Why is this pillow necessary? Financial airbag. What it is

Today we will talk with you about a very important component of the financial life of not only an investor, but also any sane person. We will talk about financial protection or, in other words, creating a financial airbag. From this stage, you should start creating your capital absolutely every person.

First question: why do we need this notorious airbag so much?

We need her as additional protection in case of a hard collision with the harsh reality.

I think few people will argue that life consists of black and white stripes - sometimes things go a little better, sometimes a little worse, sometimes great, and sometimes just disgusting. The truth is that a person is far from always able to recognize one or another color of his stripe in time. No matter how bad it is, things can get even worse, and vice versa, no matter how good things are, things can get even better. You will not be able to guess what period will come next, so you need to be prepared for any outcome.

I will give an example from my own life.

There was a period when I worked at a terrible job with very low wages, which was also constantly delayed. I took it as black stripe, which will undoubtedly be followed by white - my income will increase, and the work will become much more interesting. Naturally, I did not see the point of forming an airbag in such a dark period, because I could barely make ends meet and waited for more suitable conditions to start doing it. Unfortunately, as it turned out later, that band turned out to be quite white and cloudless. It so happened that the company went bankrupt, I completely lost my job, and also managed to catch a very serious pneumonia, which, due to a doctor’s mistake, was aggravated by a complication. I started treatment only after a week of burning with a temperature of under 40, coughing up blood and a state where you cannot lift the teapot due to pain and impotence. Then there was a period of long recovery and an unsuccessful job search, when I increasingly underestimated the requirements and, as a result, after half a year, I was ready to really work for food and experience. Personal problems were superimposed on this every now and then ... I remember how I began to recall with warmth in my heart the time when I worked at work, where I was paid real money with only a three-month delay.

The joke is that even then things could have been even worse. Fortunately, there were close people near me who supported me very much during that period, and the troubles ended as suddenly as they began.

I am not telling you all this to make you feel sad with me. I would like to convey one simple thought - if I started to form an airbag when I had at least some kind of income - this would allow me to overcome the difficult stage with much less losses and feel much more confident.

My friendly advice - if for the sake of economy you do not have to sit on water and bread - set aside some of the funds for the formation of an airbag. Maybe you'll thank me later, and if you never have to use it, it's even more beautiful.

Question two: How much money should be in the airbag?

This is very good question and to answer it, you need to know middle level our monthly expenses. Many experts recommend calculating the volume of a pillow equal to 3-9 monthly expenses for your family. Usually this period is enough to overcome difficulties and find a new source of income. Personally, I am a reinsurer and this moment I keep in the airbag an amount that will be enough for a year of an economical, but not a beggarly life in the event of the loss of all sources of income.

Example: if your family spends an average of 20,000 rubles per month and calculate an airbag for 9 months, then the amount of capital that you allocate for financial protection is 180,000 rubles.

Question number three: Where to store the financial airbag?

In order to understand the answer to this question, let's ask one more question - what are the main properties that this share of capital should have?

I highlight three main properties inherent in the airbag:

1. Security. Naturally our Lifebuoy you need to keep away from anything that pricks, cuts and can damage and blow it off. Perhaps this capital will be needed just when everything around will fall and it is important to choose an instrument that will be one of the last to fall. That is why you should not place a cushion in instruments that promise not only great benefits, but also great risks.
2. Liquidity. It should be remembered that we may need this money at any time, in case of the most unforeseen force majeure. We must easily and quickly turn our assets into money without losing much of their value. Therefore, I consider it irrational to store a pillow, for example, in real estate. Selling an apartment and getting paid can be the most difficult time, just when we need it the most.
3. Low volatility. It is very important that the purchasing power of money remains stable and that fluctuations in the value of this portion of the portfolio are minimal. So that we do not have to sell assets just when they are “at the bottom” on the most unfavorable terms for us.

Based on these criteria, only the most conservative financial instruments are suitable for us. Personally, I advise deposits in the most reliable banks from the Top 10 or, in extreme cases, in federal loan bonds. Even stocks and corporate bonds of reliable companies are too risky for us to invest this share of the portfolio. I also recommend dividing your pillow into three currency baskets - rubles, dollars, euros for additional protection against currency risks.

What else needs to be considered. The airbag is a last resort. This is an emergency reserve and you cannot put your hand in there unless the situation has reached the extreme degree of danger. For example, taking a pillow to rest because you are very tired and have not been to the sea for three years should not be in any case. But if you have lost all sources of income, now you don’t have any options to earn money, and your children have nothing to eat, then maybe it’s time to put your hand in stocks, but at the same time make every effort to get out of this situation as quickly as possible.

