"the luxury" of a 6-12 month emergency cushion? Sorry, but that's called responsibility.
If you dont have it, you need to save it up quick. If you cant save it up with your current lifestyle, you need to take steps to lower your monthly expenses until you can save the proper amount. I'm so sick of this attitude of victimization just because people cant stand confronting the REAL possibility of the worst case scenario.
I'm not completely cold. I am sure there are actual exceptions here and there. But I doubt 98% of people would get my sympathy if I looked at their last 24 months of spending with a fine-tooth comb when they said "but i couldnt save that much".