Turn savings into timeTime Funded Calculator

See how long each phase of the 15/3/2 funding sequence may take.

Your funding timeline35 years 10 months total

  1. Save an emergency fund2y 10mCompleted at: 2y 10m
  2. Build 15 years in Bucket 329y 0mTarget reached at: 31y 10m
  3. Build 3 years in Bucket 23y 0mTarget reached at: 34y 10m
  4. Expand Bucket 1 to 2 years1y 0mTarget reached at: 35y 10m

Funding approach. No matter which funding method you choose, saving an emergency fund is always the first step. Cap and spill-to-fill directs 100% of each new dollar to Bucket 3 until it holds 15 years of expenses. At the annual check-in, move any amount above that cap into Bucket 2 and direct new dollars there; after Bucket 2 reaches three years, move its excess and all new dollars into Bucket 1 until it reaches two years. Consider rebalancing annually on your birthday: one memorable annual check-in can keep the selected funding method on course.

Time is the output. The illustration assumes a six-month emergency fund, one annual rebalance, a 3% Bucket 1 cash return, a 4.5% Bucket 2 fixed-income return, 3% annual expense inflation, and savings that rise with expenses. Bucket 2 is modeled as one balance rather than a rung-by-rung ladder. These are planning assumptions, not guaranteed yields.

How savings becomes a timeline

The site measures retirement and cash savings against monthly net income, while bucket targets are based on lifestyle expenses. Keeping those two inputs separate shows both the share of take-home income you save and how many years of spending your balances can fund.