Pro Consequences, Pro Preparation: Build Your Cushion

Alright, it’s Wednesday. Time to lock in and level up on emergency funds and accountability buffers.

For college athletes, a pro style reality that’s showing up in college football, thank you Deion, is player fines. For all of us, it shows up as the need for a buffer when an unforeseen emergency or expense hits.Whether you love the idea or hate it, the takeaway is simple. If a $500 mistake, like one of Deion's fines, forces you onto a credit card, you’re not bad with money. You’re under buffered.

This week’s install is the Accountability Buffer. A mini emergency fund for the "my bad" moments as a college athlete, like team fines, late fees, parking tickets, and small surprises. Beyond athletes, we all get hit with mini emergencies like an alternator going out, the furnace breaking down, or needing a last minute flight to be with a loved one. Over time, the bigger goal is to build enough cushion to cover up to six months of expenses if you lost your job, something that is hitting home for a lot of people right now.

Here’s the play. Create a separate savings account or bucket that you set aside as your "Buffer". Set an auto transfer of $25 per paycheck, or 1 to 2 percent of income, on payday. Build it to $500 to start, then work toward $1,000. If you use it, refill it before lifestyle upgrades. This is just a start, once you get $1,000 here it will be time to identify the appropriate buffer that is best for you to target.

High performers don’t lose to avoidable money chaos. They build a system that absorbs it.

You can do this, and you can start today.

If you want my one page Buffers template, reach out and I’ll get it to you.

Lock in. Level up. Run this play.

- Coach