When we took the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University class a year or two ago we started saving up our 3-6 months of expenses as is recommended in baby step 3 of the 7 baby steps. Over time we got our emergency fund fully funded up to 6 months of expenses. With the economy tanking, having an uncertain job situation and now expecting our first child we felt more comfortable having an even larger emergency fund. So my wife and I kept building the account and now have a 9 month emergency fund saved up. That should be enough to cover all our expenses and then some for 9 or more months.
This is definitely a considerable amount of money to have just sitting around, and up until now this money has been sitting in a high yield savings account at Bank Of America, earning next to nothing in interest, about .50%. Granted rates at other banks aren’t anything to write home about, but you can find a rate a whole lot better than .50%. Originally the account was an account with Countrywide Bank, earning about 1.1% interest, but when Bank of America bought them out last year, the account changed, and the interest dropped. Since then we’ve been shopping around for the best rate.
This past week I closed the account with BOA, and got a check for the account balance. I’ll be depositing that in my main checking account until we complete opening our new high yield savings account. We’ve narrowed our choices down to a few different accounts which seem to have some of the highest rates, while still getting decent reviews:
- Everbank Savings Account: My Review
- Ally Bank Savings Account: My Review
- Bank of Internet Savings Account
Currently we’re leaning towards the Everbank account as it has one of the highest rates (1.51%) for the first year, in addition to a bonus rate of 2.25% for the first 3 months. We’ve also heard decent things about them, so we’re willing to give them a try. The only downsides we can see? You have to have a higher balance (above $5000) to avoid fees on the account, and the opening balance has to be at least $1500. Since those amounts are not an issue for us, and they have one of the higher rates, we’re probably going to end up opening one of these accounts.
If any of you have experience with Everbank, Ally or Bank of Internet, I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments this week – before we finalize a choice! Let us know what you think!
Great Reads From This Week
It’s been a while since I did a roundup here on the site, so I thought that today I would give out some link love. Lots of great reading out there in the PF blogosphere!
- Refinance Home Loans – How One Call Saved Us Over $41,000 (We saved almost $20,000 when we refinanced!)
- Why Health Savings Accounts Are Great (My employer may be moving to these next year)
- Should You Invest With Lending Club? (My answer is yes, but diversify. )
- How to Save Money When Moving Your House (I could have used this post when we moved a few years ago!)
- Seven Ways God Works Through Our Finances (A good look at the ways that God can use money in our lives)
- Why I Bought A Portable DVD Player For My Kids (I’ve got one, so when our child comes of age, we’re all set!)
- Free Office Space: Use this Money Tip to Get Free Office Space Anywhere in the World
- How to File a Federal Tax Extension (Hopefully I won’t need this, but you never know!)
- Why the Gym is a Waste of Money (I prefer frugal exercise options as well!)
- 10 Benefits of Raised Garden Beds (I’m not much of a gardener, but everyone seems to love it. Maybe I should give it a try!)
- Financial Risk Test. (How to create and take a financial risk test, and what you need to do to mitigate your financial risks.)
- Interview with Adam Baker on Unautomating Your Finances (check out my own review below under e-books)
- Best Index Funds: Does Vanguard Still Rule The Roost? (When we finally start investing, I like the idea of index funds)
- How to Make a Budget (the unboring way)
- There is a time limit on filing an amended tax return
- QuickBooks Accounting Software = Small Business Relief (I probably need something like this)
- Great Financial Advice From The In Flight Safety Handbook
- Manners And Money Series (An interesting series from Lakita!)
- What’s a Good Credit Score ? Should You Care and How to Check It
Ebooks Galore!
I launched my blogging e-book a couple of weeks ago, and I’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback, thanks everyone! If you sign up for our email newsletter, you can save $7 off the normal price, plus we’re giving away $25 cash to subscriber number 500 (should be happening soon!). My e-book isn’t the only one launched recently, however. Check out these other great e-books!
- Blueprint For How To Make Money With A Blog
- Unautomate Your Finances: A New E-book To Help You Find Your Financial Focus (Written by Adam Baker at ManVsDebt.com)
- Short Term Missions Handbook (Written by staff writer Craig Ford of Money Help For Christians. A handbook for missions!)
- 52 ways To Make Extra Money E-book (Written by PT over at PTMoney.com. I’m in the e-book!)
- Money School For Couples (More than just an e-book, a financial program for couples!)
Ok, so there you go, tons of great reading for the coming week. Go forth and read!
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