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On Wednesday, April 17, the Water Project Jamaica joined key stakeholders in the Water sector at a Knowledge sharing forum hosted by Red Stripe at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston. The event was hosted to heighten awareness around the importance of water in the productive sector and to emphasize the need for an integrated approach to water sustainability across industries.

Jacqueline Cameron, Project Manager for the JN Foundation implemented Water project Jamaica found the event to be quite useful for charting Water policy changes in Jamaica.

“The event was important in the sense that it captured the opinions of policy makers, leaders and organizations that have influence in the water sector to make policy changes for the country’s water sector”  She said.

“I definately believe that there are opportunities to follow up with Red Stripe in terms of getting the action points from the Knowledge sharing forum  and the many discussions and presentations. I’d also recommend that all organizations that took part in the forum be brought on board to be a part of the proposed  Management team responsible for working towards integrated Water approaches.” she added.

Throughout the day, presentations focused on the importance of every drop of water,  Jamaica and Water Resources Management, Sustaining sustainable access for Industry, good practices and lessons learnt.

Speakers included: Sen. The Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr, Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation; Evan Cayetano, Senior Water and Sanitation Expert, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Vernon Barnett, Vice president, Investment and Performance Monitoring for the National Water Commission among others.

The Water Project Jamaica,  is a four-year project designed to address water management issues in the urban housing sector,  primarily related to climate change. The project is a collaboration between the JN Foundation, JN Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Climate Investment Funds and the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience.

Shanoy Coombs| Communications Officer of The Water Project

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Children’s safety is the focus of activities being organised by the Government to commemorate Labour Day this year, on Thursday, May 23.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, says special emphasis is being placed on instituting safeguards for children on the roads and at schools.

“It is timely, and I think we should also address… the safety of our children from predators. We cannot overlook [this] in our planning and discussions, [as to] how we will address it in a public way,” she said.

The minister was addressing members of the National Labour Day Planning Committee, during a meeting at Jamaica House on Thursday.

Grange, who chairs the committee, outlined the rationale for this year’s focus.

“We thought that the elevation of road safety onto this national community-based platform will deepen the impact of the existing public-private road safety campaign led by the National Road Safety Council; Ministry of Transport and Mining; Ministry of Education, Youth and Information; JN foundation; and UNICEF Jamaica, among others,” she said.

The minister emphasised that Workers’ Week and Labour Day “occur at a critical period for our nation’s children and vulnerable road users, as they take place during Child Month and just before Road Safety Month”.

Over the past several weeks, Committee members have been meeting to discuss activities for Labour Day, which culminates Workers’ Week beginning Sunday, May 19.

Among the other slated activities is a national thanksgiving church service, and concert. The events will be formally unveiled during a ceremony to be announced, the ministry said.

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The United States based publication, Atlantic Magazine, asserts that millennials are the “best-educated generation in American history,” with more than a third holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Nevertheless, they may become the first generation of Americans to be worse off than their parents, with lower incomes, more debt, and higher poverty rates.
To succeed, millennials will need some major preparation, especially considering that the world around them is changing constantly, the magazine posited.
While there is no local data about millennials in Jamaica to make that assumption, the general view is that persons in this age group have grown up with technology, and this has not only made life easier for them in many respects, but has also created numerous opportunities for generating wealth.
However, some millennials, such as final year student at the University of Technology, Jamaica (Utech), Jermaine Kelly, is making use of these opportunities, by defining his own destiny and carving out a niche for himself, so that he can have a secure future.
Kelly has established a taxi service, which he hopes to expand into a fleet; and, if he has his way, to branch out into trucking within the next five years. His entrepreneurship spirit however started a few years before, at age 17 when he had a “sweetie business,” while he attended high school.

“From a younger age, I was worried that I had to rely on other persons to get money. I didn’t like that, and I wanted to be independent; therefore, I decided to research opportunities from which I could benefit financially,” he related.

“I thought about selling sweets, however, I didn’t want to be walking around selling sweets at the expense of my education; hence, I engaged the vendors at my school, and asked them if they would sell the sweets for me,” he explained.
Kelly said the vendors were kind enough to assist him, and, he was able to earn a profit of $1,500 every week. He benefitted from those funds for about two years, as he was able to meet his personal financial needs and saved a good portion of that income.

