🛡️ Emergency Fund · Financial Safety Net

Emergency Fund Calculator

Find how much to hold in emergency savings based on your monthly expenses and circumstances. Get a personalised buffer recommendation.

For planning purposes only — confirm with your financial adviser.

1) Inputs & 12-Month Progress

Target Fund

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Current Savings

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Shortfall / Surplus

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Months to Target

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First 12 Months (projection)

Month	Start Balance	Interest	Contribution	End Balance	Coverage Reached (months)

2) Charts

Progress to Target

Projected Balance Over Time

What this means for you

3) Get Expert Help

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What This Calculator Does

The Emergency Fund Calculator tells you how large your personal safety net should be, how close you currently are to that target, and how long it will take to build it based on your planned monthly contributions. It breaks your expenses into categories so you can see exactly which costs are driving your target — and it lets you explore how adjusting your contribution or target coverage period changes the timeline.

Who it is for: Anyone who wants to build financial resilience — from someone just starting out with zero savings to someone who already has some savings and wants to verify they have the right amount. It is particularly useful for people who have recently changed job, had a child, moved house, or started self-employment, as each of these events can significantly shift your required fund size.

When to use it: Use it when you start a new budget, when your circumstances change, or when you want to set up an automatic savings transfer and need to know the right monthly amount. Review it at least once a year.

Limitation: This calculator uses a simple interest model for savings growth. If your savings earn compound interest paid quarterly or annually (common in Irish savings accounts), your actual growth will be slightly different. The calculator also does not model tax on interest (DIRT in Ireland is currently 33%), which will reduce the effective interest earned if your savings exceed the DIRT exemption thresholds.

How the Calculation Works

The calculation has two components: working out your target, and projecting how long it takes to get there.

Step 1 — Calculate your target

Target Fund = Monthly Essential Expenses × Coverage Months

Your "monthly essential expenses" are all the costs yo