Rent, utilities, groceries, min. debt payments, insurance
$
$
%
Emergency fund target
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—
Still needed
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Months to fully funded
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Funded by
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Interest earned
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Progress toward goal—
How much emergency fund do you need?
Financial experts recommend 3–6 months of essential expenses — only costs you absolutely cannot skip: rent, utilities, groceries, insurance, and minimum debt payments. Discretionary spending is excluded because you would cut it immediately in a real emergency.
How much emergency fund do I need?
3–6 months of essential expenses: rent, utilities, groceries, insurance, and minimum debt payments.
Where to keep emergency fund?
A high-yield savings account (HYSA) — liquid, FDIC-insured, earning 4–5% APY. Never in stocks.
Emergency fund before debt payoff?
Build $1,000 first. Without a cushion, any surprise expense pushes you back into debt.