Stay on budget and work the Baby Steps long enough, and you’ll understand the power of building your emergency fund.

After all, stuff happens. And an emergency fund offers peace of mind when the circumstances of life get a bit—or a lot—chaotic.

Because of your hard work, you might be sitting on a hot $1,000—or upwards of $15,000—ready whenever you need it. Sounds good, right? And it is!

But here’s the dilemma: An emergency fund piling up in the bank and sitting month after month can start to feel less like security and more like a bonus. The lines between emergency needs and urgent wants can begin to blur a bit. We’ve all be there!

So today we’re offering a litmus test of sorts: Three questions you can ask to determine if your stated emergency actually warrants a visit to the emergency fund. We’ll also talk about a few quick fixes to clear up any emergency fund confusion in the future.

Ready for a bigger home? There's a lot to consider. But start here—with three simple steps to help you upsize your home without downgrading your finances.

Back in the old days, a criminal couldn’t commit identity theft without dressing up like someone else and learning a fake accent. But times have changed. Now we can have our ID stolen in seconds from a computer-savvy teen or clever phone scam.

We know talking about identity theft probably doesn’t put a spring in your step, but it’s important. So, let’s look at what it is and how you can prevent it. Because knowledge alone isn’t power. But knowledge plus action sure is.

The start of spring means two things: warm days ahead and a fresh start with your money. If you’ve been crushing those new year money goals for months, bravo! If you’ve slipped some, it’s okay! Hey, we all make mistakes. But now it’s time to get back at it.

In general, filing your taxes is about as enjoyable as updating your resumé, waiting in line at the DMV, or flossing your teeth. Most people don’t jump at the chance to do any of these things. But despite their boring and sometimes stressful nature, all these things still have to get done.