Sinking fund calculator
For the bills that don't come every month. Enter what each one costs and when it's due; get one amount to set aside each month.
| Fund | Target ($) | Saved ($) | Due | Set aside | Remove |
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Lumpy bills vs a steady trickle
The same funds, two ways to pay for them over the next 12 months. Toggle to compare.
A steady $0 a month, and no month gets hit.
Same total either way. The difference is whether one month has to absorb it all.
What to build sinking funds for
Anything you know is coming but don't pay monthly: car insurance billed every six months, vehicle registration, property tax (if not escrowed), renters or home insurance paid yearly, annual subscriptions and memberships, back-to-school costs, holiday gifts, the vet, and replacing a phone or laptop on a schedule.
The formula is simple: (target − already saved) ÷ periods until due. Per paycheck, periods are paychecks, not months. That's why this calculator asks how you're paid. Once you know the number, add it to your bill tracker as a recurring "Savings" bill on payday so the transfer happens before the money gets spent.
Funds you enter here are saved in this browser only. Clear them any time on the privacy page.
Questions people ask
What is a sinking fund?
A sinking fund is money you set aside a little at a time for a known future expense: an annual insurance premium, car registration, holiday gifts, a new laptop. When the bill arrives the money is already there, so it does not wreck that month.
How do you calculate a sinking fund contribution?
Monthly contribution = (target amount − amount already saved) ÷ months until the due date. Per paycheck, divide by the number of paychecks before the due date instead.
Sinking fund vs emergency fund: what is the difference?
A sinking fund is for expenses you know are coming; an emergency fund is for the ones you cannot predict (job loss, medical bills, urgent repairs). Keeping them separate stops planned spending from draining your safety net.
Where should I keep sinking funds?
Somewhere separate from everyday spending but easy to reach, typically a savings account. Many banks let you create several named savings "buckets" in one account, one per fund.