All our savings are automated, with weekly transfers going into multiple accounts – the less time I have to think about saving, the more likely it is to actually get done. Now that the EF is built up, we can contribute more heavily to our other savings funds: “fun fun”, car, gifts, tuition, house fund (for household misc & fixes), and the relatively newly created slush fund. That slush fund is where extra money goes to each month, and when it builds up, we decide what to do with it – making extra debt payments or put towards investing. Lately, paying down extra debt has been winning out since the market has been so volatile (1% return at ING is better than what feels like an umpteen% loss in my 403b), but I’m set to increase my 403b contributions in the very near future – may as well buy extra while the prices are low!

@Matt – I like that a lot – having emergency items on hand too, just in case the world goes to hell and money is worthless all over! (ya know, like if alients came or the world exploded ;))
@Erin – Oh yeah, seperating a few accounts work out REALLY well for me. I find having them in different places helps me focus and mentally do better every month. Esp with taxes – that stuff scares the bejesus out of me, so SEEING all that money in there really does wonders :)
@Jenny~Z – Oh man, that sucks – I’m sorry! GREAT that you had it all saved up and ready to go for exactly that though, you’ll have it saved back up again in no time :)
@WinrWinrChknDinr – Haha, I do that too — keeping more money in my checking account and pretending it’s $0.00 in case I F up and do something stupid ;) It’s saved me on more occurences than I’d like to admit.
@Jeff @ Stay Thrifty – I had an F U fund too ;) But I got beaten to the punch and was laid off 2 weeks before I wanted to use it! Haha… damn good I was working on it though, that’s for sure.
@Gene – Yup! I agree – having good insurance in place is also VERY very important, especially when others are involved like family or spouses/etc. Though it sucks ass having to dish out money when nothing bad is happening, it def. feels good knowing that you’d be okay financially just in case something DOES pop out of the woodwork. The last thing you want to be thinking about is money when something bad goes down in your life…
@Mike – Haha, right? Interest blows on cash right now BUT if you’ve got a mortgage tied to a variable rate you are LOVING it ;) As I am w/ my 2nd one – though I need to get better like you and start paying it off more aggressively… it is in the works though.
@Ms. S – It’s a damn good feeling, I know! I always prefer having more in the bank instead of $0 and less debt. You can always use your cash to pay off bills, but you can’t take out cash back from them!
@Renee – Oh wow, that sucks :( I hope it gets better for you! Debt collectors are no joke.

We don’t have anything regarding our finances automated (savings or bills). It’s more of a personal choice thing. I like to be the one in control of my money and tell how much of it to go, where, and when. I don’t like to look at the balance, and wonder what happened. And I hate the thought of someone else (other than me) having access to my account to take money as they see fit, even if it is for my own good. Heck, I am not even sure I trust my bank. It’s curious, because I always heard that most financial gurus say not to automate things, and to remain in control of everything.

I have enough discipline to pay ourselves first at the beginning of the month (sinking funds, Roths, and other investments), and at the end of the month (with whatever money is left over from our budget down to the $2000 low limit). It works for us.

@WinrWinrChknDinr Nice work having 5 months set aside. I am curious why you don’t automate your savings? Just a personal choice or you’ve just never bothered to set up an automation?

@South County Girl congrats on hitting that 6 month EF! Mini funds are a good idea too — the idea is to have something, how you do it is up to you! Nice work!

@Jeff Love the name for your unplanned expenses savings account. Gave me a good chuckle.

@Michelle good luck working on that emergency fund! A blog is a great way to keep yourself in check. I wish you the best!