How Much Do You Need to Have an Emergency Fund?

12 to 15 thousand total is a pretty good cushion, in my opinion. Once you've mastered your cash flow, you can keep less in an emergency fund and invest it more aggressively. I know it's hard to save money, especially hard when you're not saving for any particular reason. But let me tell you, this is the most difficult, yet most impactful hurdle in your financial journey. And there's literally nothing more addictive than that.