Savings Goal Calculator
The forward-looking question: not "how long will my savings last" but "when could I realistically afford to go." Enter what you have, what you need, and what you save each month to get a concrete date, three levers for bringing it closer, and a downloadable PDF.
Fill in your numbers, results update as you type. Nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.
Reading your date
The months figure is how long, at your current saving rate, until your balance reaches the target, and the date is that point on the calendar. The helper fields on the left turn a runway goal into a target amount for you: type your monthly expenses and the months of runway you want, and the target fills itself in. To make sure that expenses figure is honest, build it in the budget planner first.
Three levers to bring the date closer
- Save more each month. The most direct lever. Raise the monthly figure and watch the date jump, even a modest increase compounds fast over a one-year push.
- Lower the target. A leaner post-quit budget shrinks the number you need. Rebuild it in the budget planner and the goal moves toward you.
- Add a one-off. A bonus, a tax refund, a sold possession, lump sums move the date more than they feel like they should. Add them to current savings to see.
A worked example
Theo has 8,000 saved and wants 20,000, six months of his 3,333 expenses, rounded. He saves 1,200 a month. Gap: 12,000. At 1,200 a month that is 10 months, a date he can put in the calendar and plan interviews around.
Push the monthly figure to 1,600 and the gap closes in 8 months; trim the target to five months of runway (16,667) and it closes in 7. Same starting point, two levers, three months saved. A date you can move beats a vague "once I have saved enough" every time.
Methodology, in plain English
Months to goal equals the gap (target minus current savings) divided by monthly saving, rounded up. The target date adds that many whole months to today. If the optional helper fields are filled, target equals monthly expenses times months of runway, overriding the target field. Interest, raises, and irregular windfalls are not modelled, add lump sums to current savings to reflect them. Full assumptions on the methodology page. Educational estimates, not financial advice.
Make the timeline real
Automate the transfer
A standing transfer on payday removes the monthly decision. The savings you never see are the savings that actually accumulate.
Protect the fund
Keep it separate and accessible, and do not invest money you will spend within a year or two. Size the buffer
Interview before the date
Hitting the number is the start, not the finish. Begin the search a month or two early so the runway funds a search, not a wait.
Check the band as you go
Re-run the quit calculator each time you hit a milestone to watch your readiness band shift.
Read next
How much to save before quitting
Choose the number this calculator counts toward.
Budget Planner
The honest expenses figure that sets your real target.
Quit My Job Calculator
Check your readiness band the day you hit the goal.
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out my savings target for quitting?
Multiply your real monthly essential expenses by the number of months of runway you want, six is a common default for an open-ended exit, and add any emergency fund you intend to keep separate. The emergency fund calculator and the guide on how much to save before quitting both help you set that target before you bring it here.
Does this calculator include interest on my savings?
By default it assumes no interest, which keeps the timeline conservative and the math transparent. For a short savings push of one to two years, interest on cash usually moves the date by only a few weeks, so leaving it out rarely changes the decision.
What if my target date feels too far away?
You have three levers: save more each month, lower the target by trimming your post-quit budget, or accept a longer timeline. The calculator lets you test each one instantly, raise the monthly amount and watch the date move, or rebuild a leaner budget in the budget planner to lower the target itself.
Should I keep investing while saving a quitting fund?
Money you will spend within a year or two generally should not be invested in volatile assets, because a downturn can arrive exactly when you need the cash. Keep the quitting fund in accessible savings. Long-term retirement investing is a separate decision that usually continues alongside.
People also ask
How much should I save each month to quit my job in a year?
Subtract what you already have from your target, then divide by twelve. If you need 20,000, have 8,000, and want to go in a year, that is 12,000 over twelve months, or 1,000 a month. Enter your own figures above and the calculator works out the monthly amount and the date for you.
How long does it take to save six months of expenses?
It depends on your expenses and your saving rate. Six months of a 3,000 monthly budget is 18,000; saving 1,500 a month from zero reaches it in twelve months, while 750 a month takes twenty-four. The calculator turns your real numbers into a specific date.
Is it faster to save more or to lower my target?
Both work, and the calculator lets you compare them instantly. Saving more shortens the timeline directly, while trimming your post-quit budget lowers the target you are aiming at. A leaner budget often moves the date more than people expect, because it cuts the goal and frees up monthly cash at the same time.
Is the savings goal calculator free and private?
Yes. It is free with no signup, runs entirely in your browser, and never stores or sends what you type. The optional PDF summary is generated locally on your device.
Turn the date into a plan
The Job Exit Checklist covers everything beyond the math: benefits, paperwork, the conversation, and your first 30 days out.
Get the free checklist