6IA6?D:G6 @?6 7:CDE] %9:D DEC2E68J 4@F=5 >2<6 D6?D6[ 3FE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^24256>:4]@FA]4@>^;4C^2CE:4=6\23DEC24E^cb^b^ce_^aa__cdh^#6A2J>6?E\r@?46?EC2E:@?\2?5\r@?DF>6C\|@E:G2E:@?\E@nC65:C64E65uC@>l7F==E6IEQmDEF5:6Dk^2m D9@H E92E A6@A=6 E6?5 E@ 92G6 36EE6C DF446DD H:E9 E96 563E D?@H32==] !2J:?8 @77 E9@D6 D>2==6C 563ED :D 9:89=J >@E:G2E:?8 2?5 4@F=5 8:G6 J@F ;FDE E96 3@@DE J@F ?665 E@ 4@?E:?F6]k^Am kAm(9:=6 :E’D 7:?6 E@ DE2CE H:E9 323J DE6AD[ J@F 5@ H2?E E@ :?4C62D6 E9@D6 =:EE=6 >@G6D H96? A@DD:3=6] u@C 6I2>A=6[ :7 J@F 86E 2 C2:D6 2E H@C<[ :?4C62D6 E96 2>@F?E J@F’C6 4@?EC:3FE:?8 E@ 563E A2J>6?ED 2?5 E96 6>6C86?4J 7F?5]k^Amk9bma] !2J *@FCD6=7 u:CDEk^9bmkAm(96? J@FC A2J4964<D 9:E J@FC 32?< 244@F?E[ :EVD ?2EFC2= E@ H2?E E@ DA6?5 E96 >@?6J @? 2 =@?8 =:DE @7 6IA6?D6D C2E96C E92? D2G6 :E] u@C >@DE[ D2G:?8 >@?6J >62?D D2J:?8 ?@ E@ D@>6E9:?8]k^Am kAm~?6 67764E:G6 DEC2E68J :D E@ D6E FA 2FE@>2E:4 EC2?D76CD[ D@ 2 A@CE:@? @7 J@FC A2J4964< 8@6D DEC2:89E E@ J@FC 6>6C86?4J 7F?5 H:E9@FE J@F 6G6? 92G:?8 E@ E9:?< 23@FE :E] z66A:?8 E96 >@?6J @FE @7 J@FC 4964<:?8 244@F?E 4@F=5 >2<6 :E 62D:6C E@ D2G6] x7 J@F 42? 277@C5 S`__ @FE @7 6G6CJ A2J4964<[ J@F 4@F=5 36 D:EE:?8 @? 2 Sd__ 6>6C86?4J 7F?5 H:E9:? 2 4@FA=6 @7 >@?E9D]k^Am kAm*@F 42? A2J J@FCD6=7 7:CDE :? 2 5:776C6?E H2J 3J FD:?8 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7C665@>563EC6=:67]4@>^=62C?^A6CD@?2=\7:?2?46^9@H\E@\4C62E6\2?\6>6C86?4J\7F?5\3J\D?24<:?8\2?5\H2E49:?8\>@G:6D^QmC@F?5\FA D2G:?8D 2AAk^2m E92E 2FE@>2E:42==J C@F?5D FA AFC492D6D E@ E96 ?6IE 5@==2C 2?5 AFED E9@D6 6IEC2 46?ED :? J@FC D2G:?8D] u@C 6I2>A=6[ :7 J@F DA6?5 Sg]`e 2E E96 8C@46CJ DE@C6[ E96 2AA 2FE@>2E:42==J EC2?D76CD gc 46?ED E@ J@FC D2G:?8D 244@F?E]k^Am k9bmb] ~A6? 2 w:89\*:6=5 $2G:?8D p44@F?Ek^9bmkAm(96? J@F’C6 D2G:?8 >@?6J H9:=6 A2J:?8 @77 563E[ J@F ?665 2== E96 96=A J@F 42? 86E] t?E6C 9:89\J:6=5 D2G:?8D 244@F?ED Ww*$pDX[ H9:49 @776C :?E6C6DE @? E96 42D9 J@F DE2D9]k^Am kAmw:89\J:6=5 D2G:?8D 244@F?ED H@C< D:>:=2C=J E@ EC25:E:@?2= D2G:?8D 244@F?ED] %96J’C6 >62?E E@ 36 FD65 7@C D2G:?8 2D @AA@D65 E@ H96C6 J@F DE@C6 >@?6J 7@C 6G6CJ52J AFC492D6D[ E9@F89 32?<D 2C6 ?@ =@?86C C6BF:C65 E@ =:>:E H:E95C2H2=D WD@>6 DE:== 5@[ D@ 36 DFC6 E@ 4964<X] %96 244@F?ED >2J 92G6 766D 2?5 >:?:>F> 32=2?46D[ E9@F89 ?@H252JD[ >2?J 5@?’E]k^Am kAmqFE E96 <6J 5:776C6?46 36EH66? EC25:E:@?2= D2G:?8D 244@F?ED 2?5 w*$pD :D E92E E96 =2EE6C E6?5 E@ @776C D:8?:7:42?E=J 9:896C :?E6C6DE] %96D6 244@F?ED 6DA64:2==J 36?67:E65 7C@> E96 u656C2= #6D6CG6’D :?E6C6DE C2E6 9:<6D E92E E@@< A=246 36EH66? a_aa 2?5 a_ac] #2E6D 92G6 D:?46 72==6?[ 3FE E96C6’D DE:== ?@ 4@>A2C:D@? 36EH66? H92E J@F 42? 62C? :? 2 w*$p G6CDFD 2 EC25:E:@?2= D2G:?8D 244@F?E]k^Am kAm(9:=6 E96 ?2E:@?2= 2G6C286 :?E6C6DE @? D2G:?8D 244@F?ED :D ;FDE _]bfT 2D @7 $6AE6>36C a_ae[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]75:4]8@G^?2E:@?2=\C2E6D\2?5\C2E6\42ADQmu656C2= s6A@D:E x?DFC2?46 r@CA@C2E:@?k^2m[ E96 36DE w*$pD 2E E96 E:>6 @7 HC:E:?8 2C6 DE:== @776C:?8 2??F2= A6C46?E286 J:6=5D Wp!*DX @7 b]dT @C >@C6]k^Am k9bmc] r6=63C2E6 *@FC (:?Dk^9bmkAm!2J:?8 @77 563E 2?5 3F:=5:?8 FA 2? 6>6C86?4J 7F?5 42? 766= =:<6 2 D=@8 H96? 4@>A2C65 E@ 2 7:?2?4:2= 8@2= =:<6 D2G:?8 7@C 2 9@FD6[ H96C6 E96 AC:K6 :D 7:?2==J D:8?:?8 E92E 5@EE65 =:?6 2?5 A:4<:?8 FA E96 <6JD] qFE 46=63C2E:?8 D>2== H:?D 42? 