The "three to six months" rule is a starting point, not an answer
The standard advice assumes a fairly typical, stable-employment household. It says nothing about whether your income is salaried and predictable or commission-based and lumpy.
Income volatility is the real variable
A dual-income household with stable salaried jobs can reasonably run closer to three months of expenses. A single-income freelancer with irregular contracts should look closer to nine to twelve.
Where to actually keep it
A high-yield savings account, not a brokerage account and not under a mattress — the goal is availability without market risk, not maximum return.
