Goal-Based Savings Calculator

Manage multiple financial goals simultaneously

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Your Goals

#1

Total amount you can set aside for all goals

Average investment return rate

Why Use Savings "Buckets"?

Dividing your money into specific goals ("buckets") helps visualize progress for each target, maintain focus, and avoid mixing funds.

With clear goals, you have more motivation to save and less temptation to use the money for other purposes.

How to Prioritize Goals

  1. 1

    Emergency first: 3-6 month reserve before anything else

  2. 2

    Expensive debts: Pay off before saving for other goals

  3. 3

    Deadline matters: Closer goals need more attention

  4. 4

    Essential vs nice-to-have: Children's education > luxury vacation

  5. 5

    Flexibility: Some goals can wait, others cannot

Where to Invest by Timeline

Short term (up to 1 year)

  • High-yield savings account
  • Money market funds
  • Short-term CDs

Medium term (1-5 years)

  • Certificates of deposit
  • Bond funds
  • Treasury bonds

Long term (5+ years)

  • Inflation-protected bonds
  • Balanced funds
  • Stocks/ETFs (if risk-tolerant)

Common Goal Examples

  • Travel: $10,000-30,000, timeline 1-2 years
  • Car: $30,000-80,000, timeline 2-3 years
  • Home down payment: $50,000-150,000, timeline 3-5 years
  • Wedding: $30,000-100,000, timeline 1-3 years
  • Children's education: $100,000+, timeline 10-18 years

Tips for Multiple Goals

Don't have too many goals: 3-5 active is ideal

Review periodically: Rebalance every 3-6 months

Celebrate achievements: Reached one? Celebrate!

Be flexible: Priorities change, adjust when needed

Automate: Set up automatic transfers to each "bucket"

Separate accounts: Use different apps or investments

Frequently Asked Questions

How many goals should I have at once?

Ideally 3-5 active goals. More than that can dilute contributions too much and make tracking difficult.

What if my savings don't cover all goals?

Prioritize the most urgent/important ones. You can pause low-priority goals temporarily.

Can I change the distribution later?

Yes! Review and adjust as your priorities change. Life is dynamic.

Should I have separate accounts for each goal?

Ideally, have at least separate investments. It helps avoid mixing and better visualize progress.

What if I need to use money from one goal for another?

Avoid if possible. If necessary, "borrow" and pay it back as if it were a debt.

How to handle joint goals (couples)?

Decide priorities together and contribute proportionally to each person's income.

Goal-Based Savings Calculator | FinTools