OriginaveHow much should I invest?
Type in what you earn and what you spend each month, pick a fund, and get a recommended monthly investment — plus what that habit would have grown into, on real history.
Where each month's income goes
Your whole take-home pay in one bar — what gets spent, what gets invested, and what stays in the bank.
Pick your pace
Three honest speeds for the same plan — pick one and every number on this page follows.
Cautious
$400/month
10% of your income
A gentle start — around 10% of your income, and at least half of what's left over stays in cash.
Recommended
your plan$750/month
19% of your income
The classic 20%-of-income savings rule, capped so at least a quarter of your monthly surplus stays in cash for surprises.
Ambitious
$900/month
23% of your income
Nearly your whole surplus — for people whose spending rarely surprises them.
What history says
Putting $750 into VT every month for the past 10.5 years would have grown to $196,347 — $95,250 paid in, +$101,097 (+106.14%) on top, dividends reinvested.
Year by year
Where your plan would have stood at the end of each year — total money put in, what it was worth, and the gain on top.
| Year | Invested | Balance | Gain | Gain % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $9,000 | $9,572 | +$572 | +6.36% |
| 2017 | $18,000 | $21,958 | +$3,958 | +21.99% |
| 2018 | $27,000 | $27,876 | +$876 | +3.25% |
| 2019 | $36,000 | $45,442 | +$9,442 | +26.23% |
| 2020 | $45,000 | $63,992 | +$18,992 | +42.20% |
| 2021 | $54,000 | $85,378 | +$31,378 | +58.11% |
| 2022 | $63,000 | $78,519 | +$15,519 | +24.63% |
| 2023 | $72,000 | $105,830 | +$33,830 | +46.99% |
| 2024 | $81,000 | $132,895 | +$51,895 | +64.07% |
| 2025 | $90,000 | $172,900 | +$82,900 | +92.11% |
| 2026 | $95,250 | $196,347 | +$101,097 | +106.14% |
This is an educational estimate built on common rules of thumb and real market history — not personalized financial advice. Past performance doesn't guarantee future returns.
Investment plan FAQ
How is the recommended amount calculated?
It starts with what's left over: income minus expenses. The recommended sum is the classic 20%-of-income savings target — the same 20% as the 50/30/20 budgeting rule — capped so at least a quarter of your monthly surplus stays in cash for surprises. Cautious is about 10% of income; Ambitious is nearly your whole surplus. All three are guides, not homework.
What should I do before investing every month?
Three things, in order: grab any employer retirement match (free money), pay off high-interest debt like credit cards (a guaranteed return no market can promise), and park 3–6 months of expenses in a savings account as an emergency fund. Once those are handled, a monthly investing plan is the next step.
Why a broad index ETF, and why every month?
A broad index fund spreads each buy across hundreds or thousands of companies, so no single company can sink your plan. Investing monthly — dollar-cost averaging — puts the whole thing on autopilot: you buy more shares when prices are low, fewer when they're high, and never have to guess the right moment.
Can I trust the backtest?
The backtest replays real, dividend-adjusted market history — every monthly buy happens at that day's actual price. But it shows one past, not the future: the next ten years will be different from the last ten. Treat it as a feel for what steady investing does, not a promise.
Is this financial advice?
No. This page is an educational estimate built on widely used rules of thumb and real market history. It doesn't know your debts, taxes, family or plans. For decisions that ride on those details, talk to a qualified financial adviser.