Junior Savings Calculator

100/month from birth to 18 at 6% compounds to 38,700. Starting at age 10 gives 14,300 — less than half. Starting early is the single biggest lever. 100 from birth is equivalent to about 280/month started at 10.

Run it with sensible defaults

Using monthly savings of 100, child's current age of 0, annual return of 6%, the calculation works out to 38,735.32. The defaults are meant as a starting point, not a recommendation.

The levers in this calculation

The inputs — Monthly Savings, Child's Current Age, and Annual Return — do not pull with equal force. Not every input has equal weight. Adjusting one input at a time toward extreme values shows which ones move the result most.

How the math works

Future value of monthly annuity.

Turning the result into a plan

A projection is just a starting point. The real work is setting the monthly amount aside automatically so the saving happens before you can spend it. Most people who hit savings goals set up a standing order on payday; most who miss them rely on willpower at month-end.

What this doesn't capture

The calculation assumes a steady savings rate and a stable interest rate. Real saving journeys include emergencies, windfalls, and rate changes — especially in easy-access products. The figure is a direction of travel, not a guarantee.

Related calculations worth running

Plans get firmer when you triangulate. Alongside this one, the college fund start age calculator, the compound interest calculator, and the retirement age calculator tend to come up in the same conversations. Running two or three together exposes inconsistencies in any single assumption — which is usually where the useful insight lives.

Worked example

A child is currently 8 years old. A parent plans to save 150 per month until age 18 (10 years). The account earns an annual return of 5%. The calculator models monthly deposits compounding over that decade. The result shows approximately 20,450 at age 18. This illustrates how the combination of time remaining, deposit frequency, and return rate interacts to shape the final balance.

Breaking down the example

• Time horizon: 10 years (120 months)
• Total contributions: 18,000 (150 × 120)
• Projected accumulated returns: roughly 2,450
• Projected balance at 18: approximately 20,450

Common scenarios where this matters

This calculator applies in several contexts. Parents or guardians saving for a child's education expenses often model outcomes across different monthly amounts and time horizons. Families inheriting funds for a minor child use it to understand growth potential if left untouched versus receiving installments. Grandparents setting up regular gifts track how contributions accumulate over the years until the child reaches 18. In each case, the projection helps illustrate how early action and consistent deposits interact with compound returns.

What the result shows and does not show

The calculator displays an estimate of the savings pot at age 18 based on the inputs entered. It models the mathematical effect of regular monthly contributions and a constant return rate applied over time. It does not account for inflation, changes in contribution amounts, variability in actual returns, taxes on interest earned, or withdrawals before age 18. It also does not model the impact of account fees or product-specific terms. The output is illustrative and educational; actual outcomes depend on product selection, economic conditions, and adherence to the saving plan.

For educational illustration

This calculator is a tool for modelling savings growth under consistent assumptions. Results are estimates only and do not predict actual returns or guarantee outcomes.