$5

When I was a freshman in college (1969-1970), if I had a $5 bill tucked away, I felt like I had an emergency fund.  What did $5 represent?  Well, $5 was how much I got paid for working as a receptionist three hours each Saturday morning at a local optometrist's office.  It could buy a concert ticket or 26 19-cent hamburgers or 83 6-cent postage stamps.  I didn't have a car, but $5 could buy 14 gallons of gasoline. 

Nowadays, it would definitely take more than $5 to fulfill my definition of an emergency fund, but $5 still counts for something.  A fast-food meal or a frozen entree, a local bus ticket, a bottle of store-brand pain medication - all these can make a difference for under $5. 

And, with December 31 fast approaching, a year-end contribution of even $5 will be welcomed by a favorite cause or charity, most of which have been hard-hit in recent years.  Many groups have secure on-line donation websites, so no expense for envelope or stamp is involved.

The $5 that felt like so much 40 years ago is still worth something.  It is up to me to make it count.

Stay tuned.