Two numbers
Your runway
Rough is fine. Round to the nearest hundred if that is easier. You can do this with someone you trust next to you.
These numbers stay in this page's memory only. Closing or reloading the page wipes them.
Under three months.
- Investor.gov names a savings goal "such as three to six months of living expenses." SEC (Investor.gov), read 2026-10-26
- It also says that before you begin investing at all, make sure you have an emergency fund. That puts building cash before investing. SEC (Investor.gov), read 2026-10-26
- Living paycheck to paycheck can make saving feel hard. The CFPB says even a small amount can give some financial security. CFPB, read 2026-10-26
Three to six months.
- That is inside the range financial planners often recommend: three to six months of living expenses. FINRA, read 2026-10-26
More than six months.
- That is past the three-to-six-month range planners often name. FINRA says people with income that changes might need a larger reserve than people with stable jobs. FINRA, read 2026-10-26
How we count: cash divided by must-pay costs, as if no money came in. Income that keeps coming, like Social Security or a pension, would stretch it further.
What the official pages say
Emergency savings, in their words
- An emergency fund is rainy-day money. Investor.gov describes it as money you keep in a bank or credit union to use if you have an unexpected expense. SEC (Investor.gov), read 2026-10-26
- A common goal is three to six months. Investor.gov says to set a savings goal, such as three to six months of living expenses. SEC (Investor.gov), read 2026-10-26
- Planners often say the same. FINRA says financial planners often recommend three to six months of living expenses, and that people with income that changes might need more. FINRA, read 2026-10-26
- Your number depends on you. The CFPB says the amount you need depends on your situation. Think about the unexpected costs you have had before and what they cost. CFPB, read 2026-10-26
- Cash first, then investing. Investor.gov lists two things to do before you begin investing at all: pay off high-interest debt, and make sure you have an emergency fund. SEC (Investor.gov), read 2026-10-26
- Why it matters. Emergency savings help you handle a shock without turning to credit or selling investments when you don't want to. SEC (Investor.gov), read 2026-10-26
- Small still counts. The CFPB says even a small amount can provide some financial security. CFPB, read 2026-10-26
If you are in danger right now, call 911.
If money worry feels like too much, you can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Lifeline, any time, day or night. It is for everyone. 988 Lifeline, read 2026-10-26
Next
If someone offers to grow your cash fast
Is this trading account real?Tap the warning signs of a fake investment app or website, with where to report it.
Three checks before you move savingsLook them up yourself, know a license is not a guarantee, and wait 24 hours.
Will your money last through care?The longer check: savings, income, and how care costs bend the curve.
Money that may already be yoursSearch the official state sites yourself for money held in your name.
Sources
Where every line comes from
Each page below was read on 2026-10-26. If a page changes, its own words win.
- SEC (Investor.gov): World Investor Week 2026, Investor Bulletin, read 2026-10-26
- SEC (Investor.gov): It's Tax Time: Getting a Tax Refund? Consider Investing It., read 2026-10-26
- FINRA: Financial Foundations, read 2026-10-26
- CFPB: An essential guide to building an emergency fund, read 2026-10-26
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, read 2026-10-26