 TITLE: How to Protect Your Credit During a Recession CONTENT: 3\\. Build an Emergency Fund\n---------------------------\nIf you lose part or all of your income during a recession, you'll want to have a backup fund to tide you over until you find a new job. Emergency funds are dedicated savings accounts used to cover unexpected expenses. They can protect your credit by providing needed cash to pay your bills or help you avoid maxing out your credit cards.\nExperts recommend having at least three to six months' worth of living expenses in an emergency fund, but if you can save more, even better.\nIf you don't have an emergency fund, start to build one by setting aside however much you can afford each month. Even if you can only afford to save $100 per month, that's better than not having a fund at all. To ensure you save every month, set up automatic deposits so money is automatically transferred from your checking account to your emergency fund account.\nNot sure where to keep your emergency fund? You could open a savings account at the bank where you have a checking account, look for a high-yield savings account, or consider a money market account, certificate of deposit and other options. END