How big an emergency fund to aim for
An emergency fund is money set aside for surprises, like losing work or a big repair. This turns your own costs into a target and shows how long it would take to get there.
Rent, food, bills, minimum debt payments
Guides often say 3 to 6; more if income is irregular
How this is worked out: target = monthly costs × months to cover. Time to get there = what's still needed ÷ what you put aside each month, rounded up to a whole month.
It assumes your costs and monthly amount stay the same, and leaves out any interest the savings might earn. How many months is right depends on how steady your income is and who relies on it. To see how long savings would last if income dropped, try Runway.