An emergency fund is usually described as three to six months of expenses held in cash. The figure is less important than the two conditions attached to it. The money must be reachable within a day or two, which rules out most investments, and it must be dull enough that the holder is not tempted to spend it, which rules out a regular checking account. A separate savings account at a different institution satisfies both conditions, which is why it is the standard recommendation despite paying very little interest.
According to the passage, why is a regular checking account unsuitable for an emergency fund?
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Correct answer to question 18 (Paragraph Comprehension): The money is too easy to spend
Method
The passage gives two conditions and says a checking account fails the second one: the fund must be dull enough that the holder is not tempted to spend it. Low interest is mentioned, but as something the recommended account also suffers from, not as a disqualifier.
Updated: November 2026
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