Expecting the unexpected

Photo by jordis small on Unsplash

“There’s no way I could have expected this.”

You’re right, of course. Things happen all the time that we can’t reasonably predict.

And yet, just because you can’t expect something to happen doesn’t mean you can’t prepare yourself for whatever “it” ends up being.

When you ‘expect the unexpected,’ you’re proactive about doing what’s in your control so you can deal with all the things that are out of your control.

One way you can practice this approach in your financial life is to intentionally build and maintain a sizable cash cushion. In fact, let’s call it your ‘expect the unexpected’ fund.

What does the ‘expect the unexpected’ fund provide?

The opportunity to walk away from a toxic work environment and take a sabbatical before figuring out your next career move.

The peace of mind of knowing you can cover that pricey and unexpected home repair.

The chance to splurge on renting that vacation home for your family this summer because we only have so many summers with our kids.

These are just a few of many possible examples. But perhaps most importantly…

Expecting the unexpected is how you maintain flexibility and optionality in your life while dealing with the ever-present uncertainty of the world.

And when uncertainty is the only certainty, having that is just about the best you can ask for.