Author Topic: Short-term cash account?  (Read 1430 times)

Angus_Mac

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Short-term cash account?
« on: February 07, 2019, 10:08:11 AM »
For way too long I've just kept 6-month's (or more) worth of expenses in a USAA checking account, earning .01% interest. I have two questions: 1) How much should I keep in a checking account (e.g., to pay monthly bills from)? 2) Where else should I keep this money that would yield a better return? This money just needs to be liquid enough so I could access it for some sort of financial emergency.

ginjaninja

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Re: Short-term cash account?
« Reply #1 on: February 07, 2019, 10:56:49 AM »
CapitalOne has a money market account ($10k minimum) that will yeild 2%.  Discover has similar.  The traditional capitalone savings account has a 1% rate. 

If you want a referral code to get a sign up bonus, privately message me :)

I keep very little money in my checking account and keep most of my money in the high interest savings accounts.

reformed spendthrift

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Re: Short-term cash account?
« Reply #2 on: February 07, 2019, 01:05:16 PM »
Check out Ally Bank- they have a saving account with 2.2% and a lot of really good cd rates as well. I believe they have checking accounts that earn interest as well.

LightStache

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Re: Short-term cash account?
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2019, 11:07:19 AM »
I keep a month of expenses plus a small vacation reserve. Then I have an EF and separate savings brokerage I keep invested in SHY, which is a short term treasury fund yielding 2.7% last time I checked. I find the volatility acceptable in exchange for a yield that's slightly higher than HY savings or MM.  In an emergency, it would take three days to sell and settle, so I would rely on my credit lines if I needed cash within three days.

I also think the 2.2% at Ally is a good choice. I've considered shifting some money there but never pulled the trigger.

 

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