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Savings goal examples

Worked monthly-contribution requirements for common savings goals — house down payments, college funds, retirement targets, $1M FIRE goals. Each page shows the year-by-year accumulation, the "cost of waiting" vs starting earlier, and the equivalent lump sum needed today. To customize, use our savings goal calculator.

Featured scenarios

Save $1,000,000
in 30 years at 7%
→ $820/month
Save $1,000,000
in 20 years at 7%
→ $1,920/month
Save $500,000
in 20 years at 7%
→ $960/month
Save $100,000
in 10 years at 6%
→ $610/month
Save $250,000
in 15 years at 7%
→ $789/month
Save $50,000
in 5 years at 4%
→ $754/month
Save $2,000,000
in 30 years at 8%
→ $1,342/month
Save $100,000
in 5 years at 6%
→ $1,433/month
Save $1,000,000
in 25 years at 7%
→ $1,234/month

Browse by target amount

$50,000in 30y / 7%$100,000in 30y / 7%$250,000in 30y / 7%$500,000in 30y / 7%$1,000,000in 30y / 7%$2,000,000in 30y / 7%

Browse by time horizon

5y$100K / 7%10y$100K / 7%15y$100K / 7%20y$100K / 7%25y$100K / 7%30y$100K / 7%35y$100K / 7%40y$100K / 7%

Browse by return rate

4%$100K / 30y6%$100K / 30y7%$100K / 30y8%$100K / 30y10%$100K / 30y

How these are calculated

Standard future-value-of-annuity formula: PMT = FV × r / ((1 + r)n − 1), where r is the monthly rate (APR ÷ 12) and n is total months. Returns assume constant rates across the period. For a real plan, increase contributions annually with inflation (real returns are lower than nominal — typically subtract 2–3% from the rate column for purchasing power).

Read the pillar guide on compound interest for the complete framework on how time, rate, and contribution interact.