1 - 2 months is probably fine, 3-6 is overkill. If you lose your job, you can naturally cut back on spending which can stretch that closer to 3 months, plus you can get a month of float from credit cards, that's 4, plus unemployment gets you to at least 6 probably more depending on the state, that gives you enough to liquidate some investments if needed/ you haven't found another job yet.