Emergency Fund Calculator
Your target, your gap, and how long it'll take to close it at your current savings rate.
How much should be in an emergency fund?
The standard guideline is three to six months of essential expenses — not your full lifestyle spending, just what you'd genuinely need to cover rent, bills, food and minimum debt payments if your income stopped tomorrow. Freelancers, single-income households, or anyone in less secure work often lean toward the higher end of that range, or beyond it. This calculator shows your target based on months of cover you choose, and how long it'll take to reach at your current savings rate.
Frequently asked questions
How many months of expenses should an emergency fund cover?
Three to six months is the most common guideline. Single-income households, freelancers, or less job-secure roles often aim toward the higher end; dual-income stable households sometimes keep it closer to three.
Should my emergency fund include rent or just bills?
It should cover essential expenses only — rent or mortgage, utilities, food, insurance, minimum debt payments — not discretionary spending like subscriptions or takeaways, since the fund is for genuine emergencies, not lifestyle maintenance.
Where should I keep my emergency fund?
Somewhere accessible without penalty, like an easy-access savings account — not locked in investments or a fixed-term bond, since the whole point is being able to reach it quickly if something goes wrong.
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