Emergency fund brainstorming

I’m been brainstorming some ways to reduce my debt and reach my emergency fund goals faster than I would if I continued on my current track. At this pace, I’ll have paid off my credit card in two more payments, whoopee, but it’ll still be after the new year before I have a solid emergency fund under my belt, in my saving account. Well, I’ll probably have my boyfriend put it all in the hidden safe because I don’t have the code to get into it. I know where the code to safe is, it’s just such a hassle to get to and into the damn safe, it’s ridiculous. Off track. I want to get this emergency fund established as fast as possible because I’m quite embarrassed that at 24 my net worth is in the negative. Technically less than a grand negative, but in red none the less. An emergency fund will be an addition to my net worth, and I’m hoping with encourage me to continue saving for homeownership and retirement. It also helps that I have to log into ClearCheckBook almost every day to jive my account and a big ‘ol blaring red number is the first thing I see. That don’t make me feel good in my financially motivated heart.

The thing with saving money is you have to actually make the money you save. You can’t save more than you bring in so my favorite idea I have is to get myself out there (the big city of Seattle) and get a second job â€" I just can’t tell that to my boyfriend. I’ve got nights and weekends I can use to pull in a second paycheck and don’t mind working if I’m getting paid. I’ve frequently had two jobs and at one time had maneuvered them so efficiently that the only time I had at home was for sleeping. Which was fine by me ‘cause I didn’t want to see who I was living with. Additionally, two jobs means I have less free time and opportunity to spend money, a major plus ‘cause I can justify any purchase. The cons would be no social life, which isn’t too bad ‘cause I barely have one now. Also, I’d very rarely see my significant other, but we live together (see how I rationalize? I could sell myself ebola). I’d also only consider this as a temporary thing, probably till the holidays. By that time I’d have an emergency stash and a presents stash without having to dip into my regular earnings. Or, I could pay all my expenses â€" rent, utilities, groceries â€" out of my second job and devote my primary earnings to the saving account. Damn, I’m a good thinker.

Another idea is to rent out the parking spot to the condo. We â€" as in me and the boyfriend - could easily get $150-$200 a month for it; there are spots for rent in our building for $300 a month. Renting out the parking would almost pay all of our utilities, so we both benefit. We don’t have a car so it’s no skin off our back and I work for a law firm so getting a solid contract for the potential renter would be a snap. The potential renter also has to live in our building because of security access, so it’s not like they can escape. And if they do, so what? I’m not opposed to having some schmuck’s car towed for defaulting on a parking rental agreement. My boyfriend and I pay minimal utilities and someone gets another secure parking spot in a prime location. Win-Win.

Short of making and selling stuff (is there a market for homemade sugar-free biscotti?), I’m a little stumped at how to increase income or decrease expenses. Porn out of the question. We do good at keeping the expenses to a minimum, with the exception of our Pho addiction. I’m going to a wedding in a little over a month and now need to budget travel and a dress into the equation. I don’t think Boston is on the cheap side when it’s comes to cities and I’ve got visions of being arm candy to my lovely man, which can only mean a pair of beautiful shoes, maybe with jewels on them, and a nice new dress. There goes an entire paycheck from the second job I have yet to acquire. I guess its one step at a time.