<prompt> Human: should you go by the total of what you usually spend or the basic necessities of what you need? For 2016 I wanted to start on my emergency fund, but prior to deciding on doing the emergency fund I decided I was going to do No Spend January after saving so much in November. Should I tally up EVERYTHING I buy billsgas, needs, and wants or just billsgas and needs to decide what I need to save for a emergency fund?  <response>: Its more of what youd call guidelines than actual rules. 