How to Calculate Savings Goal
What is Savings Goal?
A savings goal calculator determines how much you need to save each month (or how long it takes) to reach a target amount by a specific date, given your current savings and expected investment return.
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1Future value of existing savings: FV = PV × (1 + r)^n
- 2Gap = Goal − FV of current savings
- 3Required monthly contribution = Gap × r / ((1+r)^n − 1) × 1/(1+r)
- 4Higher return rates or longer timelines dramatically reduce required monthly contributions
Worked Examples
Input
Goal: $20,000 in 3 years, $2,000 saved, 5% return
Result
Save ~$463/month
Current savings grow to $2,315
Input
Goal: $100,000 in 10 years, $0 saved, 7% return
Result
Save ~$576/month
Compound growth does the heavy lifting
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