An FU fund gives you the ability to walk away from situations that no longer serve you—without having to stress about money. Read on to learn more about what is an FU fund and how to build one!
Imagine this: you have been working at a stable place over the last few years. You have benefits, a consistent salary, and you get along with your team. But then, the company gets acquired, management changes, or the conditions at your job deteriorate, and you are no longer happy.
Maybe, you want to pivot careers entirely.
This is what Gianni LaTange, creator of First Gen Money Musings, did.
When Gianni made the realization that she was no longer happy, she began to build her FU fund—a “f*ck you” fund. This account allowed her the freedom to quit her stable job in the middle of a pandemic, enroll in a coding bootcamp, and fully transition into the tech industry.
So let’s talk about FU funds, what they are and how to use them.
What Is An FU Fund?
An FU Fund is a savings account funded with money that allows you the freedom of choice. It is called an FU fund for a reason—with FU money, you can say “f*ck you” to anything that does not fit into your current life or is bringing you stress.
FU Funds vs Emergency Funds
The main similarity is that both of these accounts are savings funds. The key difference is that an emergency is generally for unplanned events, or emergencies. An emergency fund should be able to cover your basic expenses for 3 to 6 months.
These expenses would include:
- Rent
- Utilities
- Groceries
- Transportation costs
- Loan payments
and any other fixed expenses you have on a monthly basis.
An FU fund, however, is a pool of money that you set aside for future use, such as when you decide to take a career break, change jobs, or enjoy time off traveling or spending time with your loved one. An FU fund lets you enjoy a sabbatical without the pressure of having to find a new job right away.
Let’s consider an example scenario like a job loss.
Job Loss + Emergency Fund
If you experience a job loss with just an emergency fund, the timeline you’d have to find another job would be the number of months your emergency fund can sustain you for.
So if your emergency fund only covers 4 months of basic living expenses, you’d have four months or less to find another source of income to replace your old job.
Job Loss + FU Fund
With an FU fund, you have the option to take an extended period of time after a job loss. With this FU fund, you have the choice to decide what you want to do. Your goal is to save an FU fund that allows you to take an extended period of time off before returning to work.
You could decide to use your FU fund to take some time off to travel, invest in learning a new skill, or pivot your career entirely. So long as you consider your desired timeline within the confines of your FU fund, you have freedom of choice.
Why Should I Build My FU Fund?
Anyone and everyone should build their FU fund. During the pandemic, one in four Americans have considered quitting their job. Perhaps they don’t all hate their current job; maybe they are just looking for a change. Regardless, having an FU fund would allow them to take the time to explore these alternatives.
With an FU fund, you can:
- Quit and leave toxic work situations
- Explore new career options
- Go back to school
- Take time off to be with your family
- Plan that vacation you’ve dreamt of
You are no longer dependent on your source of income; you have enough to sustain you, and then some.
How Do I Save For My FU Fund?
In any case, saving for your FU fund will not be much different than any other type of saving. The difference? The intention behind saving; your why.
1. Budgeting
To build an FU fund, first start by looking at your budget. This means knowing what your currently cash flow (income) is, what your expenses are, and what amount of money you can save each month towards your FU fund. There are several ways to budget, but key to building an FU fund is making a plan and staying consistent until you reach your savings goal.
If you find it difficult to set aside money for an FU fund, consider starting a side hustle to increase your income.
2. Investing
If you intend to wait several years before using your FU fund, you can consider leveraging the stock market as a place for you to save an FU fund. Going this route can enable you to not only save money on a consistent basis, but can also bring you returns on your investments, thereby growing your FU fund at a faster pace.
Note that retirement accounts like a 401(k) or an IRA will “lock” up your money until you retire, so plan your accounts accordingly. Your other option is a brokerage account.
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