How much money you keep in your emergency fund is entirely dependent on your lifestyle, responsibilities and how much you like to live on the edge.

$1,000 is a great start to an emergency fund. Over 60% of Americans couldn't cover a $1,000 emergency. But, in my opinion, especially if you own a home or have kids, that is not enough of a buffer. Even if you still have debt, keep saving. Aim for 3 months of bare-bones expenses. My opinion is absolutely colored by the VERY expensive year we've had.

In my car I had to replace the muffler, the AC died and I needed to replace the brakes. In our house we needed to add a radon mitigation system, replace a leaky main pipe, clear out said pipe, replace water heater, add a sump pump, and, oh yeah, replaced a roof 🥴. Moving on from my woe is my rant, my point is, sh!t happens and you have to be prepared. Absolutely focus on paying off debt, but don't leave yourself exposed to taking on more debt in the meantime.