If you're young, old, using a 401k or not...you need a Roth IRA!  It's a great retirement/emergency account.  You'll be able to access the money you contribute to the Roth account at any time.  You can set one up online in about 10 minutes and fund it with an EFT (electronic funds transfer) from  your bank.  Plenty of online brokerage or mutual fund firms let you get started for a few bucks! Go set up a Roth IRA!

Yahoo Finance provides 10 Reasons To Open A Roth IRA:

Easier access to your money before retirement. Roth IRAs give you more flexibility to make withdrawals before you reach retirement. Roth IRA withdrawals before age 59½ result in a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty and regular income tax due only on the portion of the withdrawal that comes from earnings. Like traditional IRAs, penalty-free early withdrawals are also allowed for several reasons, including college costs, health insurance premiums after losing your job, significant unreimbursed medical costs, and certain first-time homeownership costs.

 You Need A Roth IRA!