[ZenGum]

As the rich Tomcat said ... If I ain't broke, don't fix me.

Actual numbers are hard to give because so many things vary. I have no dependants and no mortgage, so I don't need so much.

To be not broke I require:
* some kind of dependable income that equals or exceeds my minimum needs.
* at least one pay-period worth of money in the bank at the end of each pay period as "padding" or insurance against cashflow interruptions.
* some kind of savings against sudden needs - fixing the car, etc.

Being unable to save for retirement etc does not count as broke.
Being forced to dip into savings and investments for unexpected bills is a danger sign but it does not count as broke. Dipping for living expenses is an alarm bell but does not count as broke.

Right now I am doing better than ever before in my life, but the further I get from broke, the greater aversion I seem to have towards it.
When I was young, a few hundred left over in the account the day before payday seemed like plenty. Nowadays I want a few thousand. And I always have a stash of long-life food in a cupboard somewhere.