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PLAN YOUR MONEY · 2 MINUTES

Emergency Fund Builder

Find out how much of a safety net you may need.

Your safety net

Start with the examples, then use amounts that fit your life.

Rent or mortgage, food, utilities, necessary travel, insurance and minimum debt repayments. £0.01–£1,000,000.

Cash available for emergencies, excluding money set aside for upcoming bills. £0–£100,000,000.

Choose an amount you can afford. Enter zero if saving is not possible right now. £0–£1,000,000.

Or customise: 0.1–120 months. Three to six months is a starting guide, not a requirement.

Your emergency fund plan

Target emergency fund
Current amount saved
Remaining amount needed
Estimated time to target

Estimate assumes the same monthly saving paid at each month-end, no withdrawals and unchanged expenses. No interest, tax or inflation is included. Time is rounded up to full months. Review your target when your circumstances change.

A little breathing room

What is an emergency fund?

Money set aside for unexpected costs or a loss of income. Even a small buffer can help; build at a pace your budget allows.

Why accessible cash?

Emergencies can arrive without warning. Check withdrawal restrictions and how quickly you can access your savings. Investments can fall in value just when you need to sell, making them unsuitable for a short-notice safety net.

How do I choose my expenses and target?

Review your statements for costs you must keep paying. Divide essential yearly bills by 12 and include them too. Avoid counting the same bill twice. Your target depends on job stability, dependants and other support. Three or six months can be a useful starting point, and a smaller first milestone is worthwhile.

Educational estimate, not personal financial advice. Guidance checked 30 October 2026: MoneyHelper: emergency savings (external page needs internet). If you have arrears or expensive debt, this guidance also explains when debt repayment may take priority.