The success of that business became an ember which sparked other desires for him to establish a formal business.

The Bachelors of Education student, who is majoring in electrical engineering, said that after entering university, in his second year, he went on the student work and travel summer programme in the United States of America (USA); and, he was able to accumulate enough money to cover his next year’s tuition and saved some of it.

“I saved US$2,000 in my bank account for a future business. At the time, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, because the market was changing a lot. The next year, I went back to the USA programme and was able to save US$3,000. The following year, I returned to the programme, and I doubled my savings. Over the three-year period, I was able to accumulate approximately US$11,000,” he disclosed.

He began to do his own research and investigation to determine what kind of business he could get into with the nest egg that he had accumulated.

“I said to myself, I’m in my final year of school and can’t finish school without a plan. Therefore, it was weighing on my mind. Then it occurred to me that perhaps I could go into the taxi business, because I realized that there was demand for transportation services,” he said.

He imported a car, and since then, he has been able to licence and insure the vehicle with the assistance of his girlfriend, Bobbie-Ann Campbell and is in the process of getting a driver for the vehicle.

Kelly, who is a member of the JN Group, said that his entrepreneurial spirit was nurtured by the book, The Richest Man in Babylon, a 1926 classics by George S. Clason, which dispenses financial advice through a collection of parables set 8,000 years ago in ancient Babylon. The book is still in print, almost a century after the parables were originally published and is regarded as a classic of personal financial advice.

He was also influenced by his uncle, who is a farmer in St. Catherine, where he witnessed the progression of his growth in the business and over time was able to accumulate wealth and improve his dwelling.

His father, Dave Kelly, said he has always encouraged his son whenever Jermaine discusses his business ideas with him. “I assist him in thinking them through and this allowed him to become more confident in moving forward.”
Rose Miller, grants manager at the JN Foundation, commended Kelly for his drive, vision, discipline and initiative; and said these are important traits not just for success in business but for life.

“We are in a period in time where opportunities abound. Young people should be encouraged to think outside of the box and utilize different mediums to nurture their entrepreneurial drive,” she said. “They should be ready to take advantage of these opportunities to create employment for themselves and others,” she affirmed.

Mrs Miller cautioned, however, that if millennials are to achieve financial stability and ultimately, financial independence, they must utilize the tried and tested financial tools.

She advised that “it is important to create and stick to a budget; always ensure that credit is used primarily for wealth creation; save and invest consistently and incorporate insurance in your plans as a means to create, preserve and eventually transfer wealth. Finally, believe it or not, giving back is also a part of the formula for financial success.”

“Step out boldly, be confident, the information required to make wise choices are readily available, seek and pursue knowledge and achieve your life goals,” Miller advised.

 Dionne Rose l JN Corporate Communications

Corporate Area high school students are lobbying for safe school zones, which they say would involve expanding the number of pedestrian crossings and increasing police presence/patrols in these zones.
The students made the recommendations during a recent meeting with JN Foundation and a UNICEF Delegation, to discuss the collaborative efforts of the Road Safety Programme and the Students’ Safety on the Streets (SSOS) Initiative to support and activities  that seek to mitigate the dangers students face while traversing to and from school, within the Downtown Kingston area.
“We need to have areas, such as: clusters of schools around Kingston Central and other clusters of schools declared “safe zones.” There needs to be a policy and legislation,” said Chad Rattray, head boy of Kingston College and chair of the Students’ Safety on the Streets Initiative, as he pointed out that other countries have implemented similar policies to protect their children.
The students also revealed that they were concerned about their safety while walking to and from school.
“The possibilities of either being robbed or harassed are high. Therefore, I would take the taxis, however, there is still some level of fear, because some of the taxis are robot taxis,” Donjah Pommells, secretary of the SSOS and head girl of Convent of Mercy Academy, Alpha Girls’ School, related.
They called for a school bus system to be put in place, to transport students during peak hours and after school.
The students were commended by Onyka Barrett Scott, general manager of the JN Foundation, for their proactiveness.
Mrs Barrett Scott pointed to data from a “Cost of Care Report,” produced by the Violence Prevention Alliance, in collaboration with the JN Foundation, which revealed that it could cost the Government of Jamaica some J$9 million to treat a person who has been hospitalized with injuries from a motor vehicle accident.
“This also makes the case why initiatives such as yours are important, because it is a lot cheaper to implement these initiatives and to get people to change their behavior and practices,” she said.
Dr. Rebecca Tortello, Education Specialist at UNICEF commended the students “on their decision to focus on issues related to their safe journey to and from school as all children have a right to an education free from fear.”
The SSOS Initiative is a student-led cause, which advocates for students who feel unsafe and have been victims of crimes, such as: sexual harassment and robberies while on their way to and from school.
In observation of Peace Month, the SSOS organised a Peace March in the Kingston Central Area communities, on March 22. The event focused on taking a stance against violence towards students.
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Contact:  Dionne Rose l JN Corporate Communications

