Tool
Emergency fund calculator
Lesson one starts here: a 3–6 month cushion of essential expenses before investing. Calculate your target, your gap, and how many months it will take to get there.
Emergency fund target
—
A simple educational estimate, with no interest earned while saving. Not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
Why 3–6 months and not some other number?
It is the range that typically covers most common emergencies (job loss, a medical expense, a major repair) without forcing you to sell investments or take on debt. If your income is more variable (freelance, commission-based), lean toward 6 months or more.
Where should I keep this fund?
In something liquid and low-risk — a savings account or a highly liquid government-bond position (like Tesouro Selic in Brazil). See the investment-types lesson for more detail.