you're broke wrote:
You're not supposed to save 6 months expenses to protect yourself from catastrophic healthcare costs. You should have 6 months in case you lose your job or can't work or something. That way you have a reasonable amount of time to get things back on track and you and your family won't be out on the street.
I'm in Canada, not sure what services you are counting on the govt providing, unless you mean welfare. Also, I don't know what bubble you live in but employment for most people here is just as unstable as anywhere else.
Better start saving, buddy.
"...in case you lose your job or can't work or something" ...OK, maybe if you are a loser with no job security you need to have six months' salary in the bank. My job is not going anywhere.
"...not sure what services you are counting on the govt providing" ...here's one: medical treatment. Here's another: home care. Here's another: inexpensive child care. I'm not making this up, my grandfathers on my mom's/dad's sides had almost identical strokes in their 80s. Mom's dad lives in Canada: free medical care, great home nursing for low cost, etc. Dad's dad lives in the states: Massive medical bills, ridiculous costs for services that wouldn't even be accredited in Canada. He had plenty in the bank, thankfully. Meanwhile, my kids are in a great daycare for a tenth of the chain brat-factories in the US cost. (I've lived in both, with kids, and agree completely with the six months in a decrepit state like this US. Just not in a functioning one like Canada.)
Your hoarding mentally is holding back the recovery. Stop living in fear.