Exact amount of money Brits should have saved as a 'safety net' - do you have enough?

Woman checking finances

Experts have revealed exactly how much cash you should have in your savings (Image: Getty)

Financial experts have revealed exactly how much money Brits should have saved up as a “safety net”. This cash is vital in case of unexpected expenses such as a large bill or car problems.

A team at NatWest stressed the importance of a “savings safety net”. On its website, they said: “A savings safety net helps prepare you for unexpected expenses.

“How would you cope with a large, unexpected bill? What if you have a leaking pipe or the exhaust has fallen off the car?

"Things like that can happen at any time, but having a safety net could take the stress out of the situation and help you manage the cost.”

For this reason, they recommended you have “at least” three month’s worth of living expenses in your savings. “Ideally” this would be six month’s worth.

Hand holding british pound banknotes

The average person in the UK has £16,067 in savings in 2025 (Image: Getty)

To work out how much this equates to for you:

Examine your budget
List out all of the expenses that need to be covered every month (rent, bills etc)
Add them up and then multiply that figure by either three or six

Lewis Broadie, savings expert at Natwest, said: "Customers who start building a savings safety net tell us that the best way to do that is by setting a goal, which is personal to them, and committing to that goal by putting away a small amount each month.

"Doing this when you are paid, and taking the approach of saving little and often, means it all adds up quickly - resulting in less worry and more confidence for whatever the future holds."

Reduce your monthly outgoings - look at your budget and decide whether you could reduce any spending each month (then reduce it).

Open a savings account if you don’t have one already - You may want to might want to think about opening a new one with instant access just for your savings safety net.

Set a savings goal - Based on how much you need to have for an emergency fund. Once you’ve met your target, you could set yourself a new goal to save towards

Pay yourself first - Set up a regular payment into your savings account for when you are paid, just like you would for a rent or mortgage payment.

How much does the average person have

According to a Finder savings survey from January 2025, the average Brit has the following savings: