I've bootstrapped two startups. For both, I and my partners invested a few $10's of thousand in the business and had enough funds in the bank to cover at least

I've bootstrapped two startups. For both, I and my partners invested a few $10's of thousand in the business and had enough funds in the bank to cover at least 6 months of normal living expenses. Two lessons I learned: we should have invested more money in the company and had more money in reserve. If I was doing it again, I would not be comfortable without at least 1 year of living expenses.