4 Strategies To Fill Your Emergency Fund Fast, According to a Financial Advisor
When an unexpected expense or emergency hits, having an emergency fund can save on stress and help you weather the storm.
Unfortunately, however, not everyone is prepared for these situations. The Federal Reserve’s Report on the Economic Well-Being of Households found that in 2025 only 55% of adults have an emergency fund, and a U.S. News survey conducted in January 2026 that found that 43% of those surveyed couldn’t pay for a $1,000 emergency with their savings. This means that many Americans are vulnerable to financial struggles, should an emergency or unexpected expense occur.
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Having an emergency fund in place can prevent you from going into unnecessary debt, and according to Christopher Walsh, a senior advisor and regional director at Capital Choice Arizona, “keeps you grounded when times are tough.”
What Is an Emergency Fund, and How Much Should You Have in It?
Walsh defines an emergency fund as “a cash reserve for life’s unexpected challenges.” While there’s no one size fits all number for an emergency fund, financial advisors typically recommend three to six months of expenses.
The actual amount depends on your individual situation. Three months is likely fine, said Walsh, if you’re a “dual income household and you feel like your job is incredibly stable.” If, however, your job is up and down, if one income is substantially higher than the other or if you’re a single income household, Walsh recommends bumping your emergency fund up to six months of expenses.
How To Fill Your Emergency Fund Quickly
If you’ve realized that you need an emergency fund and want to fill it quickly, Walsh offered some tips. It may mean cutting back on expenses temporarily or taking on more hours, but having the financial security of an emergency fund is worth the short-term sacrifice.
Sell Household Items You're Not Using
Chances are there are things around your house that you’re not using, and those things can be sold to bring in the money you need to fill your emergency fund.
“The downside,” said Walsh, “is you’ll probably get far less than what you paid for it, and you might have to go through some negotiation to get it done.” If you’re selling stuff you weren’t using anyway, then that may not bother you too much, especially if the payoff is more financial security in case of an emergency.
Take a Second Job or Add Hours
Walsh cites the current gig economy as a big bonus if you want to take on a second job.
“You can turn around and do rideshare or food delivery relatively quickly,” he said, “and it’s one of the fastest ways to start seeing extra money come in.”
A tradeoff, he said, is the added wear and tear on your vehicle. A second job doesn’t have to mean using your vehicle, though. If you have some skills that you can offer as a service or the ability to make items to sell on an online marketplace, you may be able to beef up the emergency fund that way.
Adjust Your Paycheck
If you’re able to pick up extra hours, that will automatically add to your paycheck, but if you’re salary, you may be able to ask for a raise, provided you can justify it. Walsh also suggests a bigger, but very temporary move: pausing your retirement contributions for a short period.
To do this “a lot of people are giving up a company match,” so he cautions against doing this for too long. “I tell them to pause only until they have the bare minimum three months built up, then restart,” he said.
Dial in Your Budget
Walsh points to your budget as the biggest leverage you have. He often sees his clients spending money on dining out, coffee, and entertainment as well as extra subscriptions that they didn’t know they were still paying for.
To push money into your emergency fund, he said, “take a look at your spending, prioritize your immediate needs, then your debt payments, then take care of anything extra beyond that.”
Auditing your expenses and making sure you’re only spending on necessities may not be as fast as selling your things or taking a second job, but, Walsh said, “it’s the one that keeps working every month even after the fund is full.”
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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