A woman sitting on a sofa smiles as she looks at information on her laptop.

How to invest

Make a plan to reach your goal

Studies show that people are more successful when they set goals for themselves. Making a plan is as easy as asking yourself 4 questions.

6 minute read

Common goals & their average costs

Down payment on a home: $28,000.
Wedding: $30,000.
New car: $48,681.

Sources: National Association of Realtors as of first-quarter 2022, theknot.com as of 2022, and Kelley Blue Book as of December 2022, respectively.

How much do I need?

You'll want to have an amount to work toward, so do some research to figure out what your goal will cost.

When do I need it?

Most savings goals will have some flexibility, but it's still a good idea to have a target date in mind. This will hold you accountable—and give you the motivation to stay on track.

How should I invest my money?

You can earn money on your savings while they're invested, which will help you reach your goal amount even faster. But which investments you choose depends on your particular situation.

Get help finding investments for your goal

What will it take to meet my deadline?

It's easy to estimate how much you'll need to put away to reach your goal by your target date. Just take the total amount you want to save and divide it by the number of months (or weeks, or years—however often you plan to contribute money) between now and your deadline.

If you have an idea of the types of investments you'll choose and their potential for return, you can get a more exact number by using the calculator below.

See what it will take to meet your goal

Ready to start saving?

New to Vanguard?

Open an account

Ready to start saving?

New to Vanguard?

Open an account