When will your emergency fund be fully stocked?
The short answer
A standard emergency fund is 3–6 months of essential expenses. For most Australians, that's $15k–$30k. At $250/week, you'll get there in 12–24 months. The date depends on your weekly amount.
On this page
What "3–6 months" actually means in dollars
Add up rent/mortgage, groceries, utilities, transport, insurance, minimum debt payments. Multiply by 3 (lean target) or 6 (full target). That's your number.
The calculation everyone gets wrong
Don't include discretionary spending. The fund is for essentials only — Netflix can pause, dinners out can wait. Including them makes the target unreachably big.
Worked example: $20k emergency fund at $250/week
$20k ÷ $250/week = 80 weeks. About 18 months. With a 4% high-interest account, closer to 17.
Where to park it (offset accounts vs high-interest savings)
Mortgage offset is best if you have one — every dollar saves interest. Otherwise a high-interest savings account at a different bank from your daily account. Avoid term deposits — you'll need access.
An emergency fund isn't pessimism. It's a permission slip to stay calm.
What to do once you've finished — the moment to switch goals
Stop adding once you hit the target. Redirect the auto-transfer to the next goal — house deposit, debt, investing. The system that built the fund builds the next thing too.
Try the calculator
Calculate your number. Lock the date. Move on with your life.
