Why $400 matters to a Badass Gentleman

Financial independence is a basic tenet of being a Badass Gentleman. Mastering your finances, and being beholden to no one, engenders a freedom that is immeasurably valuable. But for a large number of American families, this is a pipe dream. Turns out, the reality is even worse than I imagined. In a survey of US households by the Federal Reserve, 47% of respondents would have trouble paying for a $400 emergency. To do so, they would need to borrow or sell possessions. Put another way, $400 is enough to stress the finances of almost half of American households! How can America, one of the most prosperous nations in the world, have so many households that are so economically vulnerable?

Can you spare 4 of those Benjamins?