How much will £50 a month be worth in 5 years?
£50 a month for 5 years at different returns
The return you actually get depends on where the money is kept. A savings account usually pays less than a stock market investment, but it carries much less risk of falling in value.
The figures assume you pay in at the end of every month and the return is compounded monthly. They ignore charges, tax and inflation, so treat them as a guide.
£50 a month for 5 years
| Annual return | You pay in | Growth | Final value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2% | £3,000 | £151 | £3,151 |
| 4% | £3,000 | £309 | £3,309 |
| 6% | £3,000 | £474 | £3,474 |
| 8% | £3,000 | £647 | £3,647 |
Contributions at month end. No fees, tax or inflation.
How the pot grows year by year (5% a year)
Growth speeds up the longer you save, because you earn returns on earlier returns. In the first years most of the pot is your own money; later the growth overtakes what you paid in.
| Year | Paid in so far | Value at 5% |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £600 | £614 |
| 5 | £3,000 | £3,391 |
What if you saved a little more than £50?
Small increases make a visible difference over 5 years. The table compares £50 a month with three higher amounts at 5% a year.
Saving more for 5 years
| Monthly saving | You pay in | Value at 5% | Gain vs £50 |
|---|---|---|---|
| £75 a month | £4,500 | £5,086 | +£1,695 |
| £100 a month | £6,000 | £6,781 | +£3,391 |
| £150 a month | £9,000 | £10,172 | +£6,781 |
What it is worth in today's money
Prices rise over time, so a future pot buys less than the same amount today. If inflation averages 2% a year, the £3,391 at 5% would buy what about £3,071 buys today.
£50 a month for 5 years
| Annual return | Final value | In today's money (2% inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2% | £3,151 | £2,854 |
| 4% | £3,309 | £2,997 |
| 6% | £3,474 | £3,147 |
| 8% | £3,647 | £3,303 |
Inflation adjustment shown for illustration.
Why starting early matters
The earlier you start, the more time your money has to grow. At 6% a year, £50 a month for 5 years grows to about £3,474.
A rough guide is the rule of 72: divide 72 by the annual return to estimate how many years it takes money to double. At 6% that is about 12 years.
Where could you keep the money?
Common choices include a Stocks and Shares ISA, a cash ISA or a pension. Savings and investments held in an ISA are free of UK income tax and capital gains tax. Outside an ISA, interest above your Personal Savings Allowance and gains above the annual exempt amount can be taxed.
Money you may need within a few years belongs in cash savings. Money you will not need for ten years or more can take more investment risk, but it can fall in value as well as rise.
Sources and further reading
Questions people ask
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Results are estimates for information only, not financial advice. Read the full disclaimer.