Finns do not, on average, have the equivalent of two monthly salaries sitting in their accounts as a financial buffer. According to HBL, the latest figures show that the typical savings cushion falls short of that long-cited target.

The rule of thumb has long been that households should be prepared for unexpected expenses with savings equal to two months of income. The new data suggest many people have less room to absorb shocks, making everyday finances more vulnerable when income or costs change.