I hope that I have covered all the main points, but if you have any questions - write, and I will try to answer each one. I wish you to always have a financial airbag, but never have reasons and reasons to use it.

The financial airbag is an inviolable reserve of accumulated Money for "every fire" case or "rainy" day. In your heart you can be sure that you are firmly on your feet, maybe you don’t even live paycheck to paycheck, unlike most people in our country, but this does not mean that someday the situation will not change in your favor. In this article, we will understand in more detail what it is, financial pillow and how it can be created.

Two options.

First. A properly created financial cushion will allow you and your family not only not to die of hunger in the event of a layoff at work or some other force majeure, but will also make it possible for three to six months to lead a more or less familiar lifestyle.

Second. If a person did not have any stabilization fund, then, as a rule, in the event of an unforeseen loss of his only source of income, he is very likely to go into depression, start selling his legally (well, or not quite) acquired property in order to at least somehow stay afloat . Naturally, the money raised will not be enough for a long time. Agree that the second option is no good.

Unfortunately, most people, having settled into a high-paying job, decide for themselves that they are now rich. This is not entirely true, with a high salary, you are provided, but exactly until the day when you lose your job. More precisely, until the day when you have to once again pay the loans you have taken.

The size.

The size of the financial airbag is calculated as follows: the amount of monthly expenses is multiplied by the number of months. That is, if you spend 40 thousand rubles a month, then in order to live for six months, you will need 240 thousand rubles.

For example, take a pillow 6 months.

Amount of expenses for 1 month × 6 months = required capital.

The amount of expenses is the payment of all rent, food, fuel for the car, cellular communications, Internet, your entertainment, etc.

Think about how much you can save from each paycheck. For efficiency, use the principle of "more is possible, less is impossible." Optimal size"donations" for a pillow is 10 - 20%. As a rule, we spend everything we earn. You need to get away from this. Consider what you can save on.

Basic principles of creating a financial cushion.

Immunity. Under no circumstances should you spend money from a financial cushion. Naturally, unless these are the conditions for which it is created. (You have lost all sources of income.)

Fast access. As soon as the hour of X has struck, you should be able to as soon as possible get the accumulated money in hand. That is, there is no option to hide money at the grandmother's in the country house under a mattress 200 km from the city. Too bad, grandma would be glad to see you. However, a small stash of cash at home can be useful.

To save the pillow from inflation, It is best to keep money in a bank deposit. When the amount of money becomes more impressive over time, put the eggs in different baskets - do not store everything in one bank.

And by the way, building an airbag is a time-limited undertaking. Your goal should be a certain amount, not an endless process of saving money. Let free money work for you.

In addition to its direct purpose, to eat and pay bills in a difficult life situation, a financial pillow plays the role of psychological protection. Knowing that you have the right amount of money in your bank account will make you feel financially savvy compared to your day-to-day environment. Every night, going to bed, you can afford to think about anything, but not about the financial crisis.

My checklist:

• Determine how much you spend per month;
• Determine the duration of your pillow. 3-6 months;
• Calculate the required amount. Amount of monthly expenses x number of months;
• Start saving 10-20% monthly.

Be aware of what projects you can earn online right now!

Surely everyone has heard of such a term as "" and in in general terms understands what it is.

According to a survey of the national Agency for Financial Research, conducted in 2016, 73% of Russians do not have savings, few people seriously think about the importance of creating an untouchable cash reserve.

If the financial situation in the family is prosperous, then all kinds of crises, layoffs and other negative events seem to be something distant and unlikely. And when family incomes are already low, creating savings seems to be a difficult and pointless exercise.

Why is it so important to have a Financial Airbag?

The very concept of financial airbag” denotes the accumulated amount of money, which allows you to live for any period of time in the event of the loss of the main source of income. Ideally, it allows even in such a situation not to reduce the level of expenses and the quality of life.

The main purpose of this type of savings is to help the owner calmly survive difficult financial times.

As mentioned above, the main reason for creating a financial reserve is an unexpected loss of income. This risk is always there good specialist, as a rule, it takes some time to find a job with a comparable . Other professions in times of crisis may simply not be in demand. In this not best period time, the costs will not go away, and if you have a family to feed, the problem is exacerbated to a critical level.

