How to Deal with These 10 Unexpected Bills You’ll Probably Need to Pay

How much money do you have in your emergency fund? Would your savings account allow you to pay for out-of-the-blue car repairs or family emergencies? If you answered “no” to the previous question, you are not alone.

In fact, the majority of Americans don’t even have $500 in savings. And, while dipping into your credit a few times won’t seem like it’s doing any harm, if your credit card bills remain unpaid you’ll get yourself into bigger problems.

But, if you need some extra cash when an emergency happens, we’ve got 10 smart ways to stop you from dipping into credit. Keep reading to find out the most common unexpected bills you’ll receive, and how to handle the situation.

1. When Your Phone Breaks

To cut costs, more than 50% of Americans rely solely on their mobile phones for communication. Americans have ditched their landlines, which is great for saving money, but we’ve put all of our eggs into one basket. One that’s made of glass, and is often smashed in seconds. And often enough, smartphones are expensive enough that we don’t want to pay monthly insurance on top.

But what happens when they break? The most common ways to break your phone are dropping it and water damage. These are costly to repair, and sometimes it’ll just end up so damaged it’s dead.

So, what should you do if this happens to you? Instead of reaching for your credit card, borrow or find an old cell phone that is compatible with your SIM carrier. This way you are still connected to work, friends, etc. Then, you can sell your broken phone on uSell, Glyde, or Gazelle. You’ll only make about half of what a working phone is worth, but it’ll be a good start towards your new phone fund.