<prompt> Human: Im currently unemployed and getting unemployment.I contributed 1,000 already to my Roth IRA because it increases my return quite a bit and thought it would be worth it.But is it worth contributing the remaining 4,500 before the deadline?I am doing interviews and hope to be back to work within a month but of course there is no guarantee.I have no savings, and no debt. Car is paid off. I do have some extra income remaining after my expenses, with the unemployment income. But not sure what my priority should be on where to invest it.Assistant: Pretty much the 1 piece of advice on this subreddit is to build up an emergency fund before putting money anywhere else. You can use a Roth as an emergency fund, but only if its in something low risk and liquid probably a savings account and youre okay with not being able to withdraw the earnings.Something to be careful of is that if your only income for a year is from unemployment, then youre ineligible to contribute to IRAs for that year. This is because you cant contribute more than your earned income, and unemployment income doesnt count as earned. If you contribute more than is allowed, then you get charged a 6 penalty every year until you take it out.Human: Thanks, didnt know about that 6percent penalty. I earned some money in early 2016. Would I be ok to add money to a Roth IRA right now for 2016 if I am currently unemployed?  <response>: As long as you arent adding more than your earned income for 2016, and you make sure to select 2016 when they ask what year the contribution is for, it should be fine. 