Retirement Planning Center

A Penny Saved

See what one change could become

Pick a real-life inspiration below — we open the matching calculator with numbers already filled in, so you can tweak the story and see the impact.

Real-life inspiration

Try a story, then make it yours

The Daily Lunch

Instead of spending $10/day eating lunch out, bring lunch from home and invest the difference.
After 40 years
$761,439
$10/day × 5 days = $217/month invested at 8% annual return

The Coffee Run

Skip the $5 coffee shop run 5 days a week and make coffee at home. Invest the savings.
After 40 years
$380,702
$5/day × 5 days = $108/month invested at 8% annual return

Drive a Used Car

Buy a reliable $15,000 used car instead of a $35,000 new car. Invest the $20,000 difference.
After 30 years
$218,715
One-time $20,000 investment at 8% annual return

No Car Payment

Instead of a $500/month car payment, buy a $10,000 used car outright and invest that $500 each month.
After 30 years
$750,148
$500/month invested at 8% annual return

Cancel Unused Subscriptions

Cut $75/month in streaming services, apps, and memberships you rarely use. Invest instead.
After 35 years
$173,188
$75/month invested at 8% annual return

Combine Small Changes

Bring lunch ($50/wk) + skip daily coffee ($25/wk) + cut subscriptions ($75/mo) = $400/month
After 35 years
$923,670
$400/month invested at 8% annual return

Downsize Your Home

Move to a smaller home or refinance to save $200/month on housing costs. Invest the difference.
After 30 years
$300,059
$200/month invested at 8% annual return

More Inspiration

Skip the Upgrade Cycle Cut the Cord (Cable) Cancel Unused Gym Membership Generic vs Brand Name Pay Off High-Interest Debt First Quit/Reduce Smoking Energy Efficiency Upgrades DIY Car Maintenance Buy Quality, Buy Less Cook More at Home

Your custom journeys

Build your own what-if

How much do I need to save each month?

Tell us your goal and we'll show you what it takes to get there.

Your goal

% per year (8% is typical for stock market)

Start small and increase over time

More realistic than saving the same amount for decades. Start where you can and grow your contributions.

Contribution path

% per year

What could your daily habit become?

See how a small daily expense becomes significant retirement savings. Add multiple habits to see the combined impact.

1. Your habits

2. Investment assumptions

% per year

Start now or wait? See the difference

Compare investing now versus starting later. You can combine one-time investments with monthly contributions.

Ages & amounts

% per year

Simple savings calculator

Itemize your savings and calculate their combined impact. Add multiple savings items with different start dates.

1. Savings items

2. Investment assumptions

% per year

Ready to plan with your full picture?

Create a free account to save journeys, build a household plan, and run year-by-year projections.

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