Cost of Waiting to Save Calculator
Starting early matters because growth builds on growth. This page compares the same monthly saving started now and started after a wait, ending on the same date.
- Free
- Works offline after your first visit
- Saves on this device
- No sign-up
- Updated
How it works
Each monthly deposit grows at the monthly rate, which is the yearly return divided by twelve. The total from a run of equal deposits uses the standard formula. The page works it out for the full time, and again for the shorter time after the wait, then subtracts.
No return is promised, and this uses one steady rate. Real returns move up and down from year to year.
Worked example
Saving $300.00 a month at 6% a year for 30 years builds $301,354.51. Waiting 5 years first builds $207,898.19. Waiting costs $93,456.32.
Questions
Is this an investment plan?
No. It compares two timelines and does not recommend any product or account.
Why do the last years matter so much?
The balance is largest near the end, so growth in those years is biggest. A delay cuts exactly those years.
What if the return is lower?
A lower rate shrinks the gap but does not remove it. Try a few rates to see the range.
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