KEY POINTS
Building an emergency fund can feel overwhelming, especially if you're starting small. But the truth is, growing a $500 emergency fund into $5,000 isn't as hard as it seems. With the right strategies and a bit of discipline, you can hit that goal faster than you think. Here's how to make it happen.
One of the easiest ways to build your emergency fund is to automate your savings. Set up a recurring transfer from your checking account to a high-yield savings account each payday. Even small amounts -- like $25 per week -- can add up quickly. Over a year, that's $1,300 saved without much effort.
High-yield savings accounts can offer up to 10 times the national average savings account APY. That can lead to hundreds or thousands more dollars in your savings account over time. If you're not sure where to start, check out our list of the best high-yield savings accounts.
Take a look at your spending habits and find one expense you can cut or reduce. Whether it's a streaming service you barely use or that one auto-ship that you always mean to cancel, redirecting even $50 per month into your emergency fund can speed things up significantly.
Product | APY | Min. to Earn | |
![]() American Express® High Yield Savings Member FDIC. APY 3.70% Rate info 3.70% annual percentage yield as of March 7, 2025. Terms apply. Min. to earn $0 Open Account for American Express® High Yield Savings On American Express's Secure Website. | 3.70% Rate info 3.70% annual percentage yield as of March 7, 2025. Terms apply. | $0 | Open Account for American Express® High Yield Savings On American Express's Secure Website. |
![]() SoFi Checking and Savings Member FDIC. APY up to 3.80%² Rate info You can earn the maximum APY by having Direct Deposit (no minimum amount required) or by making $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits every 30 days. See SoFi Checking and Savings rate sheet at: https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. Min. to earn $0 Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings On SoFi's Secure Website. | up to 3.80%² Rate info You can earn the maximum APY by having Direct Deposit (no minimum amount required) or by making $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits every 30 days. See SoFi Checking and Savings rate sheet at: https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. | $0 | Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings On SoFi's Secure Website. |
![]() Capital One 360 Performance Savings Member FDIC. APY 3.70% Rate info See Capital One website for most up-to-date rates. Advertised Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is variable and accurate as of Feb. 6, 2025. Rates are subject to change at any time before or after account opening. Min. to earn $0 Open Account for Capital One 360 Performance Savings On Capital One's Secure Website. | 3.70% Rate info See Capital One website for most up-to-date rates. Advertised Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is variable and accurate as of Feb. 6, 2025. Rates are subject to change at any time before or after account opening. | $0 | Open Account for Capital One 360 Performance Savings On Capital One's Secure Website. |
SoFi disclosure:
¹ New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/26. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at sofi.com/banking#1.
² SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus with Direct Deposit or by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days or with $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either SoFi Plus or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Only SoFi Plus members are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. See the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.
³ We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.
⁴ SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional
FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $2M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/terms
See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/receivingbanks
⁵ We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.
⁶ Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.
⁷ Overdraft Coverage is limited to $50 on debit card purchases only and is an account benefit available to customers with direct deposits of $1,000 or more during the current 30-day Evaluation Period as determined by SoFi Bank, N.A. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the“30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Members with a prior history of non-repayment of negative balances are ineligible for Overdraft Coverage.
Adding $50 every month to a high-yield savings account earning a 4.00% APY gives you more than $600 in your account at the end of the year. And after five years of adding just $50 a month to your account, you'll have an extra $3,326. Find an expense you can live without and stop leaving all this money on the table.
Some of the best credit cards pay cash back on everyday expenses like groceries, gas, and dining out. Use a rewards credit card for necessary expenses and use your cash back to help pay off your balance. Then just deposit the cash you would have sent to your credit card issuer into your savings account.
Some cards even offer welcome bonuses worth hundreds of dollars. That's a great way to jumpstart your savings goals. Just be sure to use your credit card responsibly. Carrying a balance from month to month will quickly erase any cash back savings you have earned.
Earn some extra cash back to jumpstart your savings. Take a look at our list of best credit cards now.
Saving $5,000 might feel like a stretch, but breaking it into smaller milestones makes it easier. Start with a goal of saving $1,000 or even just $50 monthly.
It will surprise you how quickly your money can grow, and hitting milestones keeps you motivated. After managing to save $1,000 in the bank, suddenly $2,500 seems within reach. You'll be at $5,000 before you know it.
Reaching those short-term savings goals gets easier if you keep your cash in a high-yield savings account. Right now, new SoFi® customers can earn up to a $300 bonus with qualifying direct deposits.¹ Click here to apply now.
With a few simple changes, you can grow your $500 emergency fund into $5,000 faster than you thought possible. The key is to be consistent, take advantage of opportunities to earn extra cash, and make saving a priority.
Start today by opening a high-yield savings account, setting up an automatic transfer, or finding a small expense to cut. Your future self will thank you!
Disclaimer: Investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. The above content should not be regarded as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation on acquiring or disposing of any financial products, any associated discussions, comments, or posts by author or other users should not be considered as such either. It is solely for general information purpose only, which does not consider your own investment objectives, financial situations or needs. TTM assumes no responsibility or warranty for the accuracy and completeness of the information, investors should do their own research and may seek professional advice before investing.