How runway is worked out
Your runway is the number of months your savings cover if your paycheck stopped tomorrow. The calculator divides the savings you could actually reach by your monthly spending, after any other income such as unemployment benefits or a partner's pay.
Months = savings ÷ (monthly spending − other income)
With $15,000 saved and $3,500 of monthly spending, you could last a little over 4 months. Cutting spending by 20% to $2,800 stretches it to about 5 and a half months, which in a job search can make a real difference.
Making it longer
In a real emergency most people cut more than they expect: subscriptions, eating out and travel go first. Knowing your bare-minimum budget ahead of time shows your true runway. Count only money you can reach quickly; retirement accounts usually come with taxes and penalties if withdrawn early.
Example: how cutting back stretches the runway
With $15,000 of reachable savings and spending of $3,500 a month, the runway is a little over four months. Cutting spending by 20%, to $2,800, stretches it to about five and a third months. If unemployment benefits or a partner's income cover $1,200 a month of that reduced budget, the savings only need to cover $1,600 a month and the runway grows to more than nine months.
That is why knowing your bare-minimum budget in advance matters. In a crisis you can act on a plan straight away instead of working it out under pressure. Writing down which costs you would cut first, and checking what benefits you might qualify for, turns a frightening number into a manageable one. The emergency fund calculator helps set a target.
Common questions
How long will $15,000 last without income?
At $3,500 a month of spending, a little over four months, or about five and a third months if you cut spending by 20%.
How many months of expenses should I have saved?
Three to six months is the usual guidance, more if your income is irregular or you are the only earner.
Should I count my 401(k)?
Only as a last resort. Early withdrawals usually face income tax and a 10% penalty.
Do unemployment benefits count?
Yes. Enter them as other income to see the longer runway.
This calculator gives estimates for planning. Real returns, rates and prices change, so treat the result as a guide rather than a promise. Read how we build and check our calculators.