| Fund | Best for |
|---|---|
| 3 months | dual incomes, stable jobs, renters, no dependents |
| 6 months | single earners, homeowners, parents, cyclical industries |
| 8–12 months | freelancers, commission earners, lumpy income, specialised roles |
The target is essential monthly expenses × 3. Progress uses your current savings against that target; the timeline divides the gap by your monthly contribution. No interest on the fund is assumed — conservative, and closer to how people actually fund these.
Interest earned in a high-yield account would shorten the timeline slightly; inflation would lengthen it. The page assumes your essentials estimate is the lean budget — if you entered your full lifestyle spend, the target is overstated and you'll quit before funding it.
target = monthly essentials × 3
gap = target − saved
months = gap ÷ monthly contribution