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Finance videos / Saving & investing
Should You Invest Money You’ll Need in Two Years?
A fictional $6,000 deposit shortfall creates three choices: save more, wait longer or lower the target. Test how a deadline changes the risk you can afford.
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A hypothetical 30% fall turns a $20,000 house deposit into $14,000. Could Alex still buy in two years? Choose between saving more, changing the date and reducing the target—and see why the timing of a loss changes the answer.
Try the FREE Savings Goal Calculator (including the shortfall scenario): https://fiscalnonsense.com/calculators/savings-goal/#shortfall
For ongoing tracking: Savings Goal Tracker — paid Excel workbook, $2.99 USD before applicable taxes: https://fiscalnonsense.com/shop/savings-goal-tracker/
Which would you change first for Alex: monthly saving, deadline or target? Tell us why without sharing private financial details.
WATCH NEXT: Rent vs Buy a Home — Compare the Real Costs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cijWO7XdMZM
FICTIONAL EXAMPLE $20,000 × (1 − 30%) = $14,000. The remaining $6,000 needs $250/month across 24 months after the loss. At $100/month, the deadline balance is $16,400 with a $3,600 shortfall, or rebuilding takes 60 months. No later market returns, interest, taxes, fees or changing house prices are assumed in the repair calculation. A loss one month before the purchase leaves one month to repair it.
General financial education, not individualized investment advice. Country-neutral invented dollar examples. Product risks, access, deposit protection, lending rules and buying costs vary locally. Neither calculator nor workbook predicts returns, chooses investments or guarantees a purchase outcome. Separate emergency reserves from money assigned to this goal.
SOURCES FINRA — Know Your Risk Tolerance https://www.finra.org/investors/insights/know-your-risk-tolerance Investor.gov — Gauge Your Risk Tolerance https://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing/investing-basics/save-and-invest/gauge-your-risk-tolerance
Original fictional characters. AI-assisted character animation and approved voices; locally animated educational graphics. #PersonalFinance #SavingForAHouse #FiscalNonsense
CHAPTERS 00:00 The deposit has a deadline 00:29 Willingness versus ability 01:05 Choose a repair 02:06 Change the date—or the target 03:08 Can your backup do two jobs? 03:48 Your tools and five-question goal card
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