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Updated on November 26, 2024
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Here’s why an emergency fund is essential, especially for newcomers to Canada, and how you can get started building one—even if it feels overwhelming right now.
Life is unpredictable, and unexpected expenses—whether it’s a car repair, a temporary job loss, or medical expenses that aren’t usually free in Canada (like dental)—can happen to anyone. Without an emergency fund, these costs can push you into high-interest debt, such as credit cards or payday loans, which quickly snowball and make financial stress even worse. An emergency fund acts as a safety net.
This is why financial commentators like Paula Pant, Renee Sylvestre-Williams, Ramit Sethi, Mr. Money Mustache, and many others agree that having an emergency fund is crucial. The advice is almost universal that an emergency fund can help you handle these surprises while minimizing financial stress.
Knowing you have a financial cushion can reduce stress, helping you focus on building your new life and career instead of worrying about what might go wrong.
Experts typically suggest saving three to six months’ worth of living costs. Living costs include core expenses necessary to maintain a basic standard of living, such as housing, food, transport, insurance, basic phone/internet bills, utilities, and possibly childcare. This does not include ‘wants’ like dining out, subscriptions, renovations, or travel.
Here’s how to calculate what you need for an emergency fund:
Here’s an example for a family of three (two adults, one school-aged child) living in an apartment in the outskirts of Toronto:
Rent: $3,000
Utilities (electricity, water, heat): $200
Internet and phone (basic plans): $180
Total for Housing: $3,380
Groceries for three people: $1,200
Total for Food: $1,200
Gas: $100
Metro monthly passes x 3: $420
Total for Transportation: $520
Prescription medications and over-the-counter essentials not covered by OHIP: $50
Total for Healthcare: $50
Life insurance: $50
Tenant insurance: $30
Car insurance: $160
Total for Insurance: $240
Minimum payments on credit card debt or student loans: $150
Total for Debt Repayments: $150
Cell phone plans for two adults: $80
Total for Communications: $80
Using the updated monthly total, we calculate the emergency fund to cover three to six months of essential living costs.
Minimum Emergency Fund (3 months of expenses): $5,620 x 3 = $16,860
Maximum Emergency Fund (6 months of expenses): $5,620 x 6 = $33,720
For this family, an emergency fund of $16,860 to $33,720 would provide a robust financial cushion. This range covers their essential living costs in case of unexpected events or income disruptions, helping them avoid debt and maintain stability.
If saving three to six months of expenses feels intimidating, don’t worry—you don’t have to reach this goal overnight. Here’s a breakdown of how to approach it:
If everything is in one account, it’s hard to know what’s daily living costs and what your emergency fund looks like. Setting up a separate account for your emergency fund provides clarity.
Start with a smaller, more manageable goal, like saving $1,000-$2,000 as your initial emergency fund. This amount is enough to cover minor, urgent expenses, like car repairs or a dental emergency. Not sure how? Check out this post and our tips below.
Adjust your emergency fund goal based on your current stability and needs. If you’re just starting out in Canada and still figuring out monthly expenses, a three-month target is a reasonable starting point. If you feel less financially secure, consider aiming for a six-month cushion.
Reconsider your emergency fund goal every six months or so to ensure it still matches your financial situation and comfort level.
Building an emergency fund doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here are some simple steps to get started, based on advice from top financial experts:
Set up an automatic transfer to your emergency fund each month, even if it’s a small amount. Many Canadian banks allow you to create sub-accounts for specific goals, making it easy to separate these funds from everyday spending.
Track your expenses to see where your money goes each month. This can reveal areas to cut back and free up money for your emergency fund. For example, reducing non-essential costs like dining out or subscription services and then saving that money instead can make a big difference.
When you receive unexpected money, like a tax refund, bonus, or gift, consider adding it directly to your emergency fund. It’s a quick way to grow your savings without impacting your regular budget.
Plus, once you have your emergency fund saved, you can start putting these windfalls into your investment accounts. This is a really advanced finance skill that you can use to grow wealth for retirement.
Building an emergency fund takes time, so set small goals, like reaching $500 or $1,000, and celebrate each win. Breaking it into milestones helps you stay motivated.
Your emergency fund is there for emergencies – but what counts as an emergency worthy of your fund?
Here’s the criteria:
For example, an unexpected dental procedure is only partially covered by your healthcare provider and the pain is unbearable (i.e., you can’t put it off for six months and save for it).
Building an emergency fund is just one step, but it’s a powerful one for reducing financial stress and increasing confidence. Financial Literacy Month is the perfect time to set yourself up for long-term financial security. By creating an emergency fund, you’re giving yourself the freedom to handle life’s ups and downs without resorting to debt or feeling overwhelmed by every unexpected cost.
Start small, be consistent, and remember that each contribution, no matter how small, brings you closer to financial stability. With a strong foundation, you’ll feel more secure and prepared to enjoy all the new opportunities Canada has to offer.
Got questions about emergency funds in Canada? See our FAQs below to see if we’ve answered yours.
Your emergency fund should be separate from your retirement planning. It’s a safety net, not an investment. But, you can still grow your emergency fund if you wish.
Once you reach your emergency fund goal, you may want to put some of the funds into low-risk, accessible accounts, like a high-interest savings account or a cashable GIC. This approach means your money can grow a little without taking on undue risk.
It depends on your situation. A small emergency fund (e.g., $1,000-$2,000) is recommended before focusing on debt repayment, as this gives you a safety net for minor emergencies. After that, you can balance debt repayment with growing your emergency fund based on your individual risk tolerance.
It is worth considering that most debt will accrue interest at a higher rate than your emergency fund will grow, so it often makes more mathematical sense to focus on the debt. (Math is only part of your money equation, though!)
Ultimately, it’s your money. But credit cards typically have high-interest rates, and you will likely end up paying much more for your emergencies if you put it on a credit card than if you paid cash. Our perspective? It’s never fun to pay for car repairs, but we’d prefer not to pay 21% interest on those costs.
If you need to dip into your emergency fund, make it a priority to rebuild it as soon as possible. Resume regular contributions to your emergency fund until it’s back to your target amount, so you’re prepared for future unexpected expenses.
It’s best to reserve your emergency fund strictly for genuine emergencies, such as job loss, medical needs, or essential repairs. If you use it for non-emergencies, you risk not having funds available when a real emergency occurs. Plus, if you only use it for savings, you build better money management skills by saving for your wants instead of always going for gratification.
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