[gizmo686]

One of the biggest gifts my parents gave me was the instructions "if you run unexpected trouble and need money, come to us immidietly". Fourtuantly, I have not had to take them up on this, but this type of safety net would prevent a relativly minor cost (like a broken window) from spiraling like it did in your case (as well as allow me to take more risk by having less in savings to pay off debt faster).

Of course, this 'advice' only works if you are coming from an upper/middle class family...