How Much?

First, you need enough money to meet your basic needs. That means that you need food, clothing, and shelter for you and those in your care. The exact amount varies from one situation to another, but you should probably give it some thought. Then you have to think about whether you have enough. You might now, but what about sudden changes in circumstances? Do you have enough padding for that?

This is where savings come in. If you have unplanned for car repairs or medical emergencies, or if you forgot an important anniversary, you will need to have a little extra cash for that. If you have it, you will probably not suffer too much. If you don't have it, it could be a problem.

There are other emergencies that are less likely, but you may want to think about how you will handle them and what resources (traded for cash or equivalent) will be needed. The weather can be very damaging some times, and floods or tornados do a lot of harm. Then there is the possibility of civil unrest after a basketball game or if some militant religious organization attempts to overthrow the government to install a theocracy based on old country music. It never hurts to be prepared.

If you think you have enough to take care of your needs and those who are in your immediate care, it is time to think about your community. Can you invest in the community to help bolster its economic stability and growth? Can you help when disaster strikes your neighbors? That seems like the sort of thing an Asatru person would try to do.