Months of expenses, not a round target
Start from one month of necessary spending, then multiply by the number of months you want covered. The target is one month of necessary spending times the number of months. Money already set aside goes in the current field, not on top of the target. Adding both in one field makes the required deposit too large or too small. The sample amounts on the page are not a quote from a bank, a card issuer, or an employer. Replace them with the figures on your statement and run the page twice to see which field moves the result.
What to count
Count rent, food, utilities, insurance, and debt payments you cannot pause. Leave out vacations.
If income is irregular, use a low month, not an average month.
Add rent, food, utilities, insurance, and debt payments you cannot pause. Leave out trips. That sum is one month of necessary spending. If income is uneven, use a low month rather than an average month.
How many months
Three months is a common floor. A less stable job needs more. The page will not choose the number for you.
A target of six months is six times one month of spending, not six times your salary.
Three months is a common floor. A less stable job may need six. The page will not choose the number. A six-month target is six times one month of spending, not six times salary.
Where it earns
Cash earns little. A 0% rate on the savings page matches a drawer or a checking account.
Do not type a stock-market return for money you may need next month.
Money you may need next month belongs in cash. A 0% rate on the savings page matches a drawer or a checking account. A stock-market return on that money can leave you short on the day you need it.
Related tools
These figures are estimates you can recompute from the formula on the page. They are not a lender quote, a tax bill, a payroll statement, or financial advice.