Students and householders received greater appreciation for how they can conserve on water, with the installation of water saving devices and practicing water-saving measures at home, from the Water Tech-Fest exhibition, which was mounted by the Water Project Jamaica.
The Tech-Fest was held at JN Bank’s Half-Way-Tree branch, in observation of World Water Day on March 22, under the theme “Leaving No One behind.”
“It was an informative exhibition. I learned how to conserve water at home and at school,” said Jhardine Daley, a student from Ardenne High School, who viewed the exhibition with his teachers and peers.
Jane Dennis, a JN Member, found the exhibition very interesting, especially the display mounted by AquaFlow, which demonstrated how customized water bottles and kegs, which were converted with spouts, would come in handy during water shortage and lock offs.
“The displays were very interesting. I learned how to conserve water and to detect leaks at home. The conversion of kegs with spouts was also useful,” she said. “The Scientific Research Council’s (SRC) display was very applicable, as they gave me ideas about how to get my products checked at the SRC. I have a cosmetic business, and have developed my own line of products,” Miss Dennis related.
Please include a brief mention of the offerings on display from the others.
The exhibitors at the Tech Fest included: Instant Save, JN Small Business Loan, Isratech, SRC and Aqua Flow Products and Services.

Onyka Barrett Scott, general manager of JN Foundation, administrator of the Water Project Jamaica, said that the main objective of the exhibition was to sensitize members of the public and encourage them to play a proactive role in being “water smart.”

“This project helps us to see simple and practical things we can do on a daily basis, to reduce the amount of water we use in our homes; and if we can do that, then we will manage the resource better. Hence, the aim of the exhibition was to give patrons the opportunity to test various devices they can use in their homes or businesses and to help them become familiar with some of the suppliers in the space,” she said.
The Water Project Jamaica, which commenced in March 2017, is a four-year collaboration between the JN Foundation, JN Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Climate Investment Funds and the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience.
The project was designed to address water management issues primarily related to climate change.
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Contact:  Dionne Rose l JN Corporate Communications

In line with the United Nations (UN) theme for World Water Day, “Leaving No One Behind,” the JN Water Project will host a “Water Tech-Fest” on March 22 at the JN Bank Half-Way-Tree in its parking lot.
Onyka Barrett Scott, general manager of the JN Foundation, administrator of the JN Water Project, said that the event will be held to mark World Water Day, which is observed on March 22 by the UN; and, to assist Jamaicans to adapt to climate change, by implementing measures to achieve more efficient and cost saving use of water.
“Billions of people across the world are living without safe water. While Jamaica is blessed with an abundance of water, we want to send the message of enhancing climate resilience, through the use of water adaptation technology in the housing sector; and the need for us to practice water efficiency in our homes,” Mrs. Barrett Scott said.
She stated that the event will showcase water adaptation devices, which will be displayed on site by various suppliers in the industry.
“There will be interactive activities, such as: how to read your water bill; how to detect leaks in your toilets; and most important, how to fit water-saving devices onto your pipes, at home,” the JN Foundation general manager outlined.

She further explained that, the event, to commence at 10:00 a.m., will include presentations from key stakeholders, games and giveaways. It is an open event, and members of the public are invited.

