This article was published on 11 March 2021. Some information may be out of date.

Emergency — or rainy day — money

  • But first — win a copy of Mary’s new book!
  • Make emergency money your second to top priority
  • When things go wrong…
  • How much do you need?
  • How to set up saving for this
  • Where to keep the money
  • Use your mortgage?
  • Charity fund?
  • If you use the money, top up again!

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Mary Holm, ONZM, is a freelance journalist, a seminar presenter and a bestselling author on personal finance. She is a director of Financial Services Complaints Ltd (FSCL) and a former director of the Financial Markets Authority. Her opinions are personal, and do not reflect the position of any organisation in which she holds office. Mary’s advice is of a general nature, and she is not responsible for any loss that any reader may suffer from following it. Send questions to [email protected] or click here. Letters should not exceed 200 words. We won’t publish your name. Please provide a (preferably daytime) phone number. Unfortunately, Mary cannot answer all questions, correspond directly with readers, or give financial advice.