Dave Ramsey Baby Steps — UK Edition | Step 1: The Emergency Fund
Dave Ramsey teaches that the first Baby Step is to save $1,000 before tackling debt. The principle behind this step is simple — and powerful: If you've decided to stop borrowing, you need to stop emergencies turning into more debt. If every car repair, boiler issue, or unexpected bill goes on a credit card, you end up paying off debt with one hand while adding to it with the other. A small emergency fund breaks that cycle and resets your mindset:“I will not default to debt when life happens.” That principle absolutely holds true here in the UK. But the amount needs adapting.... In the US, medical bills and weaker safety nets mean more emergencies can be far more expensive. In the UK, we have the NHS and a stronger social security floor — which changes the calculation. At the same time, this first step needs to be: - achievable quickly - motivating - confidence-building If the target is too high, many people stall before they even start. In the UK, creating more margin is also a little harder than in the US. That’s why, for most people in the UK, I recommend:£500 as a starter emergency fund. It’s: - enough to cover most small emergencies - realistic to build quickly - and crucially, it builds momentum This isn’t the final emergency fund — that comes later.This is about creating breathing room and changing behaviour. 💬 Discussion I’d love to hear your thoughts: - Does £500 feel realistic for you right now — or still too high? - Do you currently have any emergency buffer, even a small one? - What tends to knock you off track financially when life happens? There’s no right or wrong answer here — just real life.