Emergency fund calculator
An emergency fund is money set aside for what you can't plan for: losing your job, a health problem or an urgent home repair.
Having one keeps you off your credit card right when things are hardest. Enter your essential expenses and how many months you want to cover.
How it's calculated
- Recommended fund = essential monthly expenses × months to cover.
- Still to save = recommended fund − what you already have.
- Months to complete it = still to save ÷ what you can save each month, rounded up.
An example
With NPR 200,000 of essential expenses a month, a 6 month fund is NPR 1,200,000.
Saving NPR 40,000 a month, you complete it in 30 months.
Frequently asked questions
How many months should an emergency fund cover?
The usual guideline is 3 to 6 months of essential expenses. If your income varies, you are self-employed or your household has one income, aim for 6 to 12 months.
Where should I keep my emergency fund?
Somewhere safe that you can access the same day, separate from your spending account. It is not for risky investing: its job is to be there when you need it.
Should I build the fund or pay off debt first?
A common approach is to save one month of expenses first, then pay off expensive debt like credit cards, then finish the fund.
Key terms
- Essential expenses
- Bills you have to pay even if your income stops: housing, food, utilities, health.
- Liquidity
- How quickly money can be used without losing value.
The same calculation in other countries
United States (English)
United Kingdom
Canada (English)
Ireland
Australia
New Zealand
South Africa
Singapore
India
Hong Kong SAR China
Nigeria
Malaysia
Philippines
Kenya
Tanzania
Ghana
Pakistan
United Arab Emirates
Kuwait
Uganda
Jamaica
Mauritius
Cyprus (English)
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