Lifetime cost reality check
See how much one habit costs over a lifetime – and how much it could have been if invested instead.
This tool shows how much a recurring expense – coffee, cigarettes, lunch, a subscription – costs over a lifetime, and how much it could have grown to if the same money were invested instead. It is a reality check, not a prediction.
How is it calculated?
- Total spent = cost × frequency × years.
- If invested instead = the same amount as monthly contributions growing at the chosen annual return (compound interest). The default 7% is a rough long-term stock-market average – adjust to your own assumption.
The figures are based on your own assumptions; actual returns fluctuate and are not guaranteed. See also the savings calculator and the compound interest calculator.
Sources
Based on official sources · last reviewed 2026-07-17.