Some of the exhibitors on the day will include: Instant Save, JN Small Business Loan and Aqua Flow Products and Services Limited.

In March 2017 the Inter America Development Bank (IADB) and The Jamaica National Group signed two cooperative agreements to provide JN Bank and the JN Foundation with funding to execute a four-year project entitled: “Financing Water Adaptation in Jamaica’s New Urban Housing,” or the JN Water Project.
The main objectives of the project are to facilitate the uptake of water adaptation measures in housing across Jamaica, including: the use of rain water harvesting systems, water efficient taps and showers, low-flush toilets, efficient irrigation systems, grey water recycling facilities, and other relevant water efficiency measures.
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Contact:  Dionne Rose l JN Corporate Communications

BUILDING a strong financial foundation in your 20s begins with having the right tools. A budget is one of those tools, especially if you’re focused on building an emergency fund, saving for retirement or paying off debt. Life insurance is another tool you may want to add to your financial toolbox.
Does life insurance for young adults make sense?

“That’s a question I receive from young people all the time,” says financial advisor Rose Miller.

“In fact, most people in their 20s, and even 30s, will tell you that they believe they are much too young to purchase life insurance. However, that’s actually the best time to purchase it,” she advises.

Miller is grants manager at JN Foundation and head of the JN BeWi$e financial empowerment programme.

She says there are many good reasons to buy life insurance in your 20s.

“If you’re in your 20s and just left university, chances are you’re single and child-less. However, like most people, getting married and starting a family are among your life goals.

“You may decide to settle down in your 30s, or later, and at that point, the need for life insurance may become clearer. The downside, however, is that when you wait to buy, the premium will be higher and oftentimes you may have to settle for lower coverage. This is because generally, life insurance for young adults is less expensive and the premium increases as one gets older,” Miller explains.

BENEFITS OF LIFE INSURANCE

Life insurance can cover many financial needs, including replacing lost income for your loved ones, such as a spouse or children who depended on your pay cheque to cover their day-to-day expenses. Proceeds from an insurance policy could bridge the gap for a period of time.

In addition to replacing lost income, life insurance can also be used to pay off any debt owed by your estate.

“Life insurance will reduce the stress of paying for funeral or burial costs, or any other final expenses. The average cost of a funeral in Jamaica is about $500,000. Even a small life insurance policy could be a good investment if you don’t want to saddle your loved ones with those costs,” says Miller.

TIPS FOR BUYING LIFE INSURANCE

Life insurance for young adults isn’t “one-size-fits-all”, and therefore, if you’re ready to buy, it helps to do your homework beforehand.

First, think about how much coverage you’ll need. If you’re unable to afford that level of coverage simply begin with what your budget will allow. As soon as you are able to, increase coverage by taking out new policies, or where applicable, take advantage of annual offers to increase coverage on existing policies.

Next, research your options. There are several types of policies available. For a young adult, finding a policy with an investment portion is a meaningful way to secure coverage, while at the same time, create wealth for later years. Compare the policies being offered and the premiums to find the policy which best suits your needs. Time is on your side, after all. While you may recognise the need for life insurance in your 20s, you don’t want to rush into making a decision without first getting an understanding of the facts and the varying benefits each type offers. Once you have a basic knowledge about the concept, purpose, and value of insurance, speak with an insurance advisor.

“Insurance is a valuable tool in the financial security tool kit. Use it to create, preserve and transfer wealth,” Miller advises.

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Today, Audrey Smith is a happy woman. Nine years ago, she was able to transfer her love of “wicker making” to an acquired skill, which she used to create a full-fledged craft business, which now provides her with a viable source of income.

The 56 year-old, who hails from Dumfries, Trelawny, was introduced to the craft by a group of skilled veteran basket makers, whose mission was to pass on their knowledge  to the next generation, thus enabling them to benefit financially from their skills.

The trainers were members of the Basket and Tings Association in Trelawny, which at the time, partnered with the JN Foundation Members’ Advisory Council (MAC), to finance the workshops that were held in four clusters in the parish: Albert Town, Clarkes Town, Kinloff and Duanvale.

