Rebuilding My Finances in 2026 (Starting Over With a $2,000 Emergency Fund)
Welcome Back to My Little Corner of the Internet ✨
Welcome to my little corner of the internet… yay!!
Seriously—if you’re here reading this, thank you. It means more than you probably realize. 💕
It’s been about two years since I last showed up on this blog, and wow… life has completely changed.
The Life Shift I Didn’t See Coming
The last time I was here, I was working full-time in NYC, running my construction business, moving fast, building, creating, doing all the things.
And then life shifted.
I stepped into a completely different role—full-time caretaker for my mom after she was diagnosed with cancer.
That kind of change… it humbles you. It slows you down. It forces you to look at what actually matters.
And in the middle of all of that, I started thinking differently about my life, my time… and especially my money.
How I Found a New Financial Path
Somewhere along the way, I came across this girl named Rose Han on YouTube.
She’s actually really cool—she used to be a Wall Street trader and now teaches financial education in a way that just clicks.
She wrote a book called Add a Zero, and she talks about something called the “Financial Waterfall.”
And I don’t know… something about it felt grounding. Simple. Clear. Doable.
Exactly what I needed.
👉 If you’re rebuilding your finances too, this book might be a helpful starting point (Please note that some links in this post are affiliate links, including Amazon links. This means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you choose to purchase through them):
Add a Zero by Rose Han
The Financial Waterfall (That I’m Starting From the Top)
Here are the 10 steps she teaches:
Save $2,000 starter emergency fund
Pay off ALL credit card debt
Max out 401(k) employer match
Save a 6-month emergency fund
Max out Roth or Backdoor Roth IRA
Max out HSA (if eligible)
Max out 401(k), Solo 401(k), or SEP IRA
Pay off ALL other debt (except mortgage)
Fund a taxable brokerage or save for a house
Pay off mortgage early
I love this because it gives direction without overwhelm. Just one step at a time.
My First Goal (And Me Holding Myself Accountable)
So here’s me being real and putting it out there:
Step 1: Save a $2,000 emergency fund
Current amount saved: $1,432.55
Not perfect. Not finished. But I’m close—and I’m proud of that.
This blog will be part of how I hold myself accountable.
Because if I’m being honest… I don’t want to keep starting over financially. I want stability. I want peace. I want to feel grounded.
What’s Next
I also want to:
Go back and review my 2024 financial goals (and be honest about what actually happened)
Revisit a blogging course I started (because there’s something here I want to build… I can feel it)
This space is going to be a mix of real life, money, healing, rebuilding, and figuring things out as I go.
No perfection. Just progress.
Let’s Talk 💬
If you’re reading this—what are your financial goals for 2026?
I’d genuinely love to know. We’re not doing this alone anymore.
