For women in midlife — especially after divorce, a job change, or stepping back into the workforce — a cash cushion is not a luxury, it is independence. The standard advice — three to six months of essential expenses — is a range because the right number depends on how fragile your income is, not on a universal truth. The calculator above turns the rule into a dollar figure you can actually aim at.
Where you fall in the 3–6 month range
- 3 months: dual-income household, stable salaried jobs, no dependents.
- 6 months: single income, one child or more, or a job in a cyclical industry.
- 9–12 months: freelance or commission income, self-employment, or a specialized role that takes long to replace.
Count essentials, not lifestyle
The fund exists to survive a job loss, not to preserve brunch. Total only what you cannot cut: rent or mortgage, utilities, groceries, transportation, insurance, and minimum debt payments. Most households find their true essential number is 60–70% of their normal spending — which makes the target far more reachable than it first looks.
Where to keep it
Emergency money belongs in a high-yield savings account — liquid, FDIC-insured, and boring. Do not invest it; a fund that drops 20% the same month you lose your job has failed at its only job. Once the target is met, redirect the monthly contribution toward retirement or other goals — the fund's work is done.