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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Do you really never want to go on vacation again? How would you replenish the emergency fund when something breaks in your dream house or car?

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People usually think  "I don't spend that much on food/gas/utilities... so I can live on $3K/mo" -- ha, ha, ha!  You would be surprised to add up all the unusual expenses that happen every month.  We tend to tell ourselves they only happen once in awhile, but there seems to be one or two or more every month.

Car maintenance -- $2500 (oil gasket leak or something)
Other car maintenance $600 (new brakes plus other things)
Home repairs/maintenance (faucet needs fixin', A/C unit needs new copper coil$$, powerwashing house and windows, new water heater, add insulation to the garage ceiling, etc., etc)
Travel/vacation -- $1000 for that trip to the beach, $1500 for flights to see _____, etc.
Therapy for _______  ($400/mo.)
Day Camp for summer enrichment:  $$$$
Lessons/enrichment:  music instrument, after school classes, rec leagues, swimming lessons, gear
Replace grill
Replace Washer Dryer
Replace Dishwasher
New mattress
New sofa
College savings
Medical bills (these are only going to get bigger as you age)
Etc, etc.  These are the big expenses that bust the budget.  Each one may only happen once in awhile, but there is always one or the other (or more) happening each month.  
Saving for a new car every 12 years (that means we need $2500-3000/year to go into that savings account-- for EACH vehicle we have -- so that's $5000 minimum PER YEAR that goes toward saving for a new car).
Property taxes -- $4000-7000/year

My DH talks about living on his military pension too.... and I say no way!  It would lock us into a very tight budget.  We are fortunate to have it, but it is not enough for a family of 4 to live well on.

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