Emergency Fund Calculator
Find the emergency fund size that fits your life. Multiply your monthly expenses by a cover period of 3 to 6 months.
Monthly savings targets are worked out in your browser; your goals and balances never leave your device.Try: Months of cover=6, Monthly expenses=3000 → 6, $3,000.00, $18,000.00
How to use
Enter how many months of expenses you want to cushion (most people pick 3 to 6) and your typical monthly spending. The calculator multiplies them to suggest a fund size.
I keep mine in a plain savings account, not investments, because an emergency is the worst time to find the market is down.
FAQ
How many months of expenses should I save?
A common rule is 3 to 6 months of normal spending. If your income is uneven or you support others, lean toward 6 months or more.
Which expenses do I count?
Use the bills you would still owe without a paycheck: rent, food, utilities, insurance, and minimum debt payments. Skip discretionary extras.
Where should the fund live?
Keep it somewhere safe and easy to reach, like a savings account, not invested in things that could drop in value when you need it.
— By Morgan Lee, budgeting writer