<prompt> Human: I put money into the fund about every other week. I work min wage plus tips, so some weeks there isnt enough to put anything in. I keep track of all my money on a page in my home-binder, bills, food, gas, and savings are recorded each week.About two weeks ago, I realized that there was an outstanding debt that I could maybe should? pay out of the fund. It took over half of the fund, but it made me debt free. I still had about 100 in my fund! The way I see it, the money that I owed was sitting in my bank and hanging over my head. Now Im free and clear, but just a bit poorer. I continued to put money in the fund and not spend it.I was NOT expecting to have a real emergency so soon after I paid that bill. We had a medical emergency. Although we do have good health insurance, there are still extra costs associated with the emergency. Money was needed for extra gas, medicine, and I really wanted to get my husband a little something to keep him cheerful at urgent care. We got a MAD magazine 12.99 yikes!worth it! All of that adds up and I didnt want it to come out of the money for billsfood.We were already nervous, even scared. I wanted to be able to reach into my purse and have the money to address the need, whatever that need was. We didnt have to worry about it. The money was there and we used just what we needed. The rest is still there.That MAD mag is still sitting on the coffee table. I dont think my husband has looked at it since the waiting room. Maybe it wasnt worth buying with the emergency fund, or maybe it was. He needed something to keep his mind off things, so I dont regret it. EDIT - Wow Thanks for all the comments, guys! Gold too?!! lol yay for Emergency Funds! Thanks so much for the support!!  <response>: Good. We need to hear I did the right thing, and it worked just as it should stories occasionally : 