Rainy day ready: how to build an emergency fund

There are lots of things in life we know are good for us and— things that we’re supposed to do. Annual physicals, regular exercise, going to the dentist, and getting a good night’s eight hours of sleep. 

And when it comes to money, it may be easy to add having an emergency fund to that list. But if you miss some sleep one night, you can make it up the next. If you need money one day and don't have an emergency fund, that can kickoff a debt spiral that's hard to dig out of. 

Murphy's law states that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Unexpected things happen. And having an emergency fund to lean on instead of your credit card or a payday loan can help protect your finances.

If you’re not sure where to start, we have your back. At Plenty, we help modern couples make better financial decisions. We bring you and your partner together on money, helping you achieve financial goals, including building emergency funds, sooner.

Let’s learn about emergency funds, their uses and importance, and how much you should aim to save.

What is an emergency fund?

An emergency fund is liquid cash savings set aside specifically for when the unexpected arises. 

The main purpose of an emergency fund is to provide easy access to money for unexpected expenses. Emergency funds can shield both your finances and your mental wellbeing from life's inevitabilities.

The funds are best kept separate from cash that you need for day-to-day spending. Emergency funds are commonly kept in savings accounts, money market accounts, or short-term CDs; Plenty’s emergency funds are kept in our lowest risk government-backed money market funds to help you earn more than the avg. savings account.

Why is an emergency fund important?

Monetary emergencies can occur unexpectedly and wipe away years of financial progress. Having emergency savings help ensure that you can absorb shocks without much change to your day-to-day lifestyle (especially important if you have a family), or can avoid long term setbacks.

One of the worst types of emergencies is one that happens during a bear market. If you don’t have an emergency fund (or a rich Aunt to borrow money from), you may be forced to sell investments at depressed prices. When the inevitable recovery occurs, you may miss out on gains. 

Another emergency might occur if your car gets a flat tire. You might think you only need to change the one flat for $300, but tire experts recommend changing at least the tire on the other side for even wear and safety. That’s suddenly a $600 unanticipated expense that can be covered by your emergency fund. 

Not all emergencies are bad either. 

For example, perhaps you really want to buy a plane ticket to your best friend’s last-minute wedding in the south of France. Or maybe you suddenly need to pay an enrollment deposit for your dream graduate school because your long-shot application miraculously got accepted.

Whatever the “emergency,” it can make a world of difference to have money available for those moments when you need it quickly. Building an emergency fund makes sure you do.

When should I use my emergency savings?

An emergency fund is useful to cover a wide range of unexpected costs. According to a 5,000+-person survey by GoBankingRates, here are the five most common uses for emergency funds: 

• Major household repairs

• Car expenses

• Medical emergencies

• Job loss

• Cost of living increases

• Sudden moves (e.g. job relocation; divorce)
  
  
  

Instead of racking up high-interest debt on a credit card, you can utilize cash from an emergency fund to pay for life’s unexpected expenses. Credit cards are certainly convenient, but they can quickly wreak havoc on your finances if you don’t pay them off in full each month.

For example, let’s say your basement floods due to a once-in-a-century storm. You have to rip out all the sheetrock, baseboards, and flooring. The cost for all these materials is over $8,000. Then you’ve got to pay someone to do the work if you don’t have the capability of doing it yourself. 

If you don’t have an emergency fund, you may be forced to carry revolving credit card debt at an interest rate of 25%. 

You work hard for your money, so it’s important to protect it. Emergency funds can also provide financial stability and reduce overall stress during times of turbulent events like natural disasters, recessions, or a pandemic. You might not know what to expect, but you’re prepared for it.

How much should you put aside for your emergency fund?

We recommend having a minimum of 3-6 months of living expenses saved. If you lose your job, you’ll have 3-6 months to find another. But the reality is, you’ll likely have a larger buffer due to unemployment benefits, a potential severance package, and WARN Act pay if you work at a larger firm. 

But it’s fine to start smaller. Any amount you have ready for an emergency is a step in the right direction. 

There’s also no one-size-fits-all emergency fund amount because we all have different levels of risk exposure. If you’re temporarily freelancing, you may want a bigger emergency fund to smooth out the months when business is low. And if you’re a homeowner now with children in private school, you may need a larger fund than when you were renting with no children. 

When you set up an emergency fund goal in Plenty, we’ll walk you through each consideration and recommend a plan for your unique details.

Here are some simple rules of thumb that apply to pretty much everyone:

1. Start with a minimum of 3 months of living expenses - Figure out your fixed expenses, which are your “mandatory” costs. Things like rent or mortgage payments, transportation, utilities, health insurance, groceries, etc. They may vary a bit each month, but add them up and look at the average total month to month. This is the amount your emergency fund needs to cover every month. Now take that number and multiply it by 3.

2. Work up to 6 months of living expenses - Double your initial 3-month goal to calculate how much you need to cover 6 months of living expenses.This is an emergency fund size you can feel great about because it provides added financial cushion and stability. Additional breathing room if you encounter a prolonged crisis can be invaluable.

3. Contribute regularly - Like most things in personal finance, small actions add up. Aim to contribute to your emergency fund every month. Saving steadily through automated transfers can help you stay on track (effortlessly) and help you reach your saving goals faster.

4. Prioritize liquidity - Low-or-no risk investment vehicles like Plenty’s SIPC-insured government money market fund, FDIC insured high-yield savings accounts, and short-term CDs are great options. You want to be able to access the cash quickly if needed.

5. Stay disciplined - As tempting as it may be to dip into your emergency savings for a splurge purchase, stay judicious. Only withdraw funds when you truly need the money for something vital that you can’t otherwise afford. Also be sure to replenish any funds you take out as soon as you’re able.

Plenty helps you partner up and go farther together

At Plenty, we help couples create shared goals so you can build wealth faster. We recommend growing your emergency fund in a low-risk money market fund. You’ll be able to access your money quickly when you need it and there’s no fine to withdraw if you need the funds earlier than expected unlike some financial products like CDs.

With our cash management product, you can earn 5.08%* interest on your savings. You can put your rainy day fund to work and earn 13x the national savings account average. We've negotiated access to the same money market fund where billionaires and hedge funds park their cash. It's a ~$20B fund that usually requires a $500 million dollar minimum investment. 

With high interest rates, having an emergency fund can now make you money as well. 

Wealth building shouldn't be exclusive, so your Plenty membership includes access to this fund — with an investment minimum of just $100.

Now that you understand why you need an emergency fund and how to plan for one, it’s time to get started. Plenty has all the tools you need to plan, invest, and track your savings. We help you achieve your goals as quickly and easily as possible so you’ll be ready for anything life has in store. 

Start your free trial with Plenty today!

– Team Plenty