Dear Dave, I am following your plan, and recently became debt-free, but I have a question. When doing a monthly budget, should I figure in a specific category for car repairs and maintenance, or just use my emergency fund? —Ashleigh Dear Ashleigh, Congratulations on becoming debt-free! You know, new cars, old cars, and in-between cars all have one thing in common—they’ll need repairs at some point. Fixing your car is just a basic part of car ownership, and something every car owner should be prepared for. When life happens, to your vehicle or anything else, an emergency fund acts like an airbag. Only instead of keeping your face from hitting the dashboard, it keeps your finances from getting smashed up. When it comes to car repair costs, I advise creating a sinking fund in your budget. A sinking fund is a special place in your budget where you save up money for …