Work out a target for essential expenses if your income stops or an unexpected bill arrives.
This is a planning guide, not a rule. Choose a target that reflects your dependants, job stability, insurance, debt and personal circumstances.
The calculator adds the essential monthly expenses you enter, multiplies them by the selected number of months and subtracts the emergency savings you already have. It estimates how long the remaining amount could take to save.
Start with costs you would still need to pay if your income stopped: housing, food, essential transport, utilities, minimum debt payments and necessary family costs. Keep optional shopping and subscriptions outside this core figure. If your income varies, you support dependants or replacing a job may take longer, test a larger months-of-cover target. Keep emergency savings accessible and separate from money reserved for rent, school fees or planned purchases.
Base the target on essential monthly spending rather than your full lifestyle budget. Include housing, basic food, utilities, transport, required debt payments and essential family commitments. People with variable income or dependants may prefer a larger reserve than someone with stable income and fewer fixed obligations.
The result is a planning estimate, not personal financial advice. Adjust it when your rent, family needs or income changes.