Bigger than the standard advice. The usual rule is three to six months of expenses. A founder on an irregular salary, whose main asset is illiquid, sits closer to the six to twelve month end. The exact number matters less than the point of it: a real cash buffer is what lets you say no to a bad deal, ride out a delayed salary, and avoid selling equity in a panic at the worst possible moment. Keep it boring and liquid, in a sweep account or a liquid fund, and separate from the money you invest for the long term.
A curated summary to orient you, not advice. The resources below are the real value.
3 hand-picked resources, 3 India-specific, 1 link-checked. Pick how you want to dig in.
Why we picked it The free, India-first grounding in what to do with cash once you have it: goals, allocation, SIPs, and not losing it to fees.
From Zerodha Varsity by Zerodha Varsity
Open zerodha.com →Why we picked it A trusted India-first place to compare funds and think about where cash goes once you have some to invest.
From Value Research by Value Research
Open valueresearchonline.com →Why we picked it A no-nonsense, ad-light India personal-finance site: plain math and free calculators for emergency funds, goals, and asset allocation, with no product to sell you.
From Freefincal by M. Pattabiraman
Open freefincal.com →The same ground, over in Money, pricing & model, our Starting Up track.
