The boxes already have typical living costs for this language. Change them to yours. You will see a cash target, how many months you can cover today, and how long filling the gap may take.
Cash target$21,000
Still to save$14,000
Months you can cover now2
Months to finish at this pace35
Suggested months for your job risk6
Progress toward the target33%
How this calculation works
Target cash = monthly must-pay costs × months you want to cover. A common starting point is 3–6 months. A less stable job often needs more.
Runway = cash you have ÷ monthly costs. Months to finish = gap ÷ what you add each month. If you add nothing and there is still a gap, that time is blank.
Worked example
Costs 3,000 a month and a 6-month target means 18,000. If you have 9,000, you can cover 3 months and still need 9,000. Adding 500 a month fills the gap in 18 months.
Why months of costs, not a round number
A round target is easy to remember and often wrong. Two households with different rents need different cushions. Months of costs scale with your life.
If costs drop after a move, rerun the page.
Job risk
Stable pay can live with a thinner cash layer. Commission or one income usually needs a thicker layer. A suggestion, not a rule.
This is not financial advice. Check important numbers yourself.
Frequently asked questions
How many months should I save?
A common range is 3–6 months of must-pay costs. One income or jumpy pay often means 6–9. Open More settings — we suggest 3, 6, or 9 months.
What counts as monthly costs?
Rent or mortgage, food, transport, insurance, minimum debt payments, medicines. Skip vacation and shopping you can pause.
Where should I keep this money?
In an account you can reach in a few days. The goal is boring cash, not high returns.
Do you save the numbers I type?
No. Everything stays in your browser.
What if I still have high-interest debt?
Many people keep a small starter cushion, then attack expensive debt, then finish the full fund. This page only does the cash-target math.
Is a bigger fund always better?
After a solid cushion, extra cash may earn more in other goals. This tool stops at your typed months.