Several banks closed suddenly in March, sending a shudder through the banking industry and the stock market. That followed months of tech sector layoffs, high inflation, and rising interest rates. What could come next? Nobody knows.
It's a great reminder that there's a lot out there that can upset your plans, so it makes sense to prepare for the unexpected with an emergency fund. An emergency fund is cash you keep in reserve for a serious unexpected predicament like a job loss or a catastrophe that isn’t covered by insurance. Building up your emergency savings can help you protect yourself and your loved ones—and earning a little bit of a return on your savings can help protect your future purchasing power.
Here are answers to 5 common questions about emergency funds, including how big your emergency fund should be and where you could consider keeping your emergency fund.
1. How big should my emergency fund be?
Fidelity suggests setting aside at least 3 to 6 months' worth of essential expenses to protect yourself from the financial fallout of a potential job loss or the loss of other income.
If you're single but have family backup, you might be comfortable with 3 months of savings. But if you have a spouse, kids, and a mortgage or if you worry about replacing a lost job or other income quickly, you might feel better with 6 months or even more.
If you do end up unemployed, there may be resources available to help ease the impact. Unemployment insurance benefits are available in all states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. But not all employees are eligible—your employer has to pay unemployment taxes. Nonprofit organizations, like churches and schools, are exempt from paying unemployment taxes.
Benefits vary by state. For example, some states provide additional benefits if you have children or other dependents. Check your state's unemployment insurance office to find out how to file for benefits and the documentation required.
Requirements to qualify for unemployment benefits include:
- You must be physically able to work—not disabled or collecting disability benefits.
- You must be actively looking for a job.
- You must have left your prior job involuntarily, without cause, and in good standing.
- If you've received unemployment benefits within the 6 months prior to filing, your benefits may be reduced.
2. Where should I keep my emergency fund?
Generally, keeping your emergency fund accessible and liquid can be a good idea—in addition to avoiding risky investments that could lose money. To avoid dipping into your emergency savings, it can also make sense to separate your emergency fund from your spending money and other types of savings.
That could mean a savings or money market account (different from money market funds). Those can be convenient and accessible options, but keep in mind that the average yield may be less than 0.15%.1 Banks and credit unions typically offer money market accounts. Compared to a savings account, a money market account may have a higher minimum balance and withdrawals may be limited. For instance, you may be allowed unlimited ATM withdrawals but checks and debit card purchases could be limited.
Consider the following alternatives:
Money market funds2 tend to be a lower-risk place to store your cash, and generally offer better rates than your typical savings account. Unlike savings accounts, money market funds are not FDIC-insured.
Treasury and government money market funds3 are designed to maintain a stable net asset value (NAV) of $1.00 and they do not place restrictions on investors' ability to access their money in the funds.
Certificates of deposit (CDs) may offer even better rates than money market funds—but there is a catch. Many penalize you for taking money out before the CD matures. Short-term CDs may be a solution for a portion of your emergency fund but beware of tying up all your savings—a vital component of your rainy-day fund is liquidity.
When you need to dip into your emergency fund, consider withdrawing from more liquid accounts first—if you've divided your emergency savings between highly liquid accounts and those that are less easy to access. An example of a very liquid account would be a savings account—your savings are easily accessed at no cost on the same day. Cash held in a money market fund may not be available on demand—you would likely need to sell the fund and wait until the next business day for access to your cash.
Avoiding losses due to taxes, penalties, or market volatility is key.
Try to avoid withdrawing from retirement accounts like your 401(k) or IRA if you're not yet of retirement age. You may have to pay taxes and a 10% penalty for the early withdrawal.
3. What about borrowing to cover an emergency?
In some cases, borrowing to pay for an emergency may be necessary if you don't have financial reserves to cover it. For instance, a home equity loan or line of credit could be an option, as well as credit cards. Note that it's extremely important to consider the potential consequences of borrowing against your home. There may be financial, legal, tax, and estate implications. If you default on the loan, you could even lose your home.
4 caveats:
- If you've lost income, borrowing money, particularly at a high interest rate, can be risky. Debt can quickly snowball if you're not able to pay it off at the end of the month.
- If you already have a lot of debt, relying on credit or loans in an emergency puts you further in the hole, which just makes it that much harder to get out.
- Credit may not be as available in a global economic downturn. Lenders may reel in lines of credit in difficult economic times so it may not always be a failsafe.
- If you need to borrow, make sure to keep interest rates as low as possible.
4. How can I save more for an emergency fund?
There are a couple of ways to boost savings—even on a tight budget.
Think of your emergency savings fund as a bill. With rent or mortgage payments, contributing to a retirement fund, and myriad living expenses, you already have a lot to balance. But if you turn saving for an emergency fund into a monthly priority, you'll get in the habit of contributing to it regularly.
Trim spending. If there are any areas of your budget where you could cut back, it may be worth giving it a try—at least temporarily. Directing some of those savings to an emergency fund could help bolster your emergency fund quickly.
5. Can insurance help protect me in an emergency?
Besides having cash that you can access in an emergency, insurance is another way to be prepared for one. In circ*mstances where insurance would provide coverage, the more insurance coverage you have, the less will need to come out of your emergency fund.
Look into disability insurance. Whether you have it through work or on your own, you'll want to know that you have enough in the event something happens.
Don't forget about health insurance. If you lose your job, you may also lose your employer-provided health insurance. Even if you are eligible for continuation of coverage through COBRA, your premiums are likely to significantly increase—annual premiums can be up to 4 times more expensive through COBRA than the employee cost of the same coverage while employed.4 Factor in some additional money to cover the cost of health care, just in case.
The bottom line
Everyone needs an emergency fund—no matter how old you are or what your income level is. The current pandemic is just the latest reminder. But there are myriad other circ*mstances that could require having cash on hand—losing a job, natural disasters, a leaky roof, unexpected child care expenses, a surprise medical bill that insurance won't cover, or family members returning home or needing help.
Planning ahead is key. If you’re diligent about saving for emergencies in liquid accounts, bolstering your savings with insurance, and keeping some low-interest credit available as a last resort, you'll be more prepared for what life throws at you. And that knowledge can bring peace of mind.
