My main client's payment system crashed right before rent was due

It happened last Thursday, the same day their big invoice was supposed to auto-deposit. I got a frantic email from their finance person saying their whole payment portal was down and they had no timeline for a fix. I had to scramble, pull from my emergency fund to cover rent, and then spend two hours on the phone with them setting up a manual wire transfer. Has anyone else had a client's tech fail right when you needed the money most, and what's your backup plan?

4 comments

4 Comments

the_julia2mo ago

My backup plan is basically a sad, empty coffee can.

robertperez2mo ago

Wait, you don't even put change in it?

lisab322mo ago

Started putting five bucks in an old mason jar every time I got paid, even when it felt pointless. That jar paid for a surprise car repair last month. The key was making it automatic, like another bill I had to pay. Seeing that little pile of cash grow, even slowly, felt way better than an empty can.

finley_smith16d agoTop Commenter

Five bucks every paycheck? That's wild, I thought you were putting like pocket change and whatever you found in the couch. Honestly that discipline is something else, most people would just forget or give up after a month. I bet that felt way better than using a credit card too, knowing you actually saved for it yourself. Ngl, my "emergency fund" is just hoping nothing breaks until my next paycheck, which is a terrible strategy. Props to you for sticking with something so simple.