When Should I Start Saving?

Starting a few years earlier can be worth far more than the extra contributions.

Your numbers

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Cost of waiting

You'd give up
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Both cases use the same contribution; only the start date differs. Because early money compounds longest, waiting is costly.
About this calculator

When Should I Start Saving?

A when-to-start calculator shows the cost of delaying retirement savings, comparing someone who begins now with someone who waits a few years, using the same contribution.

Every year of delay is expensive

Because early contributions compound the longest, waiting to start is surprisingly costly. The dollars you invest in your twenties and thirties do far more work than the same dollars added later. Delaying even a few years can cost tens of thousands by retirement, more than the contributions you skipped.

Start with whatever you can

The lesson isn't to wait until you can afford the 'right' amount, it's to start now with whatever you can and raise it over time. Capturing an employer match first is the highest-return move. Time in the market is the biggest advantage a young saver has, and it can't be recovered later.

How to use it

  1. Enter your monthly contribution and expected return.
  2. Set years until retirement.
  3. Set how many years you'd wait to start.
  4. See what waiting would cost you.

Frequently asked questions

Why does starting early matter so much?

Early contributions compound the longest, so they grow far more than the same amount added later. Waiting a few years can cost far more than the skipped contributions.

What if I can only save a little now?

Start anyway. Small early contributions capture years of compounding, and you can increase them as your income grows.

Is it ever too late to start?

No. Later starts have fewer years to compound, but catch-up contributions and a higher savings rate still make a meaningful difference.

See the exact formula and a worked example on our methodology page.

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