Emergency fund calculator
A cash buffer is the foundation under every other financial decision. Set a target from your monthly essentials and see how long it takes to build at your saving rate.
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Ignores interest earned, which only speeds you up. The right number of months depends on job security, dependants and income stability — common guidance ranges from 3 to 6 months of essentials.
Why this comes first
An emergency fund is what stops a broken boiler becoming credit-card debt, and a redundancy becoming a forced sale of investments in a down market. It's the reason investing basics lists it as a foundation — and it's held in cash precisely because its job is to be boring and available.
Reminder: general education only, not a personal recommendation. Where to hold cash savings — and whether FSCS deposit protection covers your provider — is worth checking on any account you open. For personal advice, see an FCA-authorised adviser via our toolkit.