In such situations, a person often rushes to extremes: gets a low-paid and unattractive job, enters into a debt hole. The consequences have to be dealt with within years. Having a financial reserve, it is much easier to survive difficult times - purely psychologically, a person will feel much more confident, knowing that in which case he will not be in a hopeless situation and even without work at the moment he will be able to live for several more years without reducing his normal and habitual standard of living.

Even without taking into account the loss of income, no one is immune from other troubles and a situation can always arise when you urgently need a large amount of money. For example, for treatment, elimination of damage caused by your fault, forced relocation, etc. Having a financial cushion will greatly facilitate a difficult period in life and allow you to deal with problems on your own.

How to create an airbag and how much to save

Everything is very prosaic - in order for some savings to appear in the family, you need to start systematically saving money. We will talk about how to do this later, but now we will consider the very principle of calculating the value, the so-called pillow.

• You need to understand the average per month, including the cost of clothes, car, entertainment - all your expenses.
• As a rule, a financial airbag is created for a period of 4 to 36 months.
• The size of the financial airbag is calculated by multiplying the amount of monthly expenses by the number of months for which you want to create a cash reserve. For example, if every month you spend approximately 25 thousand rubles, and you plan to create financial insurance for a year, then to implement this venture you will have to accumulate 300 thousand rubles.

Yes, it is not easy, you need to have a sufficiently large reserve of money, and you need to create it from the very beginning of your income.

How to start saving money

In fact, there are not many options, because money does not appear out of thin air. To start making some savings, you will either have to cut costs or earn more by starting to look for additional sources of income.

One common way is to deduct 10% from your salary and all other income. But this method doesn't work even on paper, because to create a pillow for 1 month you will have to spend 10 months, and to create a pillow for a year - 10 years. Of course, you can do so, but a financial pillow cannot be the goal of your life, since you still need to earn money for a house, car, and other large acquisitions.

We recommend that you reconsider your expenses, take a comprehensive approach to personal finance and try to allocate more% for the financial pillow. You need to try to create passive sources of income, or just additional ones. Since Fin. the pillow is part of personal well-being, this applies to its other components. A financial cushion should be included in your financial plans to increase income.

Still, you need to save, 50% or 10%, or even 5% is better than nothing.

Therefore, the main thing is to do it immediately after receiving the money. Many people, when they are going to create savings, expect that they will put aside the amount that will remain in the budget at the end of the month. However, as a rule, by this moment there is no money left at all, and the whole idea is postponed to the next month, so again and again. Usually this is the type of person who likes to start new life from Monday, quit smoking and drinking next month, from the new year begins to play sports, etc.

In the event that the salary comes to your card, you can set up the debiting of money automatically. Most banks provide an online banking service where you can set up a monthly transfer of a certain amount to your financial cushion account.

The main idea is that you should not wait instant result. Yes, you are unlikely to find that you have become significantly richer just a couple of months after you started creating savings. But when you really need the money, and it may happen in 5 years, you will be grateful to yourself that you have saved up a solid amount for such a case.

How and where to store a financial pillow

There are many various ways storage of accumulated money. The best would be a bank deposit. The deposit must necessarily be perpetual with the option of replenishing and withdrawing money from the account at any time.

• You can make a single deposit with the option to withdraw once a month for higher interest rates.

You need to open an account in a strong currency, which is not shaken by fluctuations in rates, but rather in several. Withdrawal of money from the deposit, as a rule, is carried out at the bank office upon application, which guarantees the safety of funds, primarily from you.

You can not keep a financial pillow at home in cash. It is believed that this method worst possible. After all, at any moment there is a temptation to spend them, in addition, money is slowly but surely depreciating.

What you definitely do not need to do with the money from the financial cushion is to invest it somewhere, since any investment is a risk, and the financial cushion is created for the purpose of having cash. It is far from a fact that in case of urgent need you will be able to withdraw your money from investment projects without loss, namely the possibility of quick access, is one of the main requirements for savings of this type.

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Imagine soft pillow on which you lay your head before going to bed to comfortably spend the whole night on it. It creates coziness in the house and helps you to relax. You lie on it, and everything is fine ... It is this state of peace and confidence in the future that you will have if you create a financial airbag for yourself.

What is it?

Financial airbag- this is the accumulated amount of savings, with which you can live for a certain time, unexpectedly losing your main source of income. In other words, it is a “stash” or money for a “rainy day”.

Why is she needed?

