Emergency Fund
An emergency fund is cash set aside to cover unexpected, necessary expenses — a job loss, medical bill, or major repair — without borrowing. The standard target is three to six months of essential expenses, kept in a safe, instantly accessible account like a high-yield savings account.
The right size depends on income stability: dual earners with steady jobs can sit at three months, while single-income or self-employed households often want six to twelve. A starter fund of $1,000–2,000 comes first, before aggressively paying down anything but the highest-interest debt.
Put it to work
Emergency Fund Calculator
Size your emergency fund from your real monthly expenses, see the gap, and get the date you'll be fully funded at your current saving rate.
Savings Calculator
Watch your savings account grow: enter your balance, monthly deposit, and APY to see the future value and every dollar of interest along the way.