Happy Monday,

Angelo here! Welcome to New Money, where we go over weekly tips to help you build your wealth, one dollar at a time.

Today’s edition:

• The one-month foundation that protects your entire budget

• A smarter way to save and pay off debt

• Google surges, Eli Lilly hits $1T, and more

Read time: 2 min 40 seconds

💰 Wealth Tip of the Week

About a year ago, a random $350 expense hit me, and it completely wrecked my whole month.

Nothing dramatic, but it was enough to make me realize I wasn’t as financially safe as I thought.

Turns out, this happens to a lot of people. 

The Federal Reserve found that 37% of Americans can’t cover a $400 emergency in cash — they’d need to borrow or go into debt.

I was dangerously close to that statistic. And the problem wasn’t discipline. 

My emergency fund was built on outdated advice that didn’t match real life.

So I rebuilt it from scratch using a method that made me feel financially safe.

Let me show you.

1. Start With One Month

Remember the fable of the ant and the grasshopper? The ant stored food for winter while the grasshopper played. When winter came, only one of them survived.

The ant didn't wait until winter to start storing. Neither should you.

Forget the old "save $1,000" advice. That number is outdated.

For example, many families need $5,000–$7,000 just to get through one month of rent, food, transportation, and day-to-day living.

Without at least one month saved, even small problems become crises.

A flat tire, a clinic visit, a slower work week — any of these can derail everything.

Here’s how to actually get there:

• Write down your actual monthly expenses.

• Open a separate high-yield savings account. Your HYSA choice matters. I compared the top HYSAs 👉 here are the ones worth using!

• Fill this account before anything else and keep debt at minimums while you build.

Hit this one-month mark and you'll feel 10× more secure.

2. Build According To Your Swan Number

Once you’ve saved that first month, the next step is deciding how big your full emergency fund should be.

Money coach Andrew Giancola calls this your “SWAN number — Sleep Well At Night”. It’s the amount that helps you feel calm, protected, and steady.

Here’s how to find yours:

3 Months Might Be Enough If You’re:

• Single with stable income

• In a two-income household

• Working in a high-demand field

6 Months Might Fit Better If You’re:

• A single parent

• In a one-income household

• Self-employed or on commission

• Managing ongoing health needs

9-12 Months Could Be Safer If You’re:

• Fully self-employed

• Running your own business

• Relying on irregular or unpredictable income

Once you set the number that lets you sleep well at night, the rest becomes a much easier path to follow.

3. Save and Split

It’s at this stage where most people get stuck because saving and paying off debt can feel like competing priorities.

You can build your emergency fund and stay on top of debt at the same time, as long as you follow a simple, balanced rule.

The Save and Split Method:

• If you don’t have debt:
  Just keep building your emergency fund until you hit your “SWAN” goal.
  

• If you do have high-interest debt (over 6%):
  You can’t ignore it while you save. Debt grows fast, which can quietly increase what you owe and can eat your progress if you don’t chip away at it.

The goal is to grow your safety net without falling behind on debt.

How to make it easy:

1. Set two small automatic transfers: one to emergency fund, one to debt (if you have it)

2. Review once a month

3. Adjust amounts, but don't stop either one

Once you find this balance, you finally feel like your money is working with you, not against you.

The Three-Question Emergency Test

Before touching your fund, ask:

1. Is it unexpected?

2. Is it necessary?

3. Is it urgent?

All three must be "yes."

Financial peace isn't about having everything figured out. It's about having enough saved that you can breathe. 

That's where you're headed, and I'm here cheering you on.

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📉 Market Recap

Check out some of the biggest stories shaking up money, markets, and momentum this week.

• Silver jumps near record highs, boosting the value of jewelry and coins

• Gemini 3 gives Google a lead in AI, lifting Alphabet and shaking rival techs

• Eli Lilly hits $1T as weight-loss drugs surge in demand

• Tech rebound drives a four-day market rally ahead of Thanksgiving

👀 In Case You Missed It

If you’ve ever wondered what steady investing can actually produce, I show you my 6-year results in this vid.

See y’all next week 🫡

- Angelo Castillo

Disclaimer: This is not financial advice or investment recommendations. The content is for informational purposes only, and it should not be considered as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

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