Saving Her Way to Financial Freedom
Saving in an emergency fund and living below your means can pay off in the long run.

THEN: Cindy Campbell (pictured at left) appeared in Kiplinger’s twice—first in November 2007, when she shared her strategies for getting out of $7,000 in credit card debt from college and then saving to buy a house at age 25. In 11 Tips to Be a Better Saver, Campbell talked about the importance of building an emergency fund—a lifesaver when she lost her job in 2009 and was out of work for six months. The emergency fund also gave her the freedom to take 16 weeks of unpaid maternity leave after her daughter, Aniyah, was born in 2011.

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As the "Ask Kim" columnist for Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Lankford receives hundreds of personal finance questions from readers every month. She is the author of Rescue Your Financial Life (McGraw-Hill, 2003), The Insurance Maze: How You Can Save Money on Insurance -- and Still Get the Coverage You Need (Kaplan, 2006), Kiplinger's Ask Kim for Money Smart Solutions (Kaplan, 2007) and The Kiplinger/BBB Personal Finance Guide for Military Families. She is frequently featured as a financial expert on television and radio, including NBC's Today Show, CNN, CNBC and National Public Radio.
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