In order to survive any emergency you will need money. If it is a short term emergency then you will not need much
money. If it is a long term emergency you will need more money. Credit and debit cards may not be useable.
During any emergency inflation will be rampant. For example, people who have a large amount of drinking water in
storage, or the ability to sanitize the available water, will demand a high price for their water.
You say that you cannot save any money for an emergency. You say that all your money goes out for present needs.
I know millionaires and people living on Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The majority of millionaires
are struggleing to keep their heads above the financial waters. Most are living beyond their means. Many of the
people living on SSI are doing quite well.
What makes the difference? Money management. Most millionaires believe that the money spigot will be open
to them indefinetly. They are careless with the money they invest (does the name Bernie Maddoff mean anything to you?)
and they do not watch where they spend the rest of their money.
In todays economic environment one day the millionaire is living in a cozy mansion and the next day they are
on a street corner with a tin cup in their hand.
The people on SSI usually are able to squeeze every last value out of each dollar. They know how to get government
benefits (food stamps and such) and most do not live beyond their means. In order to live below their means
many are homeless and are living in cardboard boxes, shelters, or their cars.
If you cannot save any money now how will you survive the future when you may have no money.
How can you save the necessary money to survive a short term emergency? Do what I do. Save your pennies,
nickels, dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollar coins. Put them in a container and when the container is full seal
the container and put it away.
Why coins? Coins will survive almost any disaster, including most fires. Paper money can be destroyed by
almost anything including moisture and fire. Paper money has another disadvantage, temptation.
Most people are aware of how much money is stored if it is in paper currency and paper money is easier to spend.
If their money is in a variety of unrolled coins and stored in sealed containers it will be more difficult to spend and they
will be less tempted to access the money.
How can poor people put away money for a long term emergency. They can't. After they have put away enough
money for short term disasters then the erosion of their savings by inflation will offset their saving.
Put money away for emergencies anyway.