3-Month vs 6-Month Fund: Which Is Right for You?

Three months keeps more cash working; six months sleeps easier. The right answer depends on whether your income is salaried or self-employed, your expenses and your life stage. This weighs both targets across safety, the cost of idle cash and your profile, then gives you a recommendation rather than leaving you to flip a coin.

I'm trying to decide whether to build a 3-month or 6-month emergency fund. Compare these two targets across the following dimensions: financial safety, opportunity cost of holding cash, suitability for different life stages, and how income type (salaried vs self-employed) affects the decision. Then help me decide based on my profile: income type is {INCOME_TYPE}, monthly expenses are {MONTHLY_EXPENSES}, I have {MONTHS_SAVED} months saved already, and my biggest financial concern is {TOP_CONCERN}. Give me a clear recommendation with a brief rationale.