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Emergency Fund Calculator

Find out how much you need to save for unexpected expenses and job loss based on your situation.

Monthly Essential Expenses

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$

Electric, gas, water, internet

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$

Car payment, gas, insurance

$

Health, life, etc.

$
$

Childcare, prescriptions, pet care, etc.

Total Monthly Expenses $3,300

Your Situation

Your Savings

$
$

How much you can save each month

Enter your expenses and situation

to calculate your ideal emergency fund

Emergency Fund

An emergency fund is money set aside for unexpected expenses or income loss. It acts as a financial buffer that keeps you from going into debt when life throws curveballs—job loss, medical bills, car repairs, or home emergencies.

How to Use

  1. 1 Enter your essential monthly expenses (not discretionary).
  2. 2 Select your employment stability and life situation.
  3. 3 Enter your current savings and monthly saving capacity.
  4. 4 Get a personalized recommendation based on your risk factors.

FAQ

Why 3-6 months of expenses?

On average, it takes 3-6 months to find a new job after losing one. This buffer ensures you can maintain your lifestyle while job searching without going into debt.

Where should I keep this money?

Keep emergency funds in a high-yield savings account. It should be easily accessible (not invested in stocks) but separate from everyday checking to avoid temptation.

Save or pay off debt first?

Start with a $1,000 starter fund, then focus on high-interest debt. Once that's paid off, build your full emergency fund before investing.

What counts as an emergency?

Job loss, medical emergencies, major car repairs, urgent home repairs, or unexpected essential travel. A sale on a TV is not an emergency.

What if I can't save much?

Start small—even $25/month adds up. Automate transfers so you don't have to think about it. A starter fund of $500-1,000 can prevent many small emergencies from becoming debt.

Calculator Limitations

Recommendations are general guidelines. Your actual needs may vary based on location, health conditions, industry job market, and personal circumstances.