Work out how big your emergency fund should be and how many months it will take to get there.
By TanLabs · Formulas cross-checked against the free spreadsheet · Updated 2026-10-31 · Runs in your browser – nothing you type is sent anywhere
With essential monthly expenses $2,500, months of cover 6, saved so far $3,000, monthly contribution $300:
Target: $15,000
Still to save $12,000 · about 40 months at $300/mo
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Target = essential monthly expenses × months of cover. Months to goal = (target − saved) ÷ monthly contribution.
Three months is a common minimum for stable salaried jobs; freelancers and single-income households often aim for six or more.
Housing, utilities, groceries, insurance, minimum debt payments and transport – not dining out or subscriptions.
Somewhere safe and instantly accessible, such as a high-yield savings account.