<prompt> Human: They say you should start every story with a hook. Heres my hook: a friend of mine came to my house about three weeks ago and confessed that she was seriously considering killing herself.After many hours and tears I managed to convince my friend to go to the ER and sat with her all night there. She confessed to the crisis worker that her husband has been abusing her and that she was planning on overdosing that night. When her husband found out she was in the ER, he threatened to divorce her to make her leave. Mercifully, the hospital blue sheeted her, meaning she was held by law and admitted to the psych ward. Im a very recent graduate on the job prowl and living under a very tight budget Ive been using YNAB and its spectacular!. Despite the narrowness of my finances and largely due to this lovely subreddit Ive been striving very hard over the last year to build a little emergency fund. This emergency fund was the absolute tits during this trying time.I told my friend I had the means to pay the hospital copay if she couldnt. During that night in the ER while she peed in a cup I bought myself some tea and snacks. Early in the morning I went shopping for a pair of drawstring-free sweatpants for her because she was sad and afraid and cold and hospital gowns suck balls. I also found her a book to keep her occupied, since psych ward patients are not allowed any form of media. When I was allowed to visit her at the hospital I bought myself a big old cafeteria meal with all the available comfort foods. When she got transferred to a hospital farther away I filled up my gas tank. When I had to cover her shift at work, after not sleeping for two days, I bought all the coffee. ALL OF IT. I didnt have the energy to cook so I ate out. When all the stress, sleep loss, and hospital time gave me a goddamn cold, I bought some medicine. After about three days in hell I finally got a chance to sleep. I rested so easily knowing my friend was safe and my finances were secure. All of the money I spent during that time was just sitting there waiting for something like this to happen.She spent nearly a week in the ward and was put on medications. She says now shes happier than shes ever been. Shes not out of the abusive relationship yet thats going to be a whole other beast but it sounds like shes gaining the tools she needs to take care of herself.Shit happens, mental health is serious, and emergency funds are super rad. If you dont have one, start one.Thanks for convincing me that the pain-in-the-ass process of saving for unforseeable events when youre poor is totally worth it.-Wannabegroupie  <response>: huge hugs You are the bestest friend ever! Thank you for supporting her through this difficult time! 