How much can round-up savings add up to?

More than you'd think. Rounding up 25 card purchases a week by an average of 50c saves about $650 a year. Invested at a 7% return for 10 years, that grows to roughly $9,000 — money you barely noticed leaving your account. It's the automatic, painless nature that makes it work.

How does round-up saving work?

Each card purchase is rounded up to the next dollar, and the spare change is swept into a separate savings or investment account. A $4.30 coffee rounds to $5.00 and 70c is saved. Several Australian banks and micro-investing apps offer this automatically, so the saving happens before you can spend it.

Should round-ups go to savings or investments?

It depends on your timeframe. In a low-interest savings account, round-ups barely grow. Sent to a diversified investment (the return assumed here) or your mortgage offset, they work much harder over the long run — though investments carry risk and can fall in value. For short-term goals, a high-interest savings account is safer.

Round-Up Savings Calculator

See how much rounding up every card purchase to the nearest dollar could quietly save — and grow to — over time. The automatic, painless way to build a nest egg from spare change.

Last verified: 5 May 2026

Can saving spare change really add up?

Yes — because it's automatic and painless. The round-ups are swept aside before you can spend them, and invested they compound. Source: ASIC MoneySmart.

Worked example. 25 purchases a week rounded up by 50c = about $650/year. Invested at 7% for 10 years, that's roughly $9,000 from spare change.

General information and estimates only — not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always verify with a licensed adviser or the ATO.

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Can saving spare change really add up?

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