6 months is a decent starting point for one-size-fits-all advice, which is why it is the standard context-free recommendation, but I honestly think there are circumstances where you can skimp on it.
For example, in the totality of your personal situation, you might have:
+ multiple independent sources of income
+ insurance against common forms of risk (e.g. very good health or occupational coverage)
+ strong non-market safety nets, either via your government or social network
+ better than average marketability of your skills
+ a lifestyle which was amenable to belt-tightening in the event of an emergency
+ access to credit which would survive events likely to cause a hit to your income
I appreciate that there is a wide range of the risk tolerance spectrum represented on HN, and I'm probably towards the "I'd prefer more consistent, smaller returns" side of it, but there are many people for whom six months of savings is underbuying risk given their positioning and preferences.
For example, in the totality of your personal situation, you might have:
+ multiple independent sources of income + insurance against common forms of risk (e.g. very good health or occupational coverage) + strong non-market safety nets, either via your government or social network + better than average marketability of your skills + a lifestyle which was amenable to belt-tightening in the event of an emergency + access to credit which would survive events likely to cause a hit to your income
I appreciate that there is a wide range of the risk tolerance spectrum represented on HN, and I'm probably towards the "I'd prefer more consistent, smaller returns" side of it, but there are many people for whom six months of savings is underbuying risk given their positioning and preferences.