The math: what monthly amount actually gets you there
Compounding turns small monthly contributions into surprisingly large totals — but only over long horizons. CHF 500/month at 4% annual return reaches CHF 73,800 in 10 years, CHF 184,000 in 20 years and CHF 347,000 in 30 years. The first decade builds the principal; the second and third decades the interest does most of the work.
The trap is short-horizon goals where compounding barely helps. For a CHF 30,000 down payment in 3 years starting from zero, you need ~CHF 800/month at 2% — and 95% of that final balance is your own contributions. There's no magic, just discipline.
Realistic 2026 rates and the inflation question
Swiss high-yield savings accounts top out around 0.5–1.2% in early 2026; the SNB policy rate sits near 0.5%. EUR savers do meaningfully better: 2.0–3.5% on top neobank accounts (Trade Republic, Scalable, Trading 212), 3.5–4.0% on EUR money-market funds (XEON, CSH2). USD money-market funds yield 4.5–5.0% but currency risk matters for European savers.
Whatever rate you use, subtract expected inflation to get the real return. Swiss CPI is forecast around 1.0–1.5% for 2026; eurozone around 2.0–2.5%. A 3% EUR savings rate against 2.5% inflation is a 0.5% real return — you're barely keeping up. For goals beyond 5 years, this is why equity exposure matters.
Execution: turning the number into an automated habit
Set up a standing order from your salary account to a dedicated savings account or broker account, dated for the day after your salary lands. The amount is whatever the EuroCalc savings calculator returns for your goal, rounded up to the nearest CHF 50. Don't try to be clever — just transfer.
Review quarterly, not monthly. Markets and rates wobble; your plan shouldn't. If you get a raise, increase the standing order by 50% of the net raise before lifestyle inflation absorbs it. If a goal milestone slips by a year, recalculate — usually a small increase fixes it. The savers who hit their goals are the ones who automate first and optimize later.
See your monthly savings number
Enter your target, deadline and starting balance — the EuroCalc savings goal calculator returns the exact monthly amount, with and without compound interest.
Open the calculator →Frequently asked questions
Where should I keep money I'm saving for a goal 1–2 years away?+
A boring high-yield savings account or a money-market fund. Capital preservation matters more than the last 50 basis points. Don't put short-horizon money in stocks.
Should I pay off my mortgage faster or save?+
Compare after-tax rates. If your mortgage is 1.5% (Swiss SARON-linked, deductible) and a savings account pays 3.5%, save. If the mortgage is 4% and the savings rate is 2%, overpay. Most Swiss homeowners between 2026 are in the first scenario.
How much emergency fund is enough?+
Three to six months of essential expenses, in instantly accessible cash. Self-employed and single-income households should aim for six; dual-income employees can stop at three.
Is it worth using a Pillar 3a for general savings?+
Pillar 3a is excellent for retirement-locked money (tax-deductible up to CHF 7,258 in 2026 for employees) but the funds are locked until 5 years before AHV age. Use it for retirement; use a regular brokerage or savings account for shorter-term goals.
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