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Emergency fund calculator (months of expenses, PH + host country)

Work out how many months of expenses to set aside, in the Philippines and in your host country, and how long it will take to get there.

Monthly costs abroad

900 SAR ≈ ₱13,800

Monthly costs in the Philippines (₱)

Total ₱25,000 a month

Essentials only: what must still be paid if your income stopped. The amounts shown are examples; replace them with yours.

How many months should you cover?

Your emergency fund target

₱229,000

5 months × ₱38,800 a month + ₱35,000 to get home. About 14,935 SAR.

Count only money you can reach within days: bank, e-wallet, cash. Not MP2, stocks, or property.

Very thin

0% funded

₱0saved now
0.0 moof expenses covered
₱229,000still to save

Where to keep it (rule of thumb)

Keep about ₱62,600 (≈ 4,083 SAR) where you work: two months of your costs there plus the ticket home, because that is the money you need first if the job ends. Keep the other ₱166,400 in a Philippine digital bank in your own name, where it can also cover the family while you sort things out.

Exchange rate: built-in approximate rate (live feed unavailable). For planning only, not financial advice. Nothing you type is stored or uploaded.

Two countries, two sets of bills

An OFW's emergency fund has to cover two households: your own costs where you work, and the family's costs back home. If your income stops, both keep running. This calculator adds your essential monthly costs in the host currency and in pesos, converts them at today's rate, and multiplies by the number of months you want covered.

Why the suggested months differ for OFWs

The usual advice is three to six months. Overseas the risk is sharper: in many host countries your visa or iqama depends on your employer, so losing the job can mean a short window to find a new one or leave. If your family depends mainly on you, or you carry loans, the cushion should be longer. The checkboxes raise the suggested months for each of these, and you can drag the slider to your own number.

Count the ticket home

The one-time box covers what you would need to pay if the job ended and you had to return: airfare, shipping your things, and exit paperwork. It is added once on top of the monthly costs, so the target is never short at the worst moment.

Keep it reachable

Only count money you can get to within days. MP2, stocks, and property are savings and investments, not an emergency fund. A split of about two months of host costs plus the ticket where you work, and the rest in a Philippine digital bank in your own name, covers both a job loss abroad and a family emergency at home.

Questions

What counts as an essential expense?
Housing, food, transport, phone, utilities, school fees, insurance, and minimum loan payments. Leave out shopping, travel, and anything you could stop paying for a few months.
Should I count my padala as an expense?
Yes. If your income stopped, your family would still need support, so the regular allowance belongs in the Philippine column. Many OFWs trim it in an emergency, so you can lower it to a bare minimum to see a leaner target.
Where should I keep the fund?
In accounts you can withdraw from quickly: a savings or digital bank account, and an e-wallet for small amounts. Check that deposits are PDIC-insured up to ₱1 million per bank for the Philippine side.
How do I know I am done?
When the bar reaches 100%. After that, redirect the monthly amount to your Uwi Fund, MP2, or other goals, and revisit the target when your expenses or family situation change.

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