Emergencies don’t announce their pending arrival months in advance. They pop up unexpectedly and trigger a mad scramble for cash to cover whatever catastrophe (faulty plumbing, a distracted teen driver or novice laser hair removal technician) fate may have in store. Enter the financial world’s most oft-cited insurance policy: Emergency funds.
Everything we’re about to tell you about emergency funds — how much you need, strategic ways to save, where to stash your cash — applies to both men and women, save for one huge thing: Women need these funds more, but are less likely to have them.
Why Women Really Need An Emergency Fund
Emergencies can impact anyone, but the financial fallout is potentially much more severe and prolonged for women than it is for men. Think about it:
- We’re the go-to caregivers: When a child or elderly relative or loved one requires assistance, women tend to (and are expected to) step up more than their brothers, husbands or other male family members and friends. Taking time off work and incurring the expenses to provide care and support can take a sizable financial toll, especially if you’re the sole earner in your household.
- Finding employment after job loss may take a while: It’s not even a matter of the kind of work we’re seeking and whether or not we have the qualifications: A recent LinkedIn study revealed that women apply for 20% fewer jobs than men and are less likely to ask for a referral from their network to get the position, both of which can delay the time it takes to land a job.
- We already pay a higher price for our longevity: Not only do we face the danger of running out of money in retirement, but living longer than men means we’ve got more years of exposure to unexpected expenses. An emergency fund in old age can be a literal life saver when you’re living on a fixed income and a side hustle simply isn’t a realistic option.
The bottom line: Everyone needs a stash of cash you can get your hands on when the you-know-what hits the fan (as it inevitably will when you least expect it). But if you’re a woman, an emergency fund is absolutely critical for your well-being. So… let’s get to it!
Emergency Fund TL;DR
An emergency fund is a pool of money set aside to cover your must-pay expenses in case of job less, illness or injury or getting hit with some other costly, unexpected life event. The size of your financial safety net depends on whether you have dependents, are the sole (or primary) breadwinner, if you have access to other money, and your status as the favorite niece of a wealthy and benevolent uncle. Even if the rich uncle thing is a non-starter, don’t fret: Six weeks of living expenses — as opposed to the traditional advice to save three to six months’ worth — is a perfectly adequate emergency savings goal.
You want to keep your emergency fund separate from your regular spending money in an account that’s safe, liquid and earning the highest rate of return possible without putting your money at risk. Think high-yield savings account, money market account or certificate of deposit (CD). Even a Roth IRA can serve as an emergency source of cash when necessary, and help grow your retirement savings if you don’t need to tap into the account early.
What Is An Emergency Fund?
An emergency fund is a pool of money earmarked for surprise expenses that fall outside of your regular budget. It’s a financial safety net — a rainy-day fund — so you don’t have to run up a balance on a high-interest credit card, tap into your home equity or withdraw money from retirement savings or the kids’ college funds to pay for Fido’s hip replacement surgery.
Exactly How Much Should I Have Saved In An Emergency Fund?
Answer: Perhaps not as much as you think!
The standard emergency fund savings guideline is to have enough money to cover three to six months’ of essential living expenses. But more recent research shows that a six-month cash cushion may not be necessary. In fact, six weeks of living expenses may be plenty.
Just starting? Set a manageable weekly savings goal — $10, $20, $50 — and just get the ball rolling.
(Quick review: Essential living expenses include rent/mortgage, food, insurance premiums and gas money to get to and from places you need to go. Non-essentials are premium cable, weekly salon appointments, and every adorable sample-sized item in the strategically placed bins flanking the Sephora checkout line.)
Don’t know where to start? Then start with the goal of saving $2,000. Do that, and you’ll have achieved a savings milestone that half of all Americans have not yet reached. Other savings guidelines:
- If six weeks of savings seems impossible … set a manageable weekly savings goal — $10, $20, $50 or whatever amount you can afford — and just get the ball rolling. Set up an automatic transfer on pay day to funnel whatever you can spare into a separate account (one of the ones we recommend below) so you never notice the money was ever there. When you’ve amassed a several hundred dollars, set your sights on that $2,000 goal.
- If you’re retired … the prudent move is to have enough cash on hand to cover one year of expenses and another chunk to cover three years of living less liquid, but still sheltered from the whims of the stock market.
- If you’re single or the sole earner in your household … you need a larger emergency fund (think double) than a two-income couple (where one partner’s salary can provide a temporary financial bridge).
- If you’ve got competing savings goals … split the difference. For example, if you’re currently saving 10% of your income, funnel 3% into an emergency fund and 7% into long-term savings until your rainy-day fund is whole. (Pro tip: If your employer matches a portion of your 401(k) contributions, take full advantage of that as you’re building your emergency fund.)
