Ten years is long enough for compounding to matter — and short enough that contributions do most of the heavy lifting.
Run this in Money GrowthIn the first decade, your contributions are usually the biggest driver. Compounding still helps, but it really accelerates when your balance becomes larger.
| Return rate | Final balance | Total contributed |
|---|---|---|
| 5% (conservative) | ~$67,000 | $52,000 |
| 7% (mid) | ~$75,000 | $52,000 |
| 10% (optimistic) | ~$89,000 | $52,000 |
Investing $100 a week for 10 years means contributing $52,000 of your own money — and at a 7% return, compounding adds around $23,000 on top, growing your balance to roughly $75,000. Ten years is a solid start, with compounding adding nearly half as much again to your contributions. For many Australians this is a realistic first decade of serious investing — building a foundation that grows much faster if you keep going into a second decade.
Convert $100/week to monthly: about $433/month ($100 × 52 ÷ 12). Then test 5%, 7% and 10% return assumptions.
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It’s a strong habit. Over 10 years you contribute meaningfully, and compounding adds extra growth.
They may assume different compounding frequency, contribution timing, or rounding.
Use $0 if you’re starting from scratch, or enter your current balance if you already have investments.
This calculator uses monthly contribution. Converting weekly → monthly is a good approximation for planning.
Real markets move up and down. The rate is an average assumption to help you compare scenarios.
Keep exploring — these pages connect directly to calculators so you can run your own numbers.