Savings Growth Calculator
See what compounding does to your savings over time. Drop in your starting balance, the monthly contribution, your APY, and a horizon. Here is the catch most people miss: the first decade of contributions does most of the work. Start early or start now.
Live · Updates as you type Savings Calculator
Savings details
$
$
%
Future Balance
$84,122
Total Contributed
$65,000
Interest Earned
$19,122
| Year | Contributions | Interest | Balance |
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Assumes annual compounding. Real returns shift with account type, institution, and market conditions. Not investment advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Compound interest means you earn interest on your principal and on the interest that already piled up. Year one, almost nothing. Year ten, real money. Year thirty, the curve goes vertical. The longer your money compounds, the more outsized the back half becomes.
Top high-yield savings accounts pay around 4% to 5% right now. CDs run 4% to 6% depending on the term. The stock market has averaged about 7% to 10% a year long-term, with much rougher rides along the way. Use conservative numbers for goals in the next five years. Use the higher number for 20-plus years.
A useful rule of thumb is 20% of take-home pay. For retirement specifically, aim for 15% of gross income including the employer match. If you cannot hit that yet, start at $100 a month, automate it, and bump it every raise. Consistency beats hero numbers.
Yes, and the gap is bigger than people expect. Someone saving $500 a month from 25 to 65 ends up with roughly twice the balance of someone who waits until 35, even though they put in only 25% more cash. A ten-year head start can buy you several hundred thousand dollars at retirement. Not optional.