Money tools
What could your fair check become?
Selling your project animal or winning a premium at the fair puts real money in your hands — and your first big decision is what to do with it. Money you invest earns returns, and those returns earn returns of their own. That snowball is called compound growth, and the earlier you start, the harder it works for you.
$
Your fair check, sale earnings, or savings
$
Even $10/month makes a big difference
10
In 10 years you could have
$5,332
You put in $3,500 — the other $1,832 is your money working for you.
Total valueWhat you put in
View as table
| Year | You put in | Growth | Total value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $800 | $46 | $846 |
| 2 | $1,100 | $117 | $1,217 |
| 3 | $1,400 | $215 | $1,615 |
| 4 | $1,700 | $341 | $2,041 |
| 5 | $2,000 | $499 | $2,499 |
| 6 | $2,300 | $689 | $2,989 |
| 7 | $2,600 | $915 | $3,515 |
| 8 | $2,900 | $1,179 | $4,079 |
| 9 | $3,200 | $1,484 | $4,684 |
| 10 | $3,500 | $1,832 | $5,332 |
Good to know
- The rule of 72: divide 72 by your yearly return to estimate how long doubling takes. At 7%, money doubles roughly every 10 years.
- Time beats amount: $500 invested at 16 can outgrow $2,000 invested at 30, because it has more years to compound.
- Returns aren't guaranteed: these are historical-style averages, not promises. Real investments go up and down year to year — the averages only show up if you stay invested.
- Ask an adult you trust: minors usually need a custodial account (like an UTMA/UGMA or custodial Roth IRA if you have earned income) opened with a parent or guardian.
This tool is for education only and is not financial advice.