CamilaPaulucci.Wordpress.com

A new survey just published by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that 50 percent of U.S. respondents faced with a hypothetical emergency couldn’t come up with $2,000 within 30 days.

That’s not encouraging, America.

While funding an emergency account can seem like a low priority compared with paying monthly expenses, having access to cash sure beats having to put medical bills, car repairs, and other sudden, life-happens charges on a credit card. Then you’re not just contending with the emergency, but struggling to pay the balance and interest in the future as well.

Just something to keep in mind the next time you waver between saving and spending. Click here for our list of five situations where even a small emergency fund could save your hide.