The advice in this tool recommends one build a savings fund for emergencies for between 3 and 6 months of one's total expenses. I lean to the conservative to very conservative on this item; especially in today's economy, financial environment, and employment outlook. With so many people these days losing their jobs and having finding work that is enough employment to pay all of one's bills and rebuild for the future with additional savings and investments I recommend striving for building an emergency fund of at least 12 to 18 months; and even longer if one has experienced even longer periods of unemployment while searching for work during that absense from the employment rolls. If one has a weak resume, one will need to possibly have even upto at least between 18 months and 2 years of emergency fund built up in savings to weather a setback such as job loss, from one's company going out of business or downsizing, layoffs, etc.

Yes, 6 month seems to be the numbeer the most experts are agree on: http://www.creditfyi.com/Press-Room/financial-expert-advises-keeping-6-months-cash-on-hand.htm