96=A <66A J@F @? EC24<]k^AmkAm~7 4@FCD6[ J@F ?665 E@ 36 42C67F=] x7 J@F 46=63C2E6 A2J:?8 @77 2 Se__ =@2? @C 86EE:?8 J@FC 6>6C86?4J 7F?5 E@ Se__ H:E9 2 Sa__ 5:??6C[ J@F >2J 36 E2<:?8 2 DE6A 324<H2C5] qFE E96C6VD ?@ C62D@? E@ C68C6E AFC492D:?8 2? 277@C523=6 D9:CE J@F’G6 925 J@FC 6J6 @? @C EC62E:?8 J@FCD6=7 E@ J@FC 72G@C:E6 =2EE6]k^Am kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7C665@>563EC6=:67]4@>^=62C?^563E\D@=FE:@?D^9@H\E@\3F:=5\6>6C86?4J\7F?5\H9:=6\A2J:?8\5@H?\563E^Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2m k6>mH2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7C665@>563EC6=:67]4@>Qmk6>muC665@> s63E #6=:67k^6>mk^2m k6>m2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2m]k^Am 0 Comments Originally published on freedomdebtrelief.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular The high cost of low-cost financial advice from AI tools Jump reports that AI financial advice can improve decision-making but may also lead to poor outcomes for low-literacy users, highlighting the … Trading cards may outperform the S&P 500 at times, but are Pokémon cards a good investment? CreditNinja reports that while some Pokémon cards can be a good investment, many collectors face risks due to market saturation and grading fraud. 7 credit card habits that make your debt worse, ranked by damage level Accredited Debt Relief reports seven harmful credit card habits that worsen debt, including taking cash advances, paying only minimums, and ig… 5 hacks that make groceries cheaper, according to finance experts Even if you're in a rush, these five tricks will only take you a few minutes to help give your pocketbook a little breathing room. More than half of US consumers now routinely end the month short of funds Credit One Bank reports that over 57% of U.S. consumers regularly end the month short of funds, driven by rising costs of essentials like groc… Watch Now: Related Video Why ICE agent's ex-wife doubts his account of fatal shooting Trump administration gains access to voter data Trump administration gains access to voter data WSU study sheds light on marijuana use for stress relief WSU study sheds light on marijuana use for stress relief El Niño threatens California beaches, homes and coastal roads El Niño threatens California beaches, homes and coastal roads
The high cost of low-cost financial advice from AI tools Jump reports that AI financial advice can improve decision-making but may also lead to poor outcomes for low-literacy users, highlighting the …
Trading cards may outperform the S&P 500 at times, but are Pokémon cards a good investment? CreditNinja reports that while some Pokémon cards can be a good investment, many collectors face risks due to market saturation and grading fraud.
7 credit card habits that make your debt worse, ranked by damage level Accredited Debt Relief reports seven harmful credit card habits that worsen debt, including taking cash advances, paying only minimums, and ig…
5 hacks that make groceries cheaper, according to finance experts Even if you're in a rush, these five tricks will only take you a few minutes to help give your pocketbook a little breathing room.
More than half of US consumers now routinely end the month short of funds Credit One Bank reports that over 57% of U.S. consumers regularly end the month short of funds, driven by rising costs of essentials like groc…
