Business Insider contributor Jackie Lam says she took an unconventional approach to building her emergency fund.
Wasting no time, the minute she got her first, tiny, rented apartment, she began saving towards her goal of $5,000.
And she got there fast, by 'glamping' in her apartment.
For the first few months of residency, she ate and slept on the floor.
Later, her mattress and box spring came from IKEA.
It took her three years to finally buy a used loveseat off Craigslist.
The rest of her furniture was lovingly hand-picked from the curb.
Lam kept her grocery bill down to $25 a week by planning menus based on sales.
By using Christmas LED lights and candles, spent $15 a month on electricity.
She kept her car in great shape by biking, walking, and taking the bus everywhere she could.
And guess what?
She hit her target in just a year!