How Much Emergency Fund
The short answer: keep enough to cover your essential expenses for a few months without income. Common guidance is 3–6 months for a stable dual-income household, 6–9 months for a single-income household, and 9–12 months if you are self-employed or freelance.
Only count true essentials — housing, food, insurance, transportation, minimum debt payments. Skip dining out and subscriptions when sizing the fund.
Run the calculator with your own numbers to see the dollar target and how long it takes to get there.