Savings Calculator

See how your savings grow over time. Enter a starting balance, how much you add regularly, the interest rate, and how many years you will save for. The calculator shows your projected final balance, the total you will have contributed, and how much of the balance is interest. It is a clear way to set a savings goal or see the power of regular deposits and compounding.

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$
%
yrs
$0
projected balance
Total contributed$0
Interest earned$0

Figures are before Resident Withholding Tax (RWT) on interest.

How savings growth works

Your balance grows in two ways: the money you add, and the interest that money earns. Interest compounds, which means each period you earn interest on your deposits and on the interest already added. Over a long period, compounding does a surprising amount of the work, and the interest can become a large share of your final balance.

Worked example

Sione starts with $1,000 and adds $100 a month for 10 years at 4.5% per year.

He contributes $1,000 plus $12,000 in deposits, which is $13,000 of his own money. With interest, the balance grows to about $16,300. That means roughly $3,300 of the final balance is interest, earned simply by saving steadily.

If he saved for 20 years instead of 10, the balance would be about $40,900, with over $15,000 of it interest. Time is the biggest lever.

Tips to save faster

  • Automate your deposits so saving happens before you can spend it.
  • Even small regular amounts add up once compounding takes hold.
  • Shop around for a higher interest rate, and consider a term deposit for money you will not need soon.
  • Remember interest is taxed at your RWT rate, so your real return is a little lower than the headline rate.

Frequently asked questions

Does this include tax?

No. The result is before Resident Withholding Tax. Your after-tax balance will be slightly lower, so use a slightly lower rate for a conservative estimate.

What rate should I use?

Use the rate your account or term deposit pays. You can check current figures on our NZ Interest Rates reference page.

Who this calculator is for

This calculator is for anyone projecting how their savings grow over time with regular deposits and interest.

What this calculator assumes

  • The starting balance, regular deposit, interest rate, frequency and term you enter.
  • The interest rate stays constant and interest compounds as set.
  • It shows figures before tax; resident withholding tax (RWT) reduces real returns.
  • Projections are indicative, not a guarantee.

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