How to Save yourself from Life’s surprises

The room between what is now and what is to come. Typically used in finance and profit and loss statements, the amount we receive minus the amount we spend. But I am considering margin as a buffer to life. A space in between what we expect and what actually occurs.

When the Income Stopped

Recently, a friend of mine was living the high life. Aspirational travel, cars, address, you name it. Instagram successful for sure. Then the income stopped, instantly. It happens. Read the news for a second and you will hear about lay-offs, unemployment, or unforeseen scenarios that stop the financial train that must keep rolling to sustain life and liberty. He had 30 days or less of expenses saved as a reserve, and the situation was immediately dire.

A Cough That Became a Crisis

Another friend was feeling short of breath and thought allergies or a nuisance cough. What ended up as an irritation relayed into a hospital stay where doctors were concerned about blood clots in the lungs. Certainly a major concern, but the lingering effects proved to be much more difficult. His recovery was extensive because of his habits.

The Space Between Cars

Travel 70 miles per hour down the interstate: how much room do you leave between you and the car in front of you? One car length? Twenty? It depends, I suppose, but we all know that space between buys us time in the event of emergency.

When something doesn't go as planned, what happens in the margins is important. Margin: savings, healthy habits, or room to maneuver. In all these scenarios, I see margin as a game changer. Saved income could have prevented my friend from the urgent need to liquidate anything of value. Physical margin, that is what is built by good diet and regular exercise, can change a worrisome diagnosis from a catastrophic event to a very manageable one. And a few extra yards between speeding cars can be the difference of avoidable collision or a fierce impact.

Closing My Own Gap

So I begin thinking, how close am I to a collision with circumstance? What are these blinders? In order to be better prepared for a bodily event, I need to be strong and conditioned. To ensure a sudden unemployment doesn't destroy me financially, I need to have reserves of cash and liquid assets. Driving, I need to make sure I focus on the other driver, keep my phone out of my hand, and slow down.