This morning, as I was cuddled up and hitting snooze, hoping that time would go just a bit slower, my sister came into my room with an unexpected wake-up call: "There's water in the basement."
After a night of rain, my first thought was a failing sump pump. But as I walked into the basement lake, I had flashbacks. This was exactly what happened nearly one year ago.
I decided to use the same plumber I did last year. They said they'd be here in a couple hours. So I started working a bit, trying not to think about the greasiness of my unshowered hair.
Then the plumber called. "Because we're switching credit card service providers we can only accept checks or cash right now," they informed me.
Oh, did that throw a kink in my plans.
Lately, I've been so focused on paying down some of my debt that I've neglected my emergency fund and have chosen to rely on credit if something comes up. Cash or check for this large repair sum wasn't going to work with my current balance/budget.
A few calls to different plumbers for time and price quotes later, I kept thinking how nice it would be to have a plumber who really knew the situation from last year. If only I had enough cash to get the same guy and stick to my budget.
Faced with a bit of a quandary, I did something of which I'm not proud. I called Mom. Yes, folks, with one call to Mom and Dad bank my problems were solved. She agreed to throw some extra cash into my checking account on her way to work.
However, by the time Mom called as she neared the bank, the guilt had gotten to me, and I had already scheduled with another plumber who offered the same service for a comparable price that could be charged to a credit card. Plus, they offer a two-year service guarantee. Can't beat that.
While waking up to a backed-up sewer wasn't a great thing, it was a good thing to get me thinking about my finances. Deep thought session re: emergency savings vs. debt reduction 
needed.
Have you had any similar incidents that triggered a financial wake-up call?
I think paying off debt is much more important than having an emergency savings. I realize the importance in both... but debt just charges such a high rate (in most cases!!). So, in my case, we're paying off debt first and then we'll start working on our emergency fund!
Julie, I hear you. Since I pay a higher interest rate on my debt than I earn on my savings, that's the route I've taken, too. But it's just so discouraging to see the balance I've worked so hard to chip away at shoot right back up to where it was!
Why not split the amount up and put half in emergency fund and half toward debt. Once you have a cushion in the emergency fund put it all toward the debt or put 75% toward debt, 25% toward emergency fund. Yes paying off debt is important but if you do not have the emergency fund for situations like this now you have increased your debt that you have to pay off at the high rate.
Also dont forget the holidays are coming, its would be nice having a small cushion to help you pay for gifts and not charge them adding to the debt.
Good Luck
ahhh, lets not even mention the holidays. I saw all the Christmas decorations at Target the other day and I was just like OHHH NOOO! Not yet! I'm not ready! HAHA