Ok, you’ve probably heard more times than you can count how important it is to have an emergency fund. You know that you need one, but the missing information is how you’re going to get one started. Sadly, it’s often the people who can’t afford an emergency fund who need one the most.

If your budget is already stretched to its thinnest point, you may find that you just don’t have any extra money to put aside each month. Fortunately, there are some options to help you get that emergency off to a running start.

1. Use your tax refund to quickly fund your emergency fund. Although it’s tempting to use that windfall from Uncle Sam to treat yourself to something that doesn’t normally fit into your budget, resist the temptation. Take your refund, or at least a chunk of it, and place it into a savings account.

2. Take advantage of your employer’s direct deposit program. By putting a small amount of your weekly paycheck into a savings account each week you can start working towards having a healthy emergency fund. Even a small sacrifice each week, such as $10, will provide you with a little bit of financial security.

3. Use your “extra” paycheck. Four times each year, or twice depending upon the length of their pay periods, many people receive an “extra” paycheck. Since you’re used to paying your regular bills without using this paycheck, consider using it to fund your emergency fund.

4. Have a garage sale. Sure, garage sales are a lot of work, but the proceeds from your garage sale could allow you to build a significant emergency fund without even changing your spending habits.

5. Pick up a part-time job. A part-time job, in addition to the work that you normally do, is a fantastic way to scrape up the extra money for an emergency fund. If you’re hesitant to take on a part-time job for any length of time, check with your local staffing agency for some short-time assignments. Simply giving up a day or two a month could help you start saving for that proverbial rainy day.

The idea of getting the cash together to start an emergency fund can be relatively daunting. However, with a little creativity and hard work, you may find that the coveted emergency really is within your reach. Just imagine how much safer you’ll feel knowing that you’re no longer be vulnerable to the slightest problem. The hard work or sacrifice will be worth it.

Some people avoid getting a grip on their finances because they just don’t think they’re good with numbers. Keeping track of your expenditures each day in a log can seem pretty tedious, and manipulating them in a spreadsheet isn’t at all appealing. So, how can you learn to account for your money without feeling like managing your finances has taken over your life? A simple change in your method of payment could be the answer to your problem.

One popular method for managing your cash, the “envelope method,” encourages you to switch to a cash basis for all of your purchases. Basically, after you’ve paid all of regular expenses such as the rent payment, utility bills, and car payment, you place all of your dispensable cash into labeled envelopes. The envelopes should be labeled according to their purpose; examples include food, entertainment, or gas. As you go through the week, pay cash for all of your expenditures out of the appropriate envelope.

To make this system work, you need to steer clear of using your credit cards. Only use the cash in your envelopes. If you just use a credit card after the cash in an envelope has run out, you’ll find yourself quickly in more financial trouble than you were in the beginning. However, if you stick to using only your cash, you won’t ever be able to spend more than you earn.

Once you’ve mastered staying within your allotted funds each week, you’ll find yourself ready to take your cash purchases to the next level. Make a new envelope for savings and designate a larger item that you need. Maybe the microwave is on its last legs and will need replacing soon. Maybe you’re due for a short vacation. Regardless of what major purchase is in your future, start putting some money into your savings envelope each week. Eventually you will have enough money to walk into the store, or travel agent’s office, and plunk down cash for your purchase. Imagine the satisfaction you’ll feel as you enjoy your purchase safe in the knowledge that you’ve already paid for it.

Switching to a cash basis for all of your purchases isn’t something that will happen overnight. You may plan badly the first week and find that you have to steal out of one envelope to make up for an unplanned purchase in another envelope. Don’t give up, though. As you gain more experience with this type of financial management, you’ll learn to appreciate its simplicity and wonder why you ever felt the need to purchase things on credit.

When tightening the belt around their finances, you probably look high and low for ways to trim excess expenses from your budget. Popular ways to cut expenses include all types of reductions like going out less, driving a smaller car, and even giving up cable television. People will eliminate all kinds of little luxuries in their quests to get their budget under control.

Examining how you use your discretionary dollars is definitely the best way to start making changes in your expenditures. Be sure, however, to take a close look at the expenses that you thought were fixed, as well. One source of expenses that tends to be overlooked during your budget review is the company that should be encouraging your financial success: your bank.

Here are some examples of fees that you might be paying unnecessarily:

Annual Fees on Credit Cards – With the availability of so many different credit cards, there is no reason to use a card that requires an annual fee from its customers. If you’re attached to a particular card that does have an annual fee, try calling customer service and explaining that you intend to switch to a card without an annual fee. In some cases the customer service representative can waive that fee for you.

Service Fees on Checking Accounts – Like annual fees, service charges on checking accounts should no longer be a problem for anyone, even the customer with a small account balance. Before you open an account, spend a little time exploring your options. Customers with large account balances have been enjoying free checking for a long time, but the advent of internet banking has allowed others to share this good fortune. Many banks offer free checking for their customers who utilize direct deposit and limit their use of teller services.

Maintenance Fees on Retirement Accounts – Don’t let the cost associated with retirement accounts keep you from opening your own IRA (individual retirement account) or Roth IRA. Internet banking has again come to the rescue to introduce fee-free retirement accounts to the general public. Banks like ING Direct allow customers to start their retirement funds without worrying that their balance will be consumed by fees.

ATM Fees – Save on bank fees by making sure that you’re using your bank’s ATM’s as much as possible. When you use another bank’s ATM, you open yourself up to paying the ATM’s service charge as well as a service charge from your bank.

Cash Advance Fees – These fees have always been incredibly high. If you need cash, get extra cash while you’re shopping with your debit card. Cash advances from credit cards should be avoided as much as possible.

You can’t avoid all bank fees, but with a little research, you may find that many of them can be avoided or at least reduced. Pay attention to the services that you use and look for banks that offer those services for little or no cost. Who knows? Maybe you’ll save so much in bank charges that you’ll be able to leave a few of those other little luxuries in your budget, after all.