Once you have determined how many months of money you need to save, it’s time to figure out the actual dollar amount. You will want to tally up your yearly expenses.
The first step in determining the actual amount you’ll need in your emergency fund is to figure out your yearly expenses. Remember, these are expenses that must be paid. This number will not include discretionary expenses such as gym memberships or dining out. The following are categories some examples of non-discretionary yearly expenses: