Your comment made me think a lot about the "feeling" of saving. Like you said, its a good feeling to have money in the bank. Its something we crave. I wonder how similar a "high" it is to the high one gets when they spend money.

It has to be a little different, because it’d be more of a lasting experience. After you’ve bought something, the high dies and you’re stuck with whatever crap you bought. With an emergency fund, you get a bit of a boost anytime you look at your bank account.

For me, emergency funds are a combination of both. I’m willing to admit that the feeling is awesome and personally it’s something I crave. However, they also go a long way to making sure my family is comfortable despite what might happen. To me, it is much more important that my wife and child feel safe and secure.