At the mention of the “airbag”, one of the first associations is the pillow of the same name in the car (airbag), which is designed to mitigate the impact of the driver and passengers in a car accident. A “money pillow” will also save you from a possible crisis, a layoff, and any “accident” in life.

Having an inviolable financial reserve, you will even psychologically feel more secure and confident, and you will not be unsettled by a sudden car breakdown or flooding of your neighbors.

How to create an airbag?

1) Determine how much you spend per month.

You will need to keep track of expenses and income. If you have led it before, then you will only need to calculate your monthly expenses. If not, then you will either have to write down all expenses for a couple of months or just “estimate” how much money you have enough to live without problems for a month. Read how to properly keep track of personal finances.

2) Choose the term of your “insurance”.

The optimal period for which to create a financial airbag is 3 and 6 months.

3) Calculate the required amount.

The size of the financial airbag is determined by the following formula: the amount of monthly expenses multiplied by the number of months. For example, if you spend 30,000 rubles per month, and you want to create an emergency reserve for 3 months, then you will need to save 90,000 rubles.

4) Start saving.

Consider what percentage of your wages you are ready to save a month. The larger it is, the faster you will achieve what you want. For example, 10% or 20% from each salary.

There are two main options: earn more or spend less.

Purse. Put in it a bill of 5,000 rubles. Let it be a symbol that brings good luck and additional motivation for you. However, of course, you can’t carry all your emergency supplies in your wallet.

"Stash" at home. Hide some of your savings at home. Yes, even in the same pillow! Let the apartment contain a small amount of cash in different currencies: dollars, euros and rubles.

Bank deposit. This is perfect option, as it is the best protection against inflation. Choose a deposit with the ability to replenish and withdraw money at any time.

Gold. Precious metals will always be in price, so feel free to buy them. You can quickly sell them to the bank even in times of crisis.

Basic requirements for creating an airbag:

• Immunity. It is strictly forbidden to spend the deferred money. Write down for yourself in which emergency situations this can be done.

The ability to quickly receive funds. In the event of an emergency, the money will be needed urgently, you will not have time to sell, for example, real estate.

Inflation protection. It is best to keep savings in a bank, on a deposit account in different currencies.

If for some reason you are not yet ready to create an emergency reserve for the future, then you can always use our service. In essence, Platiza is a financial safety cushion for those who have not taken care of creating their own cash reserves in advance.

However, remember that you will have to pay interest for the use of borrowed funds. You can resort to the help of a microloan when you know that you can repay it on time.

Don't put things off until later, we advise you to start building your financial airbag as early as possible. Yes, you have to force yourself to save money first. It will be difficult, but you need to realize that this is for the good of your family. Soon you will develop a very useful habit in yourself and life will become easier, you will breathe more freely and more confidently. Write in the comments about your successes and ask questions, we will be happy to help you.

Or do you think you don't need a cash reserve (or reserve fund)? Think again. It doesn't matter how financially independent you are today, There are always surprises in life.

So-called "unforeseen expenses" are the reason why many financial professionals suggest keeping three to six monthly expenses in a savings account or as an easy-to-return investment.

Even if you can't imagine a situation where financial assistance might be needed, remember that things can change.

19 situations where a reserve fund may be required.

It may happen that several of these situations will happen at the same time.

1. You lose your job and cannot quickly find another with the same salary.

With savings of 3-6 monthly expenses, you are free to live off them while you search the best way. On the other hand, without an emergency fund, you will be forced to accept the first offer, whether it meets expectations or not.

2. You receive a property tax that you forgot about ...

Do not spoil relations with the tax service. You don’t have to do this if you have a family financial airbag, an appropriate reserve fund. You will be able to pay the unexpected tax immediately, and plan your financial expenses better next time.

3. An addition is expected in the family.

This is happiness and additional costs. However, with the presence of a reserve fund, you will feel much more confident and will be able to calmly prepare for the arrival of the baby. The family will be happy with any upcoming expenses, even if the job does not provide for paid maternity leave.

4. Are facing prolonged illness.

Health and longevity to you and your family. However, according to ancient scriptures, old age, illness and death await all of us. If you are too sick and cannot go to work, there is a chance that you will lose this job.

Even if the job is paid sick leave you cannot afford to live on less than your full salary. A financial airbag can help you get through this difficult period of time.

5. Trying to start the car in the morning, but nothing happens.

A surprise bill for fixing a car is not the best news. The presence of an adequate reserve fund minimizes worries in this regard.

