3 Things That Are Worse Than Brake Repair

Being faced with an unexpected brake repair bill is no fun. These things always seem to happen when an individual is the least prepared. When the cash runs out in the checking or savings account, most individuals don't want to slap the charge on their Visa or Mastercard. Unfortunately, this is exactly what happens without an emergency fund. What's an emergency fund? This is a savings account that is "untouchable" for frivolous wants and luxuries. Instead, it should be the amount of three to six months living expenses - just in case. "Just in case" situations could be any number of issues. It could be an automotive malfunction, such as needing brakes. It could be a sick pet needing a trip to the vet. Veterinarians are helpful in getting Rover and Fluffy feeling fine again after exams and medications, but they're not cheap. No pet owner wants to look into their dog's sad eyes and say "sorry, not enough cash to get you fixed up, Buster." Saving up this emergency account is like having a safety net while walking the tightrope of life. It is something to catch you if you fall. Some things, however, can't be fixed with a quick swipe of plastic. Here are 3 examples of scenarios that are worse than brake repair:

Kids On Drugs

You're cleaning up your teenaged son's room when, lo and behold, you find a stash of baggies filled with powders and leaves. Not only does it look like Junior is doing a little recreational drug experimentation; it looks like he has turned into a hard core dealer. This is not an easy problem to fix. Flushing everything down the toilet and pretending you didn't find it is one option. It won't likely be a permanent solution.

Laid Off From Your Job

Well, you've been watching the news about unemployment or underemployment but you certainly didn't expect it to happen to you. Just when you thought you were fairly stabilized in the financial department, you get the news that your entire department is being laid off. Did you get advanced notice of a month or so to plan? It would've been nice but unfortunately, this isn't what happened to you. Either you were told to pack your desk up now and were escorted off the premises or perhaps you were given only a week's notice. Sorry, a single swipe of Mastercard isn't going to cut it. You are going to have to do some serious repositioning.

Cancer Diagnosis

The lump that wouldn't go away turns out to be the Big C. It's like watching someone else's life flash by your face. But, you reason, you've always been so health conscious! You've eaten your veggies, jogged regularly and didn't smoke cigarettes. Anyone that thinks they can control outcomes hasn't lived very long. Sorry, this is a bit worse than having to pay for brake repair.

Okay, so having an unexpected auto need like brake repair isn't a trip to the ice cream parlor, but it's not the end of the world. Your bad news could've been much worse.