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If you are told something is worth 3k, or someone earned a 3k bonus last year…what does that actually mean in money terms? Here, we’ll be covering exactly how much 3k is worth financially.
How Much Is 3k?
3k means 3,000. So, if something is worth 3k, that means it is worth $3,000 – or whatever currency you typically use.
K = Kilo = 1,000
So 3k = 3 x Kilo = 3,000
Is $3,000 a realistic savings goal? Certainly! Read more on how to save this much and some fun ways to make extra money this month.
Why do people use ‘k’ for money?
The letter K, in this instance, stands for kilo. A kilo is “a decimal unit prefix in the metric system denoting multiplication by one thousand”. So, when something is worth $3,000, for example, that is often shortened to $3k.
If someone refers to 10k, they mean $10,000. And so on and so forth.
If we were talking about a 6-figure income, such as $100,000, you would say 100k.
How about five times 3k? Find out how much 15k is and how it breaks down as a salary in the US. Also find out how much 5k breaks down to.
What does A “grand” mean?
As well as using the term “k” to refer to money in denominations of thousands, you have probably also heard people use the term “grand”.
3k is $3,000 is three grand. It’s all the same.
The word grand is used to mean thousand because 1,000 dollars was considered to be a “grand amount of money”. This is thought to have been American slang first used in the early 1900s – and the language has stuck into 2023!
You may also hear some people shorten Grand to G’s. For example, 3G’s. This still means 3,000.
3k Savings Plan
Is saving $3,000 a goal you’d like to have in mind? Below we’ve broken down what a 6-month and 12-month goal to save $3,000 might look like and how much you’d need to put away each week.
6-Month Savings Chart:
| Month | Week | Amount Saved |
|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | 1 | $25 |
| 2 | $25 | |
| 3 | $25 | |
| 4 | $25 | |
| 5 | $25 | |
| Month 2 | 6 | $50 |
| 7 | $50 | |
| 8 | $50 | |
| 9 | $50 | |
| 10 | $50 | |
| Month 3 | 11 | $50 |
| 12 | $50 | |
| 13 | $50 | |
| 14 | $50 | |
| 15 | $50 | |
| Month 4 | 16 | $50 |
| 17 | $50 | |
| 18 | $50 | |
| 19 | $50 | |
| 20 | $50 | |
| Month 5 | 21 | $50 |
| 22 | $50 | |
| 23 | $50 | |
| 24 | $50 | |
| 25 | $50 | |
| Month 6 | 26 | $50 |
| Total: | $3,000 |
12-Month Savings Chart:
| Month | Week | Amount Saved |
|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | 1 | $12.50 |
| 2 | $12.50 | |
| 3 | $12.50 | |
| 4 | $12.50 | |
| 5 | $12.50 | |
| 6 | $12.50 | |
| Month 2 | 7 | $12.50 |
| 8 | $12.50 | |
| 9 | $12.50 | |
| 10 | $12.50 | |
| 11 | $12.50 | |
| 12 | $12.50 | |
| Month 3 | 13 | $12.50 |
| 14 | $12.50 | |
| 15 | $12.50 | |
| 16 | $12.50 | |
| 17 | $12.50 | |
| 18 | $12.50 | |
| Month 4 | 19 | $12.50 |
| 20 | $12.50 | |
| 21 | $12.50 | |
| 22 | $12.50 | |
| 23 | $12.50 | |
| 24 | $12.50 | |
| Month 5 | 25 | $12.50 |
| 26 | $12.50 | |
| 27 | $12.50 | |
| 28 | $12.50 | |
| 29 | $12.50 | |
| 30 | $12.50 | |
| Month 6 | 31 | $12.50 |
| 32 | $12.50 | |
| 33 | $12.50 | |
| 34 | $12.50 | |
| 35 | $12.50 | |
| 36 | $12.50 | |
| Total: | $3,000 |
In the 6-month savings chart, you would save $25 per week for the first 5 weeks, and then increase the savings amount to $50 per week for the remaining 21 weeks.
In the 12-month savings chart, you would save $12.50 per week for the entire 36 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What else could 3k mean?
Aside from talking about money, 3k could also mean:
- 3 kilograms = 3k = 3000 grams
- 3 kilometers = 3km = 3000 meters
What is 3k in money?
3k means 3,000 in money terms. Depending on where you live will tell you what currency that 3,000 is being referred to in.