6. You are transferred to a part-time job with such a schedule that it will not work to combine this work with another.

Part-time work means less pay, you will be cut in income for a while. The hopelessness of this situation will bypass you if you have a financial airbag.

7. The child needs urgent medical treatment.

Even if you have health insurance, you will need to invest your money in treatment until Insurance Company will not return the expenses, what can we say if there is no insurance. Consider purchasing it.

8. Get hit by a car and bedridden for months.

Once again, good health to you, but you need to consider everything life situations. For many years car crashes are the source of many people's problems. And since no one ever plans them, they can leave you and your finances in a sorry state.

9. Your friend or relative moves in with you during a crisis.

Even if you managed to equalize your financial situation during a crisis, friends or relatives may ask for help. will give you the opportunity to help those who are dear to you.

10. You or your spouse get depressed.

Depression is a real state, and being in this state is not conducive to active life. If you or your partner is experiencing depression, it can be extremely difficult to make a living during this period. Smile more often, it cheers you up and you take life easier. So you don't have to go into savings.

11. Identification documents are lost.

So all cards are blocked, there is no access to bank account and you can't promptly unlock them. If the passport and rights are lost, it will take a considerable time to restore them. During this time, you may not have access to credit cards and accounts. The reserve fund will be a salvation in this situation too (keep 10-15% of the amount at home).

12. You are being evicted from a rented apartment.

Moving is always expensive, but it can be a lot more expensive when you don't have time to plan well. Even worse is that you need an additional amount to settle in a new place. Unfortunately, there are many reasons that make people gather in a short time and leave their homes, for example, the owner of the apartment you are renting is selling it.

13. You caught your spouse cheating, and you feel extremely uncomfortable living in the same house.

First of all, think about why this situation happened. If a man begins to look at other ladies, it means that the wife thinks in her thoughts that her husband is not good enough and that she deserves better. But then she went out for the best, what did she do that this situation happened?

If you live in an uncomfortable or unsafe environment, temporarily moving away from your spouse is a way to reflect on your behavior and understand why this situation arose, what needs to be done to correct it. Without an appropriate financial reserve, you have nowhere to go.

14. A dream job is on the horizon, but if you accept this offer, you will have to settle for a lower income.

With money in the bank, you get the opportunity to earn less if you really need it. With an adequate emergency reserve, you can, without thinking, change your occupation to a life's work and work to restore your current income for as long as it takes.

15. You are driving, and suddenly puffs of smoke appear from under the hood, and the lights on the dashboard start flashing about a malfunction.

When you live paycheck to paycheck, this is one of the worst things that can happen. Not only will you have to pay for a tow truck, but you will also face an impressive bill for car repairs.

16. Your relative or friend suddenly passes away in another city.

The trip can be prohibitively expensive. You will have to pay not only for air or train tickets, but also for renting a hotel for several days.

17. You stumble upon selling a rare item that you have dreamed of all your life, but it costs "good money."

If a long-awaited offer hits the market and you don't have the funds to buy it, you'll feel like a loser.

18. One of the family members needs an expensive medicine.

Having health insurance can help you avoid a large number medical bills, but this does not mean that the insurance will cover the purchase of all necessary drugs. Instead of suffering from a lack of medication or getting into debt, if you have a family financial airbag, get the best medicine.

19. Unexpected changes at work force you to change your place of residence.

What happens if you are offered a significant promotion elsewhere in the country, or if your company decides to close your local office? The answer is obvious - you will have to move. Unfortunately, without an emergency supply, you could miss the opportunity and get stuck where you are.

Last thoughts:

All these and many other situations can cause a sharp violation of your financial stability, forcing you to get into debts and loans. With luck, your unforeseen circumstances will not be superimposed on a number of other problems for which you will not even be able to take a loan, and if you take it, you will not know

This is a blow to the nerves and a clear threat to finances. It makes you feel "on edge".

Most of these problems can be minimized by having cash in the financial airbag.

1. Open a deposit
2. Make a commitment to put some money into it every week or month. Better yet, ask the bank to do it for you automatically.
3. Forget about the existence of this account until you encounter unforeseen circumstances.

In this case, the financial airbag will work for you.

If you have a reserve fund, you simply withdraw money to solve the problem that has collapsed. Any attempt to bring you into a state of crisis will pale in the face of impeccable financial planning.

If you still don't have an emergency supply, start building one and be glad you did.

Learn Evgeny Popov's experience in using a financial airbag and share in the comments what helped you create an emergency reserve!