Optimal Finance Daily · Sunday, September 13, 2026
Michelle Schroeder Gardner relays her father's advice on avoiding living paycheck to paycheck through consistent budgeting and maintaining an emergency fund. This preparedness allowed him to remain calm even when facing layoffs from his airline job.
“My dad was all about having a budget. He went over his budget and his checkbook nearly every single day.”
“He always had an emergency fund. He always made sure he spent less money than he made and he always made sure to put as much money as he could towards retirement.”
“Even when he would get laid off, he never acted like it was a big deal because he was always prepared.”