Calculating your emergency fund as accurately as possible requires a few straightforward steps.
Calculating how much you spend each month is key to understanding the correct amount for your emergency fund. Start by looking at what your essential spending needs are, including housing, transportation, and food. Other financial obligations include debt payments, insurance premiums and other recurring bills.
One of the simplest ways to find out how much you spend on necessities is by looking at your bank and credit card statements. Consider averaging your costs over several months, especially if your spending fluctuates depending on the time of the year.
Some individuals or families may have work or personal situations where they’ll need to save more. For example, if you are self-employed and are the breadwinner in the family, it may make sense to set aside at least six months’ worth of expenses in case your employment situation changes. Same goes for those who may have a traditional 9-to-5 job, but the industry you work in is fickle or volatile based on how the economy is faring.
Anyone who doesn’t have risk factors such as increased health risks or multiple dependents may be able to get away from saving less. Typically, though, this is the answer to “How much should I have in an emergency fund?”: Financial experts recommend having no less than three months’ worth of basic living expenses set aside in case of an emergency, such as a major medical bill or job loss.
Ultimately, the amount you need to save depends on how much will help you feel financially secure in an emergency. If you want to save more than several months’ worth of expenses to help you sleep better at night, then as long as you can afford to, go ahead. However, if you need to free up your cash for other types of spending, saving less for now can also be fine. Any type of emergency savings is better than none.
You might want to automate savings by having a recurring transfer made from checking, right after you are paid, into your emergency savings account, where it can be accessible but still earn interest and grow.
Need a place to keep your emergency fund?
Consider a SoFi high yield savings account. Get up to 3.30% APY1, no account fees2, and up to $300 with direct deposit†.
Get started
SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. The SoFi® Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.
1
Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
SoFi Bank assesses Eligible Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits based on a rolling 31-calendar day period and may request additional information for verification of eligibility. A rolling 31-calendar day period means that each time you receive an Eligible Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits, a new 31-day period begins, during which you will earn the interest rates and APYs for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits. If you receive another Eligible Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 31-day period, the period will reset, and a new 31-day period will begin from the date the criteria are met. You can view the end date of your current 31-day period, based on your most recent deposit activity, by visiting the APY details page within your account.
SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Eligible Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposit activity before adjusting interest rates and APYs. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Eligible Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits within a rolling 31-day period, or did not pay the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days, and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the interest rates and APYs earned by members without Eligible Direct Deposit, $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits or SoFi Plus Paid Subscription.
As long as you receive an Eligible Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits every 31 calendar days, or pay the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 calendar days, you will continue earning the interest rates and APYs earned by account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit, $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits or SoFi Plus Paid Subscription. See additional details at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet
2 No Account Fees
We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Bank Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.
†
Who is eligible for a Direct Deposit Bonus?
New and existing SoFi members who have never set up direct deposit with SoFi are eligible for the Direct Deposit Bonus. Bonuses are limited to one bonus per SoFi member. In the case of a joint account, direct deposit activity will only be counted towards the primary account holder’s eligibility for the bonus (the primary account holder is the member who opened the joint account first).
How do I earn the Direct Deposit Bonus?
1. Set up your first Eligible Direct Deposit. SoFi must receive it on or before 12/31/26.
2. Once SoFi receives and recognizes your first Eligible Direct Deposit, we will add up the Total Eligible Direct Deposits received over the next 25 calendar days. This total will determine the bonus amount.
| Total Eligible Direct Deposit |
Bonus Amount |
Timing |
| $1.00 - $999.99 |
$0 |
To determine your bonus amount, SoFi will add up all your Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit. |
| $1,000.00 - $4,999.99 |
$50 |
| $5,000.00 or more |
$300 |
3. You will receive the bonus amount in your SoFi Checking account within 7 business days of completing all requirements listed above. You are only eligible to receive one bonus amount. You must have an open SoFi Checking account in good standing at the time of the bonus payment.
What is an Eligible Direct Deposit?
Eligible: Recurring ACH deposit of regular income to your SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by your employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Eligible Direct Deposit”)
Not Eligible Deposits that are not from an employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency and deposits that are non-recurring in nature are not eligible. Examples of deposits that are not eligible include check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, Wise, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), bank ACH funds transfers, wire transfers from external accounts, and IRS tax refunds. SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess your Eligible Direct Deposit activity to determine eligibility and may require additional documentation to complete this verification.
Although we do our best to recognize all Eligible Direct Deposits, a small number of employers, payroll providers, benefits providers, or government agencies do not designate payments as direct deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your initial Eligible Direct Deposit. After SoFi validates the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit, your Direct Deposit Bonus will be based on the date we received your initial Eligible Direct Deposit.
What else is important to know?
•This promotion is available between 12/7/2023 at 12:01AM ET and 12/31/2026 at 11:59PM ET. SoFi reserves the right to modify or end the promotion at any time without notice. The terms of this promotion take precedence over the terms of any prior Direct Deposit promotion.
•SoFi reserves the right to exclude any members from participating in this promotion for any reason, such as suspected fraud, misuse, or suspicious activity.
•SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit activity can earn 3.30% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
•Bonuses are considered miscellaneous income, and may be reportable to the IRS on Form 1099-MISC (or Form 1042-S, if applicable). SoFi is required to do this reporting in compliance with the applicable federal and state reporting requirements. Recipient is responsible for any applicable federal, state or local taxes associated with receiving the bonus offer; consult with your tax advisor to determine applicable tax consequences.
•This promotion is offered by SoFi Bank, N.A, Member FDIC (“SoFi”)
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
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