Anything you want or need but can’t afford. And a little security.
For years I made a habit of tucking away a twenty-dollar bill whenever I could spare one, which I did even when (or especially when) times were lean. Even when things were really tight, I could squeeze out a twenty now and then, usually about once a week, and not have to take it back. I stashed them in a box behind the books in the bookcase and pretended they weren’t there. I didn’t tell anyone about it.
When I finally came to look, I had several thousand dollars squirreled away. It gave me a feeling of comfort to know it was there. I was in no hurry to spend it, but I could have taken a trip, made a down payment on a car, paid a deposit on an apartment rental, or paid off some lingering bills. Instead I just quietly sat on it.
A couple of years ago a survey came out that said nearly half of American households would be unable to cover a $400 emergency. I found that shocking. Those unexpected $400 expenses seem most apt to hit you when you can least afford them, and having a little backup can make all the difference.