Even well-prepared savers sometimes need to tap their emergency fund. Financial planners usually recommend a clear replenishment plan rather than treating the withdrawal as a one-off. Rebuilding the safety net restores resilience against future shocks and prevents reliance on high-cost credit. The typical playbook is: (1) replace the used funds on a predictable timeline, (2) resume any paused contributions, and (3) avoid diverting rebuilt money into higher-risk investments until the buffer is back to an acceptable level. This preserves liquidity and reduces overall financial stress. The question asks what the immediate priority should be after dipping into your emergency stash.