Emergency fund basics
An emergency fund is cash set aside for unexpected expenses — most guides suggest three to six months of essential living costs.
2026-03-12 · Wissenflow Team
What is an emergency fund?
An emergency fund is money reserved for unplanned expenses — job loss, medical bills, urgent repairs. It is separate from investments and discretionary spending.
How much should you save?
A common guideline is three to six months of essential expenses. Single-income households or variable earners often aim toward the higher end. Start with a smaller milestone (e.g. €1,000) and build from there.
Where should you keep it?
Use an accessible, low-risk account — savings or money market — where you can withdraw quickly without penalty. This is not the place for volatile investments.
How does an emergency fund fit your overall plan?
Once basics are covered, you can allocate toward goals and investments with more confidence. FinAI can help model scenarios; FinBild games teach why keeping everything "in the sun" (uninvested but inflation-exposed) has tradeoffs.