“Oh no.” “Seriously?!” “This can’t be happening.” “Not today!”
These are the things we say when life… happens. And life loves doing that.
Picture this: It’s 9:37 p.m. You’re finally home after a long day. You reach for your door, then it happens. The doorknob comes off in your hand.
“Not today.”
You call around and find the only locksmith still willing to help. He can come, but he wants cash or a bank transfer.
You didn’t plan for this. No one adds “front door breaks on the 13th” to their monthly budget. And because you’re financially responsible, most of your savings are locked away, counting down a 30- to 90-day wait.
But sleeping outside isn’t an option. So you take a breath and tell him to come.
Moments like this are exactly why you need “Not Today!” money; cash set aside for life’s surprises; the good, the bad, and the not-funny. To better understand this, I spoke with Abhinav, Harry, and Brume, three people living in the UK, about what “Not Today!” money means to them, why everyone needs it, and the discipline it takes to build it.
What Is "Not Today!" Money?
For Harry, it's “money that you have instant access to like a safety buffer in case anything goes awry or you need a certain amount to solve a problem quickly.”
There’s a popular saying, “Life is what happens while we’re busy making other plans.” And when we make those plans, we usually think about money in two ways: savings and investments. Both are important. Both help protect the future.
But what about right now?
What do you do when life throws a curveball that won’t wait days or weeks? When the problem needs fixing today? That’s where “Not Today!” money comes in, a small stash you can reach quickly to deal with surprises and keep things moving.
However, Abhinav adds that this kind of money isn’t just for problems; it can also be for meaningful, "once-in-a-lifetime" moments. Things like upgrading your car or watching your favourite football club play a final at Wembley. In short, Abhinav sums it up as “money which is instantly accessible to you.”
He also adds an important warning: savings are called savings for a reason. “Don’t draw down too much,” he cautions, especially for small, everyday purchases.
The goal is to keep the "Not Today!" fund ready for what actually matters.
"Not Today!" Money VS Savings With Extra Steps
Brume describes “Savings with extra steps” as money set aside for the long term, “for the next 30 years, so I can live comfortably and retire.” Abhinav agrees. To him, it’s money you’re confident you won’t need tomorrow, next month, or even next year. This is money for buying a home in five years or paying for your child’s education.
Harry adds that these savings often live in places like bonds, locked accounts, or fixed-term ISAs. The difference is simple: “Not Today!” Money is for now. Savings with extra steps are for later.
Because of this, locked savings aren’t helpful in urgent situations. Abhinav learned this the hard way. “I had to pay my credit card bill, a big one,” he recalled. “I wanted to take money out of some fund investments, which were said to be a savings product. It took a good four or five days for the money to come back and be credited into the account.”
Harry has had similar issues. He found it hard to withdraw money from premium bonds and often had to wait a few days.“I always find it bizarre,” he said, “when it's your money, and people are telling you, Oh no, you'll get it when we're ready to give it to you. I mean, it’s mine.”
Brume faced an even tougher moment. She once had to borrow money from her sister for a medical test because withdrawing from her savings would have meant paying a breakage fee and losing part of the money she had worked hard to save.
Saving for the future is important and always recommended. But as their stories show, money that’s hard to access can’t help in urgent moments. That’s why having money you can reach easily isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity.
Why You Need "Not Today!" Money
To really see why emergency funds matter, Abhinav, Harry, and Brume shared moments when having, or not having, “Not Today!” money made all the difference.
1. For the Student "Save"
It might sound extreme, but for young Harry, it wasn’t. Right in the middle of exam season, his iPad, with all his course notes, broke. Suddenly, he needed cash fast.
“I needed to pull a couple of hundred pounds out of somewhere, which as a student was a bit of a big ask,” he explained. “If I had set aside a certain amount of money, then that would've been a lot less stressful.”
In Harry’s case, not having money ready almost cost him his grades and turned an already difficult time into an overwhelming one.
2. For the Non-Negotiable Necessities
Some expenses can’t be avoided. You can’t delay them, and you definitely can’t ignore them.
