In short: 'Save for a house deposit / trip / emergency fund' stays a wish until it becomes a monthly number. Reverse the math and the goal gets honest: $10,000 in 18 months is not a dream, it is $483 a month at 4% APY, or $556 at 0%.
Updated August 28, 2026, after a fresh review, with updated visuals and links.
Enter the goal, what you already have, your deadline, and the account's interest if any. The calculator returns the monthly (and weekly) deposit required, plus how much of the goal interest quietly pays for you.
From wish to monthly number
Zero interest case is a division: what you still need, split by months. With interest, deposits compound monthly, so the existing $1,000 and every deposit earn while they wait; at 4% APY the 18-month deposit comes down to about $482.65.
The weekly figure exists because many people automate weekly transfers; $482.65 monthly is about $111 per week, which psychologically fits under the grocery line better.
If the required deposit exceeds your current surplus, move the deadline before you move the goal. An 18-month target at $483 becomes 24 months at $366; time is the variable that does not hurt.
Worth remembering
- Automate the deposit the day after payday. Willpower-based transfers, done manually on the 28th, fail by summer.
- Keep goal savings in a separate named account. Visibility and friction both matter more than 0.5% of extra interest.
Frequently asked
What interest rate should I enter?
The APY on your savings account, typically 3.5-5% at online banks in 2026 and near 0.1% at traditional ones. If you are unsure, leave 0 and the number is conservative.
Should my emergency fund be in this kind of account?
Yes: instantly accessible high-yield savings is the standard home for an emergency fund. Goals with longer horizons (3+ years) can consider investments, which can also lose value.
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