See the monthly contribution that hits any goal — with yield helping along the way.
Set the target, set the deadline, see the monthly. Or set the monthly and see when you hit the goal. Includes high-yield-savings compounding so you don't over-budget the contribution.
Direct answers to the most common questions, in plain language. Skim if you're in a hurry; dig deeper below.
Set the target, pick a date, solve for monthly contribution.
Three inputs decide the monthly number: target amount, time to goal, and expected return. The calculator solves for monthly contribution given those — or shows how long an existing monthly hits the target.
0–4% for under 3 years; 6–8% for 5+ years.
Money you need in under 3 years should be in high-yield savings or T-bills (4–5% currently). 3–5 years can take some equity exposure. 5+ years can target 6–8% real return with diversified equities.
Yes — separate buckets, prioritized by horizon.
Treat each goal as its own savings account. Emergency fund first, then short-term goals (1–3 years) in high-yield savings, medium goals (3–7 years) in conservative investment, long goals (7+) in equities.
Automate transfers and review quarterly.
Auto-transfer to the goal account on payday. Quarterly check-ins — adjust the monthly if life changed (raise, new expense). Manual saving rarely survives a busy quarter.
The mechanics in short answers — no jargon, no upsell.
House down payment, wedding, sabbatical, new car — name it and put a number on it.
When you need it. Be realistic — stretching a 5-year goal into 3 years means a much higher monthly.
Shorter goals: lower yields, lower risk. Longer goals: equity-style returns, higher variance.
The calculator returns the exact monthly contribution required. If it's too high, extend the timeline.
Designed so anyone can model their situation in under a minute, with or without a finance background.
Required monthly to hit any goal at any return.
How much your savings rate is boosted by yield.
How adding 12 months changes the required monthly.
Factor in money you've already saved toward the goal.
See which yield assumption fits your timeline.
See the month you hit the goal at any contribution.
Everything you might ask before, during, or after using this tool.
High-yield savings account at an online bank (4–5% APY in 2026). FDIC insured, same-day liquidity, no risk to principal. Don't invest money you need within 12 months.
A mix — partly high-yield savings, partly conservative investments (60/40 bonds/stocks or a target-date fund 5 years out). The exact split depends on risk tolerance and how flexible your goal is.
Typically a 3–5 year goal: 20% down on a $400k house is $80k. Calculate the required monthly, put it in high-yield savings for the first year, then a conservative mix as you near the goal. Some buyers use a CD ladder for safety + slightly higher yield.
Generally no for short horizons. Investing aggressively for a 2-year goal can blow it up — a 20% market drop in year 1 sets you back further than the higher expected return helped.
Break it into milestones. A 5-year, $50k goal is 5 yearly milestones of $10k. A monthly visual of progress against the milestone is more motivating than a distant final target.
For emergency fund and 401(k) match: full priority — finish those first. After that, splitting feels good emotionally but slows everything down. Sequence works better — finish one goal, redirect to the next.
For short goals (1–3 years), it's small enough to ignore. For long goals (10+ years), inflate the target by 2–3% per year. A $100k retirement goal in today's dollars becomes ~$135k in 15 years.
Add the missed amount to the next month, or accept a slightly delayed completion. Don't try to compound your guilt — the goal still works if you average the target over the period.
Other Lazysmirk tools that pair well with this one.
Size your emergency fund to your real expenses and risk profile, then see exactly how many months until you hit the target.
Calculate compound interest with monthly contributions, see the growth curve, and find out why Einstein called it the eighth wonder of the world.
See what your money will be worth years from now. Model lump sums, monthly contributions, and compound growth with one clean calculator.
Project monthly SIP investments across any duration. Model step-up SIPs, inflation-adjusted real value, and conservative vs. optimistic return scenarios.
A 50/30/20 budget planner with custom categories — see your needs, wants, and savings split in real time.
Money you need this year doesn't belong in stocks. Period. The variance is unsurvivable for a fixed goal.
1–3 years: high-yield savings or T-bills.
3–7 years: 50/50 bonds and stocks, or a target-date fund.
7+ years: equity-heavy.
This is the only "rule" of goal saving that matters.
Mixing goals in one savings account is the fastest way to mentally "borrow" from one for another.
Open a separate account for each named goal. The friction of moving money between them is the discipline.
Online banks (Ally, SoFi, Marcus) let you open multiple savings buckets at no cost. Use them.
Manual saving fails. A $400/month plan executed by you manually for 3 years has maybe 60% adherence. The same plan via automatic transfer on payday: 95%+.
Set it on day 1. Forget about it. Check in quarterly.
On a $50k goal over 5 years at 0% yield, you need $833/month. At 4% yield, $755/month.
That's $4,700 less out of pocket over 5 years — for putting the money in high-yield savings instead of checking. The bar to clear is zero effort.
Two short notes worth reading before you trust any number on this page.
Your loan amount, rate, and prepayment inputs never leave your device. No accounts, no cookies on your numbers, no analytics on the values you type. Disconnect from the internet and it still works.
We are not a bank, NBFC, advisor, broker, or distributor of any financial product. The numbers shown here are estimates for educational purposes only, based on the inputs you provide.
Results are not financial, legal, or tax advice. Please consult a qualified professional before any decision about your loan, investments, or personal finances. Actual loan terms and charges depend on your bank and individual circumstances.
