Financial planning
How much should I save per month to reach my goal?
How much to save per month to reach a target amount by your deadline — reverse of a savings plan.
Quick answer
Rearrange the savings-plan formula: monthly = (Goal − PV×(1+r)^n) ÷ (((1+r)^n − 1)/r). Target €50,000 in 10 years at 5% expected return, no starting capital: monthly ≈ €323 (total contributed €38,760; the rest is assumed growth). The return field is editable — a lower hypothesis raises the required instalment.
Monthly contribution needed
$321.99
- Projected total at goal
- $50,000.00
- From assumed growth
- 1,360.69
Related calculators: ETF savings plan · FIRE calculator · Compound interest · Mortgage payment · Rental yield
⚠️ Educational estimate only — not financial advice. Returns are assumptions, not guarantees — past results do not predict future performance and invested capital is at risk.
Reverse of a savings plan: given a target, horizon and return hypothesis, how much to set aside each month. If starting capital already covers the goal at your rate, the monthly need is zero.
How it works
Use this for concrete goals: emergency fund, house down payment, sabbatical pot. If you already have capital, enter it — it lowers the monthly need. For forward projection from a fixed instalment, use the ETF savings plan; for living off investments, FIRE. Name the goal and deadline in writing so you do not quietly shorten the horizon when the monthly number feels high.
Pay yourself first: schedule the transfer on payday, not “whatever is left at month-end”. Build a three-month emergency buffer before aggressive goals — the required monthly drops sharply once starting capital is in the field. Bump the target 10–15% for inflation on long horizons; general guidance only, not investment advice.
A target set in today's money will not buy today's things when it arrives. At two per cent inflation, €50,000 in ten years has roughly the purchasing power of €41,000 now — so a figure chosen because it is what a deposit or a car costs today falls short by that much when the day comes. Either inflate the target before entering it, or read the result as "what this will be worth in current money" and adjust. The longer the horizon, the more this matters: over twenty years the same inflation halves the gap between the number you saved and the thing you were saving for.
Frequently asked questions
What if I save less than the calculated amount?+
You either need more time, a higher return assumption (riskier, not guaranteed), a lower goal, or extra starting capital. The maths is strict — there is no shortcut without changing one of those levers. Saving 80% of the target monthly usually means missing the deadline, not hitting 80% of the goal on time.
Should the goal be in today’s euros?+
Yes for planning clarity — if the goal is 10 years away and prices rise, you may need more nominal euros later. Inflation is not auto-applied here; bump the target or lower the return assumption to be conservative. A €50,000 house deposit in 2036 may need €55,000–60,000 in nominal terms.
Zero monthly payment — what does that mean?+
Your starting capital, compounded at your return hypothesis, already reaches the goal within the horizon. You may still choose to add monthly savings to exceed the target faster — or lower risk by keeping contributions and shortening the timeline.
How is this different from the ETF savings plan?+
Same formula, solved for a different unknown. Savings plan: fixed instalment → final capital. Savings goal: fixed target → required instalment. Use both to sanity-check each other — if the plan’s output and this tool’s required monthly disagree, one of your inputs (return, horizon, starting capital) differs.