Emergency Fund Planner
Build a safety net that fits your life
Estimate the right cash buffer for your situation. Add your monthly expenses, choose risk level, and see how long it takes to fill the gap.
Expense inputs
Add monthly estimates for each category.
Custom expenses
Settings
Summary
Savings timeline
Charts
Expenses + savings timeline
Scenarios
Scenario comparison
Save mixes of expenses, targets, and contributions to compare how fast you reach your buffer.
Scenario comparison
This summary is illustrative and not advice. Adjust numbers to your real plan.
Results explainer
You’ll see your monthly expense total, the target fund based on your chosen months, and whether you have a shortfall or surplus. The savings timeline card shows how many months it may take to reach the target with your current savings and monthly contributions.
Disclaimer
Estimates are illustrative and for educational purposes only. This Emergency Fund Planner does not provide financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Results depend on your inputs and assumptions and may not reflect real-world outcomes. This tool does not account for every household expense, debt term, insurance detail, benefit, or tax situation, and it does not guarantee financial stability in an emergency. Consider independent professional advice where appropriate.
How it works
The planner totals your monthly expenses, applies the months of coverage based on your chosen target and risk level, and subtracts current savings to show any gap. It then uses your monthly contribution to estimate how many months it might take to close that gap and projects a completion date.
Inputs used
- Monthly expenses across your categories
- Risk level or chosen months of coverage
- Current savings set aside for emergencies
- Monthly savings capacity
Core formulas
- Monthly total = sum of expenses
- Target fund = monthly total × target months
- Shortfall/Surplus = current savings − target fund
- Months to target ≈ shortfall ÷ monthly contribution
Calculation steps
- Add up your monthly expenses to find the total.
- Apply the selected months (or risk-based range) to set the target fund.
- Subtract current savings to see the shortfall or surplus.
- Divide the shortfall by monthly contributions to estimate months needed.
- Project a completion date based on that timeline.
- Save scenarios to compare different month targets or contribution levels.
Example scenario
Imagine £3,200 in monthly expenses, a six-month target, £1,500 already saved, and £400 set aside each month. The target fund is £19,200. With £1,500 saved, the shortfall is £17,700. At £400 per month, it could take roughly 45 months to reach the target, with the completion date shown in the timeline. Saving a second scenario at nine months of coverage shows how the target climbs and the timeline extends.
Interpretation notes
- Higher risk levels or variable income often mean aiming for more months of coverage.
- A surplus shows you already meet or exceed the target; a shortfall shows how much more to save.
- Raising monthly contributions shortens the timeline; lowering them extends it.
- Expenses that fluctuate can shift the target quickly; rerun when bills change.
- Saved scenarios make it clear how different targets affect the timeline.
Limitations & assumptions
The planner uses steady monthly expenses, a single savings contribution, and a fixed target in months. Taxes, insurance changes, windfalls, debt payments, and emergencies are not modeled automatically. Time estimates are illustrative and assume contributions are made as entered. Use the figures as a planning guide and adjust for your own cash flow and obligations.
FAQs
Quick answers
What does this planner estimate?
It totals your monthly expenses, applies your chosen months of coverage, and shows a target emergency fund, any shortfall or surplus, and a simple savings timeline.
What is included or excluded?
Included: the expenses, months target, current savings, and monthly contributions you enter. Excluded: taxes, insurance fine print, debt schedules, and unexpected expenses unless you add them yourself.
What assumptions are used?
It assumes steady monthly expenses and contributions, and a fixed months target tied to your risk choice. Time estimates are illustrative and not guarantees.
Can I save or export scenarios?
Yes. Save multiple setups on this device, compare them side by side, and export CSV/PDF summaries for your records.
Is my data private?
Calculations run in your browser. Inputs stay on your device unless you export a file.
Is this financial advice?
No. It is an educational model. Confirm numbers with your own budget and seek professional advice for decisions.
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