Find out exactly how much to save each month to reach your financial goal on time
A savings goal is most powerful when it is specific, time-bound, and linked to something meaningful — whether that's a house deposit, emergency fund, education, retirement, or a major purchase. Vague goals like 'save more money' rarely succeed; specific goals with a target amount and deadline are far more effective.
Our Savings Goal Calculator takes your target amount, current savings, expected return rate, and timeline and calculates exactly how much you need to set aside each month. It removes the guesswork and gives you a concrete, actionable monthly figure.
Before focusing on long-term savings goals, financial planners universally recommend building an emergency fund of 3–6 months of living expenses. This buffer protects you from having to sell investments at a loss or take on debt during unexpected hardships such as job loss, medical bills, or major repairs.
Use the calculator to find your monthly savings target for your emergency fund as a starting point. Once it's funded, you can redirect those same contributions toward your next financial goal.
The annual return rate you enter significantly impacts your required monthly contribution. Even at a modest 5% return, your investments do meaningful work toward your goal over time. At 8–10% (closer to long-term stock market averages), the difference between your total contributions and your final goal amount can be substantial.
Pro tip: Be conservative with your expected return rate. It's better to save slightly more than needed and exceed your goal than to plan on aggressive returns that don't materialise. A good starting point for long-term goals is 5–7% annualised.
Enter your target amount, current savings, expected annual return rate, and timeline. The calculator works backwards to tell you the exact monthly contribution needed, factoring in investment growth on both your existing savings and new contributions.
Use a conservative estimate. For cash savings accounts, 3–5%. For diversified investment portfolios, 5–7% is a reasonable long-term projection. Avoid using optimistic rates — underestimating your return means you save more and are more likely to reach your goal early.
An emergency fund is 3–6 months of living expenses held in accessible savings. It protects you from having to sell investments at a loss or go into debt during unexpected hardships. Financial experts recommend building this before investing toward other goals.
For goals under 2–3 years away, keep savings in low-risk accounts since market fluctuations could reduce your balance at the wrong time. For goals 5+ years away, investing in a diversified portfolio gives you the benefit of compound growth and inflation protection.