I'm trying to balance between the money to invest and the money to keep in a safe place, i.e, an insured deposit account. How much of your money is allocated to the latter? 1k, 10k, or more? I frankly have no idea what's a good or typical amount would be. 
I've always gone on the premise that it's a good idea to have 6 months' worth of income in an account that's readily available if needed and to invest anything over that.
LOL... I was about to say... Pretty damn cheap living on a cutter a few months a year. 
@oscar_actuary wrote:IMO it really depends on a lot of factors
- stability of income: profession, location, ability to get similar pay quickly, other sources of income (spouse?)
- number of folks to support
- flexibility of expenses, or how fast you could down size
- other?
Keep in mind with a ROTH IRA there is no penalty or taxes to pay for withdrawing your contributions any time. So that can work as a dual account.
For me, I keep minimal in personal short term accounts because I hate car debt and recently went from 25 yrs left to 12 on the home. So, CF is a bit tighter. I may be too confident in my employment.
Being an actuary will keep you employed for a while! 
Say I have a stable job and only myself to support, am very flexible about expenses (don't have a car and can cook if necessary) and live in a rather high COL area. What do you say would be a good way to estimate cash reserve?
@KaLin wrote:I've always gone on the premise that it's a good idea to have 6 months' worth of income in an account that's readily available if needed and to invest anything over that.
6 month's worth of income is about all I have right now ...
@guiness56 wrote:
@KaLin wrote:I've always gone on the premise that it's a good idea to have 6 months' worth of income in an account that's readily available if needed and to invest anything over that.
This is what the military suggests also. But apparently the ones that make this suggestion have never actually been in the military.
Huh?
@HiLine wrote:Being an actuary will keep you employed for a while!
@ guiness56 wrote:This is what the military suggests also. But apparently the ones that make this suggestion have never actually been in the military.Huh?
probably referring to low pay for militray; thus difficult to save
For your situation, it depends. How stable and how replaceable is the income. At a min, I'd imagine 3 months of living lean.. Just a guess.
@HiLine wrote:
@oscar_actuary wrote:IMO it really depends on a lot of factors
- stability of income: profession, location, ability to get similar pay quickly, other sources of income (spouse?)
- number of folks to support
- flexibility of expenses, or how fast you could down size
- other?
Keep in mind with a ROTH IRA there is no penalty or taxes to pay for withdrawing your contributions any time. So that can work as a dual account.
For me, I keep minimal in personal short term accounts because I hate car debt and recently went from 25 yrs left to 12 on the home. So, CF is a bit tighter. I may be too confident in my employment.
Being an actuary will keep you employed for a while!
@KaLin wrote:I've always gone on the premise that it's a good idea to have 6 months' worth of income in an account that's readily available if needed and to invest anything over that.
6 month's worth of income is about all I have right now ...
@guiness56 wrote:
@KaLin wrote:I've always gone on the premise that it's a good idea to have 6 months' worth of income in an account that's readily available if needed and to invest anything over that.
This is what the military suggests also. But apparently the ones that make this suggestion have never actually been in the military.
Huh?
This is what the financial advisors tell you. Military members don't make as much as some suggest. Our pay still falls short of the outside pay by a bit. As a single parent with 2 kids it was impossible for me to save even near that much. Even though you get money for housing, it was never intended to pay all rent and utilities, only a portion. While you do get more for higher cost of living areas, the rent is also high. And in lower cost of living areas you get a lot less. If you live on base, you still pay in some areas.