Financial Resilience

Emergency Funds: Your Lifeline When Overtime Dries Up

For many of us in corrections, overtime feels like a constant. It’s the rhythm we live by extra shifts, extra pay, and the ability to cover bills, save for goals, or just stay afloat. But here’s the hard truth: overtime isn’t guaranteed. It can vanish without warning.

Maybe it’s a budget freeze. Maybe the stars align and the roster fills perfectly. Or maybe it’s personal an injury like a torn Achilles tendon that puts you on light duty and out of the OT rotation. Whatever the reason, if overtime is your financial safety net, losing it can feel like freefall.

That’s why building an emergency fund, especially with overtime pay—isn’t just smart. It’s survival.

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Use OT as your seed money. Set aside a portion of each overtime check—$50, $100, whatever you can.

Automate it. Direct deposit into a separate savings account makes it harder to spend impulsively.

Set a goal. Aim for 3–6 months of essential expenses. Even one month’s cushion is a game-changer.