MEPX
Chapter 2 of 10All chapters
  1. 1Knowing your cashflow
  2. 2The emergency fund
  3. 3Debt
  4. 4Saving and compounding
  5. 5Housing and large costs
  6. 6Insurance
  7. 7Tax and payslips
  8. 8Long-term saving
  9. 9Fraud and pressure
  10. 10Making it stick

Chapter 2 of 10

The emergency fund

The first financial goal.

Why it comes first

Without a buffer, any unexpected cost becomes debt at a high rate. Three to six months of essential spending is the common target, held in an account you can reach immediately.

  • It is not an investment; access matters more than return.
  • Start with one month. Most of the benefit arrives early.

What counts as an emergency

A boiler, a car, a job loss. Not a holiday or a sale. Deciding in advance is what keeps the fund intact when it is needed.