What you need to save monthly to hit a target by a deadline.
Tell us the amount, the timeline, and the expected return. We compute the required monthly contribution and show whether your current plan gets you there — plus what you'd save by extending the timeline or accepting more risk.
Built and reviewed by Stephen Omukoko Okoth
Mathematical Economist · ex-Morgan Stanley FI · Equilar
Inputs
The plan
Verdict
Short by $ 16.0K.
You need $ 735/month — that's $ 235/month more.
At your current pace, you'd hit $ 50.0K in roughly 6y 12m.
Result
The numbers
Projected at goal date
$ 34.0K
Goal
$ 50.0K
Required monthly
$ 735
Your monthly
$ 500
Total contributions
$ 30.0K
Investment growth
$ 4.0K
Trajectory
Balance over time
Common questions
What return should I assume?
Conservative: 3-4% real (after inflation) for a balanced portfolio. Equity-heavy: 5-7% real over long horizons matching historical US data — though Africa-listed equities have been volatile around that average. For cash savings, use the deposit rate after tax. Be honest about the assumption.
What's the difference between contributing more vs longer?
Time matters more than amount, up to a point — compounding works exponentially. KSh 5,000/month for 30 years almost always beats KSh 10,000/month for 15 years at the same rate, even though the second person contributes the same total. Use the chart above to feel the asymmetry.
Should I include inflation?
Always. KSh 1,000,000 in 2025 is not KSh 1,000,000 in 2045. Set the return to a real (inflation-adjusted) number — 3-5% — and your goal automatically expresses today's purchasing power. The headline 'I need 10M' is meaningless without a date attached.
What if I don't hit the monthly number I need?
Three levers: (1) save more — usually constrained by income, (2) extend the timeline — easy if the goal isn't deadline-bound, (3) accept higher risk for higher expected return — earns more in expectation but with more variance, especially over short horizons. Run the calculator with each combination.