Jean Chatzky Quotes

Make it a priority to have at least eight months of living costs set aside in a federally insured bank or credit union account.

Eliminating or substantially lowering just one major monthly expense can give you enough cushion to move into a more comfortable place financially.

You have no control over the market. You can't predict where it will go, and you can't bring it back from the depths. What you can do is save more. Make sure you have cash on hand - an emergency fund of at least six months of expenses.

It may take you months or even a few years to build up an adequate emergency savings fund. That's okay.

Ready mony is a ready Medicine.

Do not leave yourself or your family unprotected against financial storms... Build up savings.

Your goal should be to pay off your credit card bills in full at the end of each month and set aside money toward your emergency savings.

I've always been terrified about not having money. I've been a big saver and a big earner. When I've been out of work, I've always found another job. I never wanted to get into debt, because money was very tight when I was growing up. I never felt deprived, but I couldn't have the things I wanted.

A big part of financial freedom is having your heart and mind free from worry about the what-ifs of life.

Much of the traditional thinking about cash is well intentioned but unrealistic. Should you have six months of living expenses in the bank for emergencies? Sure. Do you? Probably not.

I have to tell you, I live paycheck to paycheck like most Americans. It's very difficult for me to say, 'Hey, I can give up my paycheck,' because the reality is, I have financial obligations that I have to meet on a month-to-month basis that doesn't make it possible for me.

Women who have it all should try having nothing: I have no husband, no children, no real estate, no stocks, no bonds, no investments, no 401(k), no CDs, no IRAs, no emergency fund - I don't even have a savings account. It's not that I have not planned for the future; I have not planned for the present.

I don't have a mortgage or kids, so I can lie low and tighten my belt if I need to.

I think it was very important for me to look at starting to build a safety net so that I didn't feel the insecurity of the ups and downs of finances because I might do no film a year, or I might do six commercials, or I might do none.

I feel very strongly we need to do a better job with the rainy day fund.

I need to have the soul bank full as well as pay the credit cards and have a roof over my head.

Save 3-6 months of expenses in a Rainy Day fund. Know why? Cause it is going to rain, and you aren't the exception.

Financial security and independence are like a three-legged stool resting on savings, insurance and investments

Solvency is entirely a matter of temperament and not of income.

Find $50 a month for savings. No excuses!

When I had money, I felt pressure, whether it was to invest it or do good with it, and I couldn't let it fizzle out. It was like I needed to prove to myself that I could look after it, only I did the opposite, but you have to take a chance in life.

If you have urgent current expenses to cover, then future priorities like college and retirement fall off your radar because they are simply less pressing. Scarcity of attention prevents us from seeing what's really important. The psychology of scarcity engrosses us in only our present needs.

Savings is an important tool because it can help the poor deal with the ups and downs of irregular earnings and help them build reserves for a rainy day.

Managing and navigating through a financial crisis is no fun at all.

I don't know if the money I've earned is going to need to last me for the next few weeks or the rest of my life.