Emergency Fund Calculator
How big should your safety net be? Enter your essential monthly expenses and find out — 3, 6, 9, or 12 months of coverage. Free, no sign-up.
Rent, groceries, utilities, transport, insurance, minimum debt payments
Why an emergency fund comes before everything else
Before investing, before extra debt payments, before the vacation fund — a cash cushion is what keeps one bad month from becoming a debt spiral. Without one, every surprise lands on a credit card at 20%+ interest. With one, a job loss or a big repair is stressful but survivable.
The key input is your essential monthly cost — what life costs with the optional stuff switched off. Most people guess this number wrong until they track a real month of spending.
Emergency fund FAQs
How much should my emergency fund be?
The standard advice is 3–6 months of essential expenses — rent, food, utilities, transport, insurance, and minimum debt payments (not your full lifestyle spending). Lean toward 6+ months if you freelance, have a single income, or support family; 3 months can be enough with a very stable job and dual income.
Should the emergency fund cover expenses or income?
Expenses — that’s the point of calculating it. Your fund needs to cover what life costs while income is interrupted, not replace your full paycheque. Most people’s essential expenses are noticeably lower than their income, which makes the target more achievable.
Where should I keep my emergency fund?
Somewhere safe and accessible within a day or two: a high-interest savings account is the usual answer. Not stocks (they might be down exactly when you need the money) and not so accessible that you spend it on non-emergencies.
What counts as an emergency?
Job loss, medical bills, urgent travel, major car or home repairs — unexpected and necessary. Concert tickets and sales do not count, no matter how good the deal looks.
How do I build an emergency fund from zero?
Start with a mini-goal of one month of expenses, automate a transfer every payday, and treat it like a bill. Tracking your spending (with an app like Spend Split) usually uncovers the leaks that become your savings rate.
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