Tools · Savings Rate
Your savings rate sets the clock
The uncomfortable truth of early retirement: how much you save matters far more than how much you earn. Your savings rate alone roughly determines how many years until you could walk away.
The savings-rate-to-freedom table (from a zero start)
Years to financial independence by savings rate, at your return assumption. Notice it barely depends on income — only on the share you keep.
A simplified model assuming steady returns and constant spending — reality is bumpier. Education, not financial advice. How we calculate.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good savings rate?
Saving 20% of take-home pay is a common benchmark, but the higher your rate, the sooner you can retire. At a 50% savings rate you reach financial independence in ~17 years from zero; at 65%, about 10.5 years.
How does my savings rate affect when I can retire?
It's the single biggest lever. Your savings rate sets both how fast you build wealth and how little you need to live on — so it compresses years-to-retirement far more than investment returns do.
How is savings rate calculated?
Divide what you save and invest each month by your take-home income, then ×100. Pre-tax retirement contributions count as savings; most people use net income for a conservative figure.
What savings rate do I need to retire in 10 years?
Roughly 65–70% of take-home, assuming you invest the difference and keep the same expenses. See your exact years-to-FI above, then pressure-test the pot with the drawdown calculator.