Even though we all have emergencies, few of us save up emergency funds. Why?

An emergency fund can be used to go a number of days without income, or to cover an unexpected vehicle repair cost without putting it on your credit card, or to prepare for an unanticipated health issue.

The best place to start increasing your savings is to save up an emergency fund.

Research shows we are more motivated by positive, future-aspirational goals than we are by negative, fear-based goals.

We just aren't as motivated by negative possible outcomes as we are by positive possible outcomes.

When I broke down in the middle of Nowhere, Texas, I learned firsthand why it's so valuable to view saving up for emergencies as a fun challenge instead of a tedious task.