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The 2022 Federal Reserve Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households report found that just 46% of adults could afford an emergency expense over $2,000. Similarly, 37% don't have enough money to cover a $400 emergency expense with cash. Scenarios like this are why financial experts commonly advise building an emergency fund to keep you afloat during tough times.
Some experts suggest $5,000 as a good target amount for an emergency fund, but is that amount right for you? Here's how to decide if $5,000 is enough for your emergency savings goal.
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Is $5,000 a Good Emergency Fund?
Whether $5,000 is sufficient for your emergency savings fund depends on your unique personal circumstances. For instance, a fund of $5,000 may be plenty for a bachelor in their early career but completely inadequate for their neighbor who owns a home and has four kids.
An important way to determine if $5,000 is enough for an emergency fund is to gauge if it could cover your living expenses if you lose your income or experience unexpected financial hardships. Even if you don't lose your income, however, your fund should provide enough to cover emergencies that cost more than what you typically keep in your checking account or that could put you in a financial bind.
$5,000 May Be Enough to Cover…
- A broken appliance: Costs range from $107 and $249 for household appliances repair services, according to HomeAdvisor, with costs depending on the appliance and the repair needed. Costs are higher to replace an appliance, from a few hundred dollars for a microwave to over $10,000 for a new refrigerator.
- Common vehicle repairs: Typical repair costs for regular mechanical issues average between $500 and $600, according to AAA.
- Emergency pet care: Costs for emergency pet care can reach into the thousands of dollars. An emergency surgery could cost $1,500 or more.
$5,000 May Not Be Enough to Cover…
- Lost income during unemployment: Recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average time to find a job after a layoff as of January 2024 is 9.6 weeks. Would $5,000 be enough to compensate for your lost income during this time, even with weekly unemployment benefits ranging from $235 to $823?
- Major car repairs: Smaller fixes may be covered with a flush emergency fund, but major repairs such as engine replacement can cost $10,000 or more.
- Child care expenses: A Care.com survey discovered parents spend 24% of their income on child care. Notably, the average weekly cost for a nanny is $766 and $321 for day care.
While a $5,000 emergency fund may be inadequate for many families to meet their financial obligations, it may be too much for others. Certainly, having a flush emergency fund is reassuring and can provide peace of mind, knowing you'll be able to handle most financial issues. However, an overfunded account may be an emergency savings mistake.
- Money could depreciate. The extra money in your emergency fund may not be earning enough interest to offset the rate of inflation. In other words, this money could be losing buying power over time. The current inflation rate is 3.1%, while the average savings rate is a paltry 0.46%. Keeping your money in a high-yield savings account could help offset this risk (more on that later).
- Opportunity cost could limit earnings. Investing your savings is risky, but it could produce high returns. The S&P 500, for instance, has historically provided returns of 10.26% per year since 1957, or 6.38% annually when adjusted for inflation. Moving extra cash into the stock market could help you fund your account faster.
For many people, $5,000 would be inadequate to cover several months' expenses in the event of job loss or an expensive emergency. If that is the case for you, $5,000 would not be considered an overfunded account.
How Much Do I Need for an Emergency Fund?
There's no universal amount to target for emergency funds. Your financial situation is unique, and there are several factors to consider to determine the most appropriate amount for you.
Using a rule of thumb may be a good starting point. Financial experts often recommend stashing three to six months of essential expenses in your emergency savings. In other words, if you need $6,000 to cover your monthly bills and basic expenses for six months, the balance of your emergency fund would ideally be $36,000.
To calculate your savings goal, add up all your bare-bones expenses. Don't include discretionary spending in your calculation, as you'll likely need to cut unnecessary spending in a financial emergency. Once you tally your monthly spending, multiply that amount by the number of months you want to save for. Ideally, saving up several months' worth of living expenses could help you make ends meet if you lost your income, incurred a large unexpected expense or suffered another financial setback.
Of course, you may want to adjust your timeline according to your situation. For example, if your long-term employment outlook appears unstable or you're worried about an economic downturn, you could increase your savings goal to cover 12 months or more of living expenses. Similarly, if you're saving for a flat number like $5,000, you may bump up your savings goal if you support several dependents.
How to Increase Your Emergency Savings
Setting aside enough money in your emergency savings could help you pay your bills during a financial crisis without resorting to taking on debt. Building your savings could take time, but thankfully, there are some strategies to help you reach your goal faster.
- Save funds in a high-yield savings account. Placing your emergency funds in a high-yield savings account will typically earn you a greater return than a traditional savings account. As of February 2024, standard savings accounts earn a modest 0.46%, while high-yield account rates can top 5%. These returns are outpacing inflation (3.1%, as of January 2024), but be aware that's not always the case. High-yield savings accounts are highly liquid, meaning you can withdraw your money quickly and easily in a pinch.
- Automate your savings. The best way to build savings is to pay yourself first before you've spent a dollar on your bills and nonessential expenses. Talk to your employer about depositing some of your paycheck into your savings account. If that's not possible, set up automatic transfers into your savings account after each paycheck to build savings effortlessly.
- Cut expenses to save more. Review your bank statement or budget to identify expenses you can reduce or eliminate altogether. For example, canceling little-used streaming services and gym memberships can free up cash for your emergency fund.
- Boost your income. If you're due for a salary review, request a raise from your employer. You could also volunteer for overtime or consider moving to a higher paying job. Taking on a side hustle or adding a part-time job are excellent ways to create more income to allocate to your emergency fund.
Bolster Your Financial and Credit Health
Maintaining a sufficient emergency fund is an important piece of your financial health. While you're building your fund, don't forget about another vital component of your financial well-being—your credit. Good credit can help you qualify for loans—with favorable terms—to achieve important life goals like owning a home or car.
Free credit monitoring with Experian can provide you with credit score updates and recommendations to build your credit. You'll also be able to track the progress of your credit score and receive alerts about changes to your credit.