Banks made progress with overall customer satisfaction in the past year despite declining satisfaction with fees, J.D. Power and Associates said in a recent report. Read more
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Having adequate emergency savings in an accessible savings account can help with unexpected life events. Determine how much emergency savings you may need, and how you can begin a saving strategy geared toward this important goal with this emergency savings calculator . For more advice about emergency savngs, see Emergency savings strategies.
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Emergency medical Total amount you may need in a medical emergency. Don't include amounts that will be covered by insurance. Also, insurance deductibles should not be included in this amount. Emergency legal Emergency legal costs such as legal defenses for civil suits or criminal accusations. Don't include amounts that will be covered by insurance. Also, insurance deductibles should not be included in this amount. Emergency auto repair Emergency auto repair costs. Don't include amounts that will be covered by insurance. Also, insurance deductibles should not be included in this amount. Emergency property damage Total amount you may need in an emergency involving damage to property such as your home. Don't include amounts that will be covered by insurance. Also, insurance deductibles should not be included in this amount. Emergency other Any other amounts that may be required in an emergency not included in medical, legal, auto or property categories. Insurance deductible medical The amount you are required to pay for medical expenses before your insurance coverage begins. Some medical insurance only covers a portion of your expenses after your deductible has been paid. If you insurance does not cover 100% of your expenses after you have paid your deductible, you may wish to enter your total maximum out of pocket costs here, which may be considerably higher than your deductible alone. Insurance deductible auto The amount you are responsible to pay on auto insurance claims before your insurance covers any expenses. Deductibles for auto insurance commonly range from $100 to $500. Insurance deductible property The amount you are responsible to pay on property claims, such as storm damage to your home, before your insurance covers any expenses. Deductibles for home or property insurance commonly range from $250 to $1000. Insurance deductible other Any other insurance deductibles that may be required in your emergency fund. Monthly living expenses Your total monthly living expenses. This amount should be your total expenses, not your total monthly income. Remember to include your home or rent payments, food, clothing, gas, phone and other monthly expenses. This amount does not need to include monthly savings or contributions to retirement accounts. Months of unemployment The number of months you expect it will take to find a new employer if you become unemployed. The time it takes to find a new job can range anywhere from one month to more than a year. It is important to be realistic in your unemployment estimate. Covering living expenses if you become unexpectedly unemployed can be your largest emergency expense. Amount currently saved Total you currently have saved that should be included in this analysis. Amount to save per month The amount you will contribute each year to your emergency savings. Rate of return This is the annually compounded rate of return you expect from your investments before taxes. The actual rate of return is largely dependent on the type of investments you select. From January 1970 to December 2008, the average annual compounded rate of return for the S&P 500, including reinvestment of dividends, was approximately 9.7% (source: www.standardandpoors.com). During this period, the highest 12-month return was 61%, from June 1982 through June 1983. The lowest 12-month return was -39%, which happened twice, once from September 1973 to September 1974 and again from November 2007 to November 2008. Savings accounts at a bank may pay as little as 1% or less but carry significantly lower risk of loss of principal balances. It is important to remember that these scenarios are hypothetical and that future rates of return can't be predicted with certainty and that investments that pay higher rates of return are generally subject to higher risk and volatility. The actual rate of return on investments can vary widely over time, especially for long-term investments. This includes the potential loss of principal on your investment. It is not possible to invest directly in an index and the compounded rate of return noted above does not reflect sales charges and other fees that funds and/or investment companies may charge. Since emergency savings may need to be accessed at any time, most people should use a conservative interest rate similar to a saving account and not rely on more risky investments such as stock or bonds.
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| Note: This information is for general use only. Use this information as part of a full research process. General financial advice does not always apply directly to individual financial matters. Please consult a financial expert with specific and complex questions about your individual situation. |
This emergency savings calculator is just one of more than 30 personal finance calculators that we offer to consumers to help make knowledgeable decisions in all-important financial situations. Please use the emergency savings calculator as part of a thorough research process. For more news, advice and resources, visit our knowledge center.
Banks made progress with overall customer satisfaction in the past year despite declining satisfaction with fees, J.D. Power and Associates said in a recent report. Read more
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Waiting to begin your savings plan can have a huge impact on your results. A delay of even a few years could cost you big.
