Why an emergency fund comes first
Unexpected events — a job change, a medical emergency, urgent home repairs — are part of life. Without a buffer, they force you to borrow or to redeem long-term investments at the wrong time.
How much and where
- Size: 6 months of expenses for salaried, 9–12 months for self-employed.
- Where: a mix of savings account, liquid funds and short-term FDs.
- Access: liquid funds can usually be redeemed within one working day.