How much should an emergency fund really contain?
Your boiler breaks. Your hours get cut. How long could you keep going?
The simple version
An emergency fund covers your essentials — rent, bills, food, travel — not your whole lifestyle. Most people aim for 3 to 6 months of essentials in an easy-access account.
Months of cover
Your target
£4,200
You'd last
0.7 mo
24% of the way there
Start tiny
Six months can feel impossible. £1,000 already covers most car repairs and broken phones. Build from there.
✓
Key takeaway
Your number = monthly essentials × 3 to 6. Freelance or single income? Lean towards 6.
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