Emergency Fund Essentials: How Much You Need and Where to Keep It
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This week’s #CreditChat is all about building and maintaining a strong emergency fund. We’ll discuss how much you really need, where to store it, and how to start saving consistently. Join us to create a financial safety net that protects your future.
Topic: Emergency Fund Essentials: How Much You Need and Where to Keep It
When: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Where: Join the live hashtag discussion
The panel will include: Felicity Watts: Author at American Consumer Credit Counseling; Jeanne Kelly: Credit expert, identity theft expert, speaker and founder of JeanneKelly.net; Todd Christensen: AFCPE® Accredited Financial Counselor®, Author of Everyday Money for Everyday People, and Education Manager at MoneyFit.org; Danielle Miura, CFP®, MSFP, EA: Founder of Spark Financials; Gina Young, MBA: the creator of Money Savvy Living; Meghna Bahl: Advisor at Plootus.com; Amy Miller, AFC®:Director of America Saves; Emily Schwartz Ph.D.:Director of Financial Education atMidFirst Bank; Adriana Ocanas:Consumer Credit Cards Analyst for U.S. News & World Report; Michael Reynolds, CFP®:Principal atElevation Financial LLC; Rod Griffin: Senior Director, Consumer Education and Advocacy, Experian; Jennifer White: Consumer Education and Advocacy Team, and Christina Roman: Consumer Education and Advocacy Manager at Experian.
Questions we will discuss:
- What does an “emergency fund” mean to you—what kinds of situations should it realistically cover?
- Why is having an emergency fund so important for financial health and credit stability?
- How much should people aim to save in an emergency fund—3 months, 6 months, or more? What factors influence that number?
- What factors should people consider when deciding how to split their money between emergency savings and credit card debt repayment?
- Where should you keep your emergency fund so it’s both safe and accessible?
- How can someone start building an emergency fund if they’re living paycheck to paycheck?
- What are some practical strategies or habits that help people stay consistent with saving for emergencies?
- How can someone with an irregular income (gig work, freelance, etc.) approach emergency savings differently?
- How can families balance saving for emergencies while also planning for other goals like retirement or education?
- What advice would you give someone starting from $0 who feels overwhelmed about saving?
Check out our complete list of upcoming personal finance Twitter chats here.