+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 12 of 12

calculate savings reqd to reach goal

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    08-19-2008
    Location
    Auckland, NZ
    MS-Off Ver
    2016
    Posts
    67

    calculate savings reqd to reach goal

    I want to save one million dollars in 10 years earning 8.00% interest. How do I calculate how much I need to save per month. Please help many thanks.

  2. #2
    Forum Expert MickG's Avatar
    Join Date
    11-23-2007
    Location
    Banbury,Oxfordshire
    Posts
    2,650

    Re: calculate savings reqd to reach goal

    Hi:-
    "X" x 1.08 ^(1/12) x 10ys x 12mths = $1,000,000
    "X" = $8280 / Mth
    Regards Mick

  3. #3
    Valued Forum Contributor squiggler47's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-17-2009
    Location
    Littleborough, UK
    MS-Off Ver
    Excel 3.0 to 2007+2010! (couldnt get 2.1 working)
    Posts
    1,013

    Re: calculate savings reqd to reach goal

    =pmt(8%/12,10*12,0,-1000000)

    Assuming interest is paid monthly
    Regards
    Darren

    Update 12-Nov-2010 Still job hunting!

    If you are happy with the results, please add to our reputation by clicking the blue scales icon in the blue bar of the post.

    Learn something new each day, Embrace change do not fear it, evolve and do not become extinct!


  4. #4
    Registered User
    Join Date
    08-19-2008
    Location
    Auckland, NZ
    MS-Off Ver
    2016
    Posts
    67

    Re: calculate savings reqd to reach goal

    Thanks, MickG - sorry but I don't understand your reply. i am trying to calculate backwards from $1,000,000 goal with klnown term and interest rate to calculate saving amt reqd. Thanks Squiggler47, your answer is very close but my manual calculation came up with $5,429.90m - are there any other ways to calculate this. Cheers

  5. #5
    Forum Moderator zbor's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-10-2009
    Location
    Croatia
    MS-Off Ver
    365 ProPlus
    Posts
    15,602

    Re: calculate savings reqd to reach goal

    =A2/POWER(1+B2;C2)

    Where in cells you can put numbers you like:

    A2 is final amount (1 000 000)
    B2 is rate (0,08)
    C2 is number of months (120)

    result is 97,5325 dolars per month.

  6. #6
    Valued Forum Contributor squiggler47's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-17-2009
    Location
    Littleborough, UK
    MS-Off Ver
    Excel 3.0 to 2007+2010! (couldnt get 2.1 working)
    Posts
    1,013

    Re: calculate savings reqd to reach goal

    =PMT(8%/12,10*12,0,-1000000,1)

    give 5429.89

  7. #7
    Valued Forum Contributor squiggler47's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-17-2009
    Location
    Littleborough, UK
    MS-Off Ver
    Excel 3.0 to 2007+2010! (couldnt get 2.1 working)
    Posts
    1,013

    Re: calculate savings reqd to reach goal

    Quote Originally Posted by whitepaw View Post
    Thanks, MickG - sorry but I don't understand your reply. i am trying to calculate backwards from $1,000,000 goal with klnown term and interest rate to calculate saving amt reqd. Thanks Squiggler47, your answer is very close but my manual calculation came up with $5,429.90m - are there any other ways to calculate this. Cheers
    I added interest at the end of the month yours adds it at the start of the month

  8. #8
    Forum Expert MickG's Avatar
    Join Date
    11-23-2007
    Location
    Banbury,Oxfordshire
    Posts
    2,650

    Re: calculate savings reqd to reach goal

    Hi, My last post is not correct for investing a fixed amount every Month. This is the formula you want.
    Interest Rate 1.08 = monthly rate 1.08^(1/12) = 1.006434.
    "X" = Amount to save per Month, Term 10 x 12 = 120 Mths

    Formula = "X" x (((((1.006434^(120+1))-1)/(1.006434-1))-1)= 1,000,000.
    "X" = 1,000,000/179.1234 = $5582.716
    Work it out on a sheet as shown below, But up to column 120

    Please Login or Register  to view this content.
    Regards Mick

  9. #9
    Forum Expert MickG's Avatar
    Join Date
    11-23-2007
    Location
    Banbury,Oxfordshire
    Posts
    2,650

    Re: calculate savings reqd to reach goal

    Hi, A thought on this:-
    In using the rate 8% the monthy equivelent is not 1.08^(1/12) =1.006434, but is:- [(0.08/12)+1 ]= 1.006666. This will give you a result of $5429.893479
    This is what you calculated originally.
    NB:- the PMT Function is for Repaynments on a loan.!!
    Regards Mick

  10. #10
    Valued Forum Contributor squiggler47's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-17-2009
    Location
    Littleborough, UK
    MS-Off Ver
    Excel 3.0 to 2007+2010! (couldnt get 2.1 working)
    Posts
    1,013

    Re: calculate savings reqd to reach goal

    PMT can also be used to calculate situations like this!

    PMT(rate,nper,pv,fv,type)

    on a loan you would have PV (present value) as the loan ammount FV (FureValue) would default to 0

    In this case we modify the parameters

    PV = 0 (start with no savings)
    FV = -Target

    And it gives exactly the same answer as you got!


    Its a well known use of PMT!

    The only problem wast that the type perameter chooses when the interest was paid my first used the defaut of 0 since I assumed when savings started the interest would be paid at the end of each month since when I put 1000 in the bank I dont get interest until the last day of the month!

    Like all excel functions help doesnt quite cover all situations in which it can be used!!!!
    Attached Files Attached Files
    Last edited by squiggler47; 05-23-2009 at 05:36 AM.

  11. #11
    Forum Expert MickG's Avatar
    Join Date
    11-23-2007
    Location
    Banbury,Oxfordshire
    Posts
    2,650

    Re: calculate savings reqd to reach goal

    Hi, My apologies, you absolutely correct. My problem is that I tend to use my own formulas when working this sort of thing out, because unless you use the functions regularly your never too sure if the answer is correct.
    But you have enlightened me.
    Regards Mick

  12. #12
    Valued Forum Contributor squiggler47's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-17-2009
    Location
    Littleborough, UK
    MS-Off Ver
    Excel 3.0 to 2007+2010! (couldnt get 2.1 working)
    Posts
    1,013

    Re: calculate savings reqd to reach goal

    I might suggest that Whitepaw should do a little reasearch into the financial functions of excel, I see that all the posts from whitepaw I see are to do with interest/savings/loans etc.

    These functions will do most of that in a simple way!

+ Reply to Thread

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts

Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0 RC 1