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Emergency Fund Sizer

How much buffer do I actually need?

Size your buffer against what actually leaves your account each month, how many people depend on you, and how reliably your income arrives — rather than a generic six months.

Your situation

₹5,000rent, food, bills, transport₹5L
₹0these continue if income stops₹3L
06

Income type

/mo
₹1,000₹3L

Your target

₹3.5L

7 months of outflow

Time to build

18 mo

at ₹20,000/month

Six-month rule says

₹3L

₹50,000 too low for you

Stable salary needs the standard buffer, and 1 dependent extend how long you must cover.

Build scheduleabout 1.5 years

7 months of cover

Where it should sit

First month

Savings account

Instant, at 11pm on a Sunday. Yield is irrelevant for this slice.

Months 2–4

Sweep-in fixed deposit

FD returns with savings-account behaviour, reversing automatically on withdrawal.

The rest

Liquid fund

Next-working-day redemption, better return, and useful friction against casual spending.

What this tool does not model

  • ·Returns on the parked money are ignored. An emergency fund is sized for availability, not growth.
  • ·The suggested runway is a considered starting point, not a regulatory standard.
  • ·Health insurance is assumed separately. A large medical event should not be funded from this buffer alone.

Before you act on any of this

WealthSense publishes financial education, not financial advice. We are not a SEBI-registered investment adviser and nothing here is a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Every calculator uses an assumed rate of return that is illustrative only — real returns vary and can be negative. Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks; read all scheme-related documents carefully. Tax figures follow published slabs for the current financial year and ignore surcharge and individual circumstances. Please consult a qualified adviser before making decisions with your money.