“I was always interested in basketry, therefore, I went ahead and bought a book about it. However, I didn’t know how to start the basket, and I often spoke with persons who made their own baskets, who would promise to show me, but it never happened,” Mrs Smith revealed.

“Then, one day, one of the persons whom I had asked to teach me the craft told me about a wicker training event. I turned up to the class, and, on the first day of training, I learned how to make a basket,” she said, glowing with enthusiasm, as she explained how she would stay late up in the nights, practicing.

Mrs Smith now sells her products to tourists at the Falmouth Pier in Trelawny, when the cruise ships dock at the port. She said that her creations are mostly “Afrocentric,” and depict Jamaican traditions.

Now, she has expanded her products to include items such as, mats and trays. She has also added jewelry making, using wicker in her line of craft products. Her passion for the craft urged her to pass on the skills to her two daughters and close friends, who indicated that they were interested.

“It is beneficial, and you can make a living out of it,” she explained, “I encourage persons who want to learn a skill to consider wicker work. “It is a useful skill to have, because it will help to put bread on your table.”

Mrs Smith commended JN Bank for investing in her so many years ago. “I was very happy that somebody put their trust into a small group to learn wicker; and put money into it. It was to our benefit, and I thank Jamaica National for the funding. Nine years later, I continue to earn from for their craft initiative,” she said.

Saniah Spencer, chief marketing and product development officer at JN Bank, stated that Member Advisory Councils are channels through which JN Bank gives back to its members via community and national based projects; and members are encouraged to nominate projects for consideration by MAC, in their respective parishes.

The first deadline for the nomination of projects is February 28. JN members can visit the JN Bank website at: www.jnbank.com/member-advisory-council to access nomination forms.

Projects to be nominated should be in the following categories: community development, health and well-being, child safety, early childhood education, and the vulnerable population.

Since 2006 approximately J$51.4 million in funding has been spent to implement MAC projects, generating more than 370 projects in communities, located in every parish across the country.    

Every parish has benefited from MAC projects; and, the funds are disbursed through the JN Bank’s branch networks, to reinvest and benefit the communities in which JN Bank serves.

For further information about MAC projects, please visit the JN Foundation’s website at: hwww.www.jnfoundation.com/content/members-advisory-council-projects.

Contact:  Dionne Rose l JN Corporate Communications

   JN Bank in partnership with the JN Foundation is inviting members and other community stakeholders to identify and nominate worthwhile projects that can impact positively on correcting some of the many issues of concerns within their communities for consideration by its Member Advisory Councils (MAC).

Community projects are important to nation building hence JN Bank views this as an important avenue to give back, while empowering its members by supporting development at the community and national levels. It is also a mechanism, which gives JN members the opportunity to be more involved in the implementation of worthwhile projects, based on the allocation of JN Bank’s resources to these projects.

The first deadline for the nomination of projects is February 28. JN members are, therefore, being encouraged to visit the JN Bank website at: www.jnbank.com/member-advisory-council to access nomination forms.

Saniah Spencer, chief marketing and product development officer at JN Bank, said that projects to be nominated should be in the following categories: Community Development; Health and Wellbeing; Child Safety; Early Childhood Education and the Vulnerable Population.

The Councils, which were re-established this year, represents JN Bank’s partnership with communities, in and around its 35 branches and MoneyShops in every parish across the country, to support community and parish level development.

Last month, regional MAC workshops were held in Ocho Rios, St Ann; Mandeville, Manchester; and Catherine Hall, St James, to engage members in discussions about the renewed programme.

At the workshops, members welcomed the re-establishment of the MAC.
“I believe that when we share the information about the work of MACs in our communities, it will be something they will welcome, because assistance is needed in our communities”, said Kevin South, pastor of the Spring Village Gospel Assembly in Spring Village, St. Catherine.  “ I do believe that JN is doing something positive, which is needed in these times.”

Lydia Sherrt-Obinim, a member from Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, has already identified road hazards as one of the areas which she would like to be addressed. “The MAC is a great initiative and I look forward to nominating my project,” she said.

