Emergency fund calculator: how many months of spending do you have?
An emergency fund is money you can reach quickly if income stops or a big bill arrives. This calculator shows how many months of essentials yours covers and how long a target will take.
How to use this calculator
- Enter your essential spending for a month: rent, food, transport, bills, medicine, minimum loan payments.
- Choose a target in months of essentials.
- Enter the savings you can reach quickly today.
- Enter what you can add each month and read the months to reach the target.
Worked examples
Example 1
Essentials of ₹31,500 a month, a six-month target, ₹63,000 saved, adding ₹5,000 a month.
You enter
| Essential spending per month | ₹31,500 |
|---|---|
| Target buffer (months of essentials) | 6 |
| Readily available savings now | ₹63,000 |
| You can add each month | ₹5,000 |
You get
| Buffer now | 2 months |
|---|---|
| Target amount | ₹1,89,000 |
| Gap | ₹1,26,000 |
| Months to reach it at your saving rate | 26 |
Example 2
A three-month target.
You enter
| Essential spending per month | ₹31,500 |
|---|---|
| Target buffer (months of essentials) | 3 |
| Readily available savings now | ₹63,000 |
| You can add each month | ₹5,000 |
You get
| Buffer now | 2 months |
|---|---|
| Target amount | ₹94,500 |
| Gap | ₹31,500 |
| Months to reach it at your saving rate | 7 |
How it works
Months covered = savings divided by essential monthly spending. A common starting target is three to six months; people with uneven income or dependants often aim higher.
Keep this money somewhere you can reach quickly and that does not swing in value, such as a savings account or a liquid deposit. It is protection, not an investment.
Formula
Target = essential spending x months. Gap = target - savings. Months to reach = gap / monthly saving (no growth assumed).
Common questions
What counts as essential?
Things you cannot skip for a few months: housing, food, utilities, transport to work, medicine, insurance premiums and minimum loan payments.
Should I invest the buffer?
Most people keep it in low-risk, easy-access places.
How big should it be?
It depends on how steady your income is and who depends on you.
Learn more
Read the lesson Resilience: buffers and insurance concepts on pusaram.com for the ideas behind this calculator.
Calculators give estimates for learning and planning. They are not financial, tax, legal or medical advice, and results depend entirely on the numbers you enter. Check rates, limits and rules with an official source or a qualified professional before acting.