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Reader question: Please explain this sentence: You should stay on top of your finances and keep a cash reserve on hand in case your career hits a bump. What “bump” exactly? My comments: In short, they’re telling you to save for a rainy day. First of all to stay on top is to be in control. To stay on top of your finances, therefore, is to remain in comfortable command of money matters in all situations, i.e. to never run out of money. That’s why they’re advising you to keep a cash reserve (put money aside in reserve regularly) in case your career hits a bump. Your career hits a bump? That’s when for instance you miss an opportunity to get a raise. Or you miss a promotion or lose a job. Or some other similar setback. Here your career is being likened to a car hitting, say, a speed bump on the road. Speed bump? That’s an artificially raised ridge across the road designed to force vehicles to slow down. It’s prevalent in residential areas, especially near the parking lot. When your career is likened to a car hitting a bump, whether a speed bump or a rock, it takes a proverbial jolt and you’re forced to hit the brake and slow down. In other words, at that point your career won’t be moving ahead as fast and smoothly as before. Got it? Alright, bumps on the career road are, metaphorically speaking, many and numerous, as often times things don’t work out exactly how we envision them to work out. That’s why on money matters, it’s important to put a little money in the bank now and then – saving for a rainy day. | 
