Every dollar you spend is a dollar that isn't compounding. This tool makes that trade-off visible. It's not here to tell you what to do. A good meal, a trip, a concert, these things have real value that no calculator can measure. But knowing the number is better than not knowing it.
READING TIME: 2 MIN
S&P 500 historical average, inflation-adjusted 🔍 verify×DON'T TRUST, VERIFYClaim: S&P 500 long-term real (inflation-adjusted) return is approximately 7% annualized.Verify at: Portfolio Visualizer ↗Depends on time window. Check the specific period you care about..
Image is generated on your device. Nothing is sent to any server.
Click any row to load it into the calculator above.
| Purchase | Amount | 20 yrs @ 7% | 30 yrs @ 7% | 40 yrs @ 7% |
|---|
Bitcoin projections use historical data and are not a prediction of future returns. Past performance does not predict future results 🔍 verify×DON'T TRUST, VERIFYClaim: Historical Bitcoin returns are not a forecast.Verify at: CoinGecko historical ↗Verify with your own start date and window..
Compound interest math can make every purchase look like a catastrophic error. It isn't.
A meal with someone you love, a trip you'll remember for 20 years, a concert you'll talk about forever, these things have value that doesn't show up in a calculator.
The point of this tool isn't to make you feel guilty for spending. It's to make the trade-off visible so you can decide consciously instead of on impulse.
The $50 dinner where you're half-present scrolling your phone and the $50 dinner that becomes a memory you keep for decades are not the same purchase. The number is the same. The value isn't.
Spend on what's worth it. Invest the rest. The calculator is just there to help you tell the difference.
Not financial advice. Past performance does not predict future returns. Your numbers stay in your browser.