<prompt> Human: My six-month emergency fund should total approximately 16,500 -- about 2,750 a month. The high monthly costs are primarily due to student loans and a high-rent situation based on my city of employment. I am otherwise debt free. My emergency fund is currently at 3,500, leaving it underfunded by about 13,000. Not good!Until now, I have prioritized my 401k over everything else, including my emergency fund, resulting in a 401k of 115,000. I have done this because of a generous employee matching policy. My employer matches 50 of my monthly 401k contribution, up to 15 of my total salary. Im currently contributing the max 15, or 960 pretax each month, and the company adds an additional 480 per month. Its a great deal.After 401k contributions and typical monthly spending, I have approximately 400 left over each month to add to my emergency fund. It would take 33 months to have a fully-funded emergency fund at 400 per month, which seems like a dangerously long time. If I stop my 401k contributions and move it toward my emergency fund, I would reach the goal significantly sooner, about 13 months. But, I will give up a lot in both pretax savings and in company matching. First, I would miss out on company matching -- approximately 6,240 over the period. Second, I would pay an additional 4,400 in taxes on income that is no longer a non-taxed 401k contribution. So Im losing 10,640 in potential income in order to hit my emergency fund goal in 13 months. I am relatively young -- under 30 -- and healthy. The money in my 401k can theoretically be accessed in an emergency -- via either a loan or a hardship withdrawal. So... should I give up my 401k contributions and sacrifice 10,000 to rapidly fund my emergency fund? Or, continue the 401k contributions and grow the emergency fund at a slower rate? Any feedback welcome!  <response>: Keep contributing to the 401k. Even if you have to pay the 10 penalty to withdraw, you still come out ahead. Also, needing to use your emergency fund doesnt imply you would qualify for a hardship withdraw. Plan on needing to pay the 10 penalty if you withdraw. 