Emergency Fund Milestone Tracker

Building an emergency fund takes time. This tracker breaks the process into smaller milestones, giving you a clear way to see where you are, what you've saved, and what you're working toward next.

Built around the emergency fund milestones covered in Financial Basics for First-Time Adults, the tracker helps you record your savings, see your progress, and focus on the next milestone rather than the full savings goal all at once.

What it includes:

• A savings log to record deposits and withdrawals as they happen
• A Progress page showing your current balance and progress toward your next milestone
• A milestone table that tracks your progress toward $500, $1,000, one month of essential expenses, three months, and six months
• A visual progress bar that updates automatically as your balance changes
• A place to enter your monthly essential expenses so your larger milestones are based on your own numbers
• Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel versions

The milestone approach keeps the focus on the next step in front of you. As you reach each milestone, the tracker moves you forward to the next one, helping you see your progress without losing sight of the larger goal.

The tracker doesn't tell you how much you should save or how quickly you should get there. It gives you a simple way to understand where you stand and keep track of your progress over time.

Designed to complement Financial Basics for First-Time Adults, but works just as well on its own. Like the guide, it keeps things simple: understand where you stand, and decide what to save next.