For Brume, it was a mattress. “I have cash in my account that I don't touch at all. Except if it is something very serious,” she said. “I had to buy a mattress last week because my back was almost breaking.”
For Harry, it was his boiler. “The boiler broke, obviously a big one,” he shared. “Fortunately, I had some money set aside for that. The next day, rather than wait, I hired someone to fix it.”
Things like this happen to all of us. And what happened to Brume and Harry shows exactly why having buffer money matters. When something is non-negotiable, having funds ready can save you time, discomfort, and unnecessary delays.
3. For the Urgent Demands
There are moments in life that come down to timing, when money is needed fast, especially for important things like renting an apartment.
“If you have already saved a buffer, you could give a deposit straight away,” Harry explained. “You save yourself the stress of having to find where to pull out funds quickly, or it helps you avoid reducing your options.”
Abhinav agrees. “Your car could break down and need a new part. Or your phone might stop working,” he said. These are urgent problems, and having emergency money means they can be fixed quickly, without extra stress.
4. For the Curve Balls
Life throws unexpected challenges at us; sometimes small, sometimes big. One of the toughest, Abhinav says, is losing your job. “It happens in today’s world,” he explained.
When things like this happen, Abhinav advises having a three-month to six-month emergency fund. This money can keep you afloat until you find a new job and get back on your feet.
For example, imagine your main source of income stops suddenly. You still have rent to pay, bills piling up, and groceries to buy. With an emergency fund, you can cover these essentials without panic, giving you time to calmly figure out your next steps.
5. For the Unplanned Pleasures
If you can afford it, it’s okay to budget for little treats now and then. Maybe it’s a new outfit. For Abhinav, it was a family holiday to Italy.
Even fun plans can come with surprises. After a few days of sightseeing and spending more than expected, Abhinav and his wife decided to make a last-minute trip to Naples.
“We had to travel at the last minute,” he recalled. “The expenses went more than what we expected.”
Thankfully, he had money he could access right away. “I logged into my LemFi Instant Access Savings Account (Powered by ClearBank) and got the money I needed in minutes.”
6. For the Perks
Another advantage of having "Not Today!" money, especially in an Instant Access Savings Account, rather than just cash on hand, is that it can earn you money while sitting there.
Abhinav calls it “pretty good returns,” and that’s exactly what the LemFi Instant Access Savings Account (Powered by ClearBank) offers.
With up to 3.66% AER (Annual Equivalent Rate), which Abhinav says is a good rate in the UK market, LemFi Instant Access Savings Account (Powered by ClearBank) helps your savings grow while still letting you access your money whenever you need it.
How To Build "Not Today!" Funds
Building a savings habit is easier said than done. We asked Abhinav, Harry, and Brume how they stay disciplined while growing their emergency funds, using tools like the LemFi Instant Access Savings Account (Powered by ClearBank). Here’s what they recommend:
1. Save first, spend later
Take a percentage of your earnings as soon as it hits your account and put it straight into your savings. You can do this manually or set it up automatically; the key is to save before you spend.
2. Replace what you spend
If you withdraw from your emergency fund, make a conscious effort to put it back, and even add a little extra if you can. Features like AutoSave in the LemFi Instant Access Savings Account (Powered by ClearBank) make it easier by automatically rebuilding your balance.
3. Set clear goals
Decide on a monthly or yearly target for how much you want to save. Having a goal keeps you motivated.
4. Watch your interest
Checking interest rates before you choose an Instant Access Savings Account can make a big difference over time. With a competitive 3.66% AER, the LemFi Instant Access Savings Account (Powered by ClearBank) helps your “Not Today!” money grow faster, without locking it away.
5. Keep it private
Don’t share how much you’ve saved. The fewer people who know, the less temptation there is to spend it.
6. Learn about money
Read books or articles on personal finance. The more you know, the smarter your decisions will be.
7. Live within your means
Be content with what you have. Don’t spend more than you can afford; it helps you avoid dipping into your emergency fund unnecessarily.
Fun Names For Your "Not Today!" Money
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