Insert appropriate disaster here _______

a. you just got laid off
b. a pipe burst in the kitchen
c. your kid needs braces
d. some other unexpected event occurred -- and it's going to cost you

In a perfect world, this is where the good ol' emergency fund kicks in, with six months' worth of living expenses waiting in an easy-to-access high-yield savings account. But let's be honest -- for many of us that fund may be running a little short. (You're not alone: The average American saves just five cents of every dollar they earn.) So when disaster strikes, the likelihood that you'll need cash fast is pretty high.