Enter your real fixed costs, not your income. See your 3, 6, and 9 month targets. This is the number most people get wrong because they confuse "monthly spending" with "the number that keeps me alive."
Minimum. Most job-loss scenarios.
Standard target. Most people.
Self-employed, single income.
Specialized job, extreme caution.
Keep this in a separate-institution HYSA. No debit card. Deliberate friction. See Where to Bank. Current HYSA rates at 4 to 5% APY 🔍 verify×DON'T TRUST, VERIFYClaim: HYSA rates 4-5% APY in 2026.Verify at: Bankrate HYSA tracker ↗Rates track federal funds rate..
Not financial advice. Your numbers stay in your browser.