In around 2012 I started a fund for my 1978 Little Red's (Wife's truck) resto. I had a very good paying job and could afford to put $50 here, $150 there in the bucket. Times did get tough at times and some paydays I could not put a dime in the can.
Fast forward to April 2015. Coming home from work on my motorcycle I got hit by a flying tire that sent me into the concrete barrier at 70 MPH. This was not covered by my insurance due to it being a hit and run with no witness. 7 days in ICU and then 2 months of PT learning to walk upright again. My Co Pays and deductible ate my resto bucket plus a lot more. Dec that year at 59 years old I was forced into retirement, could not climb telephones anymore.
Living off a small pension and drawing off my IRA we made due till Social Security Disability finally came thru and I got a settlement check that put a smile on my face. Things are better but still on a tight budget and Property Taxes just went up to $9,800 a year.
My "Ship that came in" does have a big hole in it too. The only 'PLUG' is to sell my house and move somewhere I don't want to be, in a house sub standard to the one I'm in now. I just have to "Suck it up ButterCup".