Emergency Fund Calculator

Inputs

$
$0$23K
rent, food, utilities, insurance, debt payments
$
$0$40K
$
$0$10K

Result

You have 1.8 months of expenses saved
$8,000.00
  • 3 months target (lean)11 months$13,500.00
  • 6 months target (standard)38 months$27,000.00
  • 12 months target (cautious)92 months$54,000.00
  • Coverage right now1.8 months
  • Suggested next milestone3 months
Below 3-month minimum— 1.8 months of expenses currently saved.
0 months1.7777777777777777 months15 months
CFPB guidance: 3 months for stable dual income; 6 standard; 12 if single-earner / volatile industry.
Source: CFPB — An essential guide to building an emergency fund; FDIC Deposit Insurance ($250k/depositor/bank).
Not financial advice — Hold the fund in a high-yield savings account (HYSA) — not equities or crypto, both of which can be down 30–50% precisely when you need the cash. Build $1,000 starter fund first, then attack high-interest debt, then build to 3–6 months.

How to use this calculator

  • Add up just essential monthly costs (housing, food, transport, insurance, debt minimums) — not entertainment or eating out.
  • Enter your current emergency-fund balance only (not retirement, not investments).
  • Set how much you can stash each month.

About this tool

An emergency fund is liquid cash for the unexpected — job loss, medical bill, car breakdown — kept somewhere safe and accessible (high-yield savings, not invested). The standard rule of thumb: 3-6 months of essential expenses. Lean toward 3 months if you have a stable job, dual income, low fixed costs. Lean toward 12 months if you're a freelancer, single-income family, or in a volatile industry. This calculator shows all three targets and how long it'll take to hit each at your current savings rate.

Frequently asked

A high-yield savings account (HYSA) — currently paying 4-5% APY. Not in stocks (could be down 40% when you need it), not in crypto, not in 401(k) (locked).

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