What do my subscriptions really cost?
Recurring charges feel small and that can be deceiving. The total price you pay includes not just the sticker price but also the opportunity cost or the income you could have earned from investing that money. You should also consider how much it will cost you to maintain this expense after retirement. Learn more.
- Over 10 years, $10 a month really costs
- $1,731
- subscription fees
- $1,200
- missed returns
- $531
- work to earn it
- 11 days
Subscription fees vs. what it really costs
Click the graph to try a different number of years.
Subscription fees What it really costs
Your subscription’s cost over time
About these numbers
Each total is the subscription fees, plus what that money could have earned if you'd invested it at 7% a year instead. Work is at $20 an hour, 8 hours a day.
Your subscription’s effect on retirement
About these numbers
This is what it takes to keep paying $10 a month after you retire. You can spend about 4% of your savings a year without running out. So $120 a year needs $120 ÷ 4% = $3,000. Extra work needed is how long it takes to earn that at $20 an hour.