Savings Goal Calculator

Saving enough money for the future starts with a plan. Whether you’ve set your sights on a new car, wedding or emergency fund, use our tool to start working toward your savings goal.

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Tell us how much you want to put away and when you want to achieve your savings goal. We’ll calculate how much to save each month.

How much to save per month calculator

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Savings goal calculator key terms

Savings goal: The amount you want to save — whether it’s for an emergency fund, short-term goal or long-term goal.

Starting balance: The money you already have tucked away for your savings goal.

Time to grow: The deadline for your savings goal. For example, if you want to save for a deposit on a home you plan to buy in three years, you would input three years.

Annual interest rate: The interest you earn on your savings. Good high-yield savings accounts typically have a higher annual interest rate than average accounts.

If you have multiple financial goals in mind, use this calculator to focus on each one individually. Then, you can decide whether it’s best to prioritize them or start tackling them all at once.

How to meet your monthly savings goal

Figuring out how much money to save is only half the battle. Next comes taking the right steps to stop spending and start saving more money. Not sure where to start? You can turn to NerdWallet’s money saving tips for guidance.

It may also be helpful to create a budget that includes savings goals. We recommend using the 50/30/20 budget, which means spending 50% of your income on needs, 30% on wants and 20% on savings and debt repayment beyond minimums.

By consistently setting aside 20% of your income for savings, you may be able to generate an emergency fund, contribute to long-term retirement goals or begin paying off high-interest debt like credit cards.