The JN Bank MACs operate across all JN Bank branches and MoneyShops in Jamaica, and membership includes bank employees and community representatives. To date, approximately J$51.4 million in funding has been expended on MAC projects, generating more than 370 projects in communities across the country.

To date, communities in every parish have benefited from the programme; and, the funds are disbursed through the branch networks, to reinvest and benefit the communities in which they serve.

For further information about MAC projects, please visit the JN Foundation’s website at: hwww.www.jnfoundation.com/content/members-advisory-council-projects.

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Contact:  Dionne Rose l JN Corporate Communications

Getting out of debt and saving money are two of the most commonly made and broken New Year’s Resolutions. Rose Miller, grants manager, JN Foundation and head of the JN BeWi$e financial empowerment programme says persons fail to follow through on their plans to reduce their debt because they often make unrealistic goals.
“Rather than trying to pay off all your loans in just one year, especially if you have a large amount, focus on a few key steps, putting together a get out of debt plan,” she advised.
Mrs Miller recommended that a ‘get out of debt’ plan should be created no later than February and suggested that persons should aim to pay off 10 to 20 percent of their total debt by the end of the year. “If you are able to clear more, go for it,” she said.
She further recommended several steps persons can take as they journey towards financial freedom.

Set SMART Goals

Instead of setting goals that look good on paper, take time to establish some that are realistic to achieve. Mrs Miller advised persons to set SMART goals – goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.
“This means instead of setting an arbitrary goal to pay off $500,000 in student loans by next year, it would be more feasible to sit down and figure out how much debt you have, how much you can afford to pay each month, based on your income and current liabilities, and how much you could feasibly pay off by a specific date,” she said. 
Mrs Miller noted that the idea behind this strategy is that persons are more likely to stay on track if they budget to pay off a specific amount of money each month. “Without a specific sum to pay each month, you have no way to measure your progress, and you may be setting yourself up to fail.” 

Use a monthly budget or spending plan

The JN BeWi$e Head also suggested that persons use a monthly budget or a spending plan to organise their finances. This means taking stock of your monthly income, from all sources, then determining the wisest way to spend so you can achieve the goals you have established.
“You’ll need to set limits for discretionary spending categories like food and entertainment. A spending plan is a road map that can guide us to becoming debt free,” said Mrs Miller. “Look for ways to reduce or eliminate some expenses, If we can balance that budget without the use of credit cards this will be a big step forward in your debt reduction plan.”
The decision about which debt to tackle first will depend on the amount owed as well as the interest being incurred. Mrs Miller pointed out that it is usually advisable to get rid of the most expensive debt first, that is, the one with the highest rate of interest. “However, some people go after quick wins, so they may first focus on the ones they can get rid of quickly,” she said.

Set yourself up for success

The JN Foundation Grants Manager also noted that many people turn their focus to paying off debt without confronting how they got there in the first place. “For example, they might set a goal to pay off one credit card, but continue using another without changing their spending habits,” she said. 
Mrs Miller said if persons really want to get out of debt, they must employ a high level of discipline and make it as difficult as possible to go into debt. “One of the most effective strategies is to utilise the envelope method of budgeting.” 
With this strategy, Mrs Miller advised persons to stop using credit or debit for discretionary spending categories like food, entertainment and even some necessities like transportation and grooming. Set aside a specific amount of money for those expenses in cash. “You put the money in respective envelopes and spend accordingly until the budgeted sum is gone. This will help you learn to live within spending limits and stop using credit as a crutch,” she said.

Build an emergency fund

Finally, Mrs Miller added that it’s important to build a fund that will help you avoid more debt if a surprise bill or loss in income threatens to disrupt your financial goals.  
“The best way to avoid these disasters is an emergency fund,” she said. “Make it a point to put money away each pay period.” 
Whether you’re able to save $10,000 per month for emergencies or $1,000, having an emergency fund to pull from when times get tough can be all it takes to help you avoid making your debt problems worse. 
“Make your monthly emergency savings automatic and part of your full debt repayment plan, and you will begin building a savings buffer over time. If you are trying to get out of debt then you need to put a buffer between you and debt; that is exactly what an emergency fund does,” Mrs Miller said.

JN Group | Corporate Communications