America is one of the wealthiest nations in the world. However, its citizens have a reputation for spending money not saving it. Saving money always seems to be something people want to put off until later in life. Unfortunately, emergency situations are just as likely to occur in a person 's 20s as they are in their 50s. When they do happen, the average American citizen is left scrambling for money at the last minute, which often leads to incurring unnecessary debt. Typical Life Emergencies The only thing people know about the future is that they know absolutely nothing about the future. Even those who display great discipline by planning are susceptible to fate. By definition, an emergency is an unexpected event that requires immediate action. Typical life emergencies include unexpected medical costs, vehicle repairs, funeral costs for a loved one, nature disasters that cause property damage, and a friend in need of help. When these types of emergencies occur, the effect they end up having on a person 's life seems to be directly proportionate to the person 's ability to absorb any related costs. If they have savings, the emergency seems to simply come and go. If they find themselves financially unprepared, the emergency can lead to long-lasting financial difficulties. How to Save Money Saving money requires discipline. For the most part, trying to save money on an occasional basis rarely leads to securing enough money to handle anything more that a small problem. In