What's left to save
The cost minus what you've already put aside.
Free calculator · no sign-up
Sinking fund calculator
How much should you set aside for a bill you know is coming? Enter what it costs and when it's due.
Set aside
$100
a month for 12 months
| When | Set aside | In the jar |
|---|
Opens the app with this jar filled in. No account needed.
Common sinking funds
Typical US amounts to start from. Tap one to try it, then change the numbers to your own.
How it works
Split it evenly
Divided over the months, or paychecks, before you need it, counting this one. Rounded up to a whole dollar so you're never short.
Ready in time
The plan finishes by the end of the month before the bill is due, so the money is waiting when it arrives.
Questions
What is a sinking fund?
A sinking fund is money you set aside a little at a time for a cost you know is coming, like car insurance, holiday gifts or a vet bill. When the bill arrives, the money is already there, so it doesn't land on a credit card.
How do you calculate a sinking fund?
Take what the bill costs, subtract what you've already saved, and divide by the number of months (or paychecks) left before you need the money. For a $1,200 bill due in 12 months with nothing saved, that's $100 a month.
Should I save by month or by paycheck?
Whichever matches how you're paid. If you're paid every two weeks, saving a set amount from each paycheck is easier to stick to, and some months have three paychecks, which makes those months lighter.
Where should I keep sinking fund money?
Anywhere separate from your everyday spending, such as a savings account. Many people use one savings account for all their sinking funds and track each one on its own, which is what SteadyJar does.
Why is the money needed by the end of the month before?
So it's ready when the bill arrives. If a bill is due in March, the calculator plans for the full amount to be saved by the end of February.
Keep every bill on track
SteadyJar keeps a jar for each bill and tells you what to set aside each payday. Free for up to 3 jars.
Open SteadyJar