Investing Calculator · Free Preview

See what consistent investing compounds to.

Same math a financial planner runs, exposed honestly — pick a horizon, plug your monthly number, and watch what monthly contributions, skipped spend, and the same dollar over different horizons look like.

  • Same math, no pitchMonthly compounding, real return is whatever you type. Inflation-adjusted column deflates the result at 3% so you can read it in today’s dollars.
  • Real enlisted starting figuresThree preset chips that match real BAH differential surpluses, separating-service rollovers, and a first-401(k) capture. Custom overrides them in a click.
  • Spend vs. invest verbiageConsole, phone, vacation, truck mod, daily coffee, gym membership — each card shows what the same dollars compound to at your active horizon. Plain-spoken verdicts; you keep the ones you want.

Inputs

Plug your own numbers in.

Defaults match an E-5 at Fort Liberty with a 3% annual pay raise — swap any of them, the right-hand cards update as you type.

What you actually wire into a TSP / IRA / 401(k) every month.

Anything you already have — your current TSP balance, a starting IRA, a transition payout you plan to roll.

How much the monthly number grows each year. Service members usually see 2–4% with BAH adjustments.

Set to ~7–10% for a diversified stock portfolio before inflation. Past performance is not a promise, but it is a reasonable planning baseline.

25 yr

How long the money compounds. Bump to 30 to see what retirement actually pays out.

Or pick a starting scenario

Roughly $500/month investable out of base + BAH.

Summary

What 25 years of consistent investing looks like.

Compound interest, monthly contributions with the raise baked in. The inflation-adjusted column deflates the result at 3% so you can read it in today’s dollars.

Projected balance$476knominal · 8% return
In today’s dollars$225kinflation-adjusted at 3%
Total contributions$219kwhat you actually put in
Pure earnings$257kbalance – contributions

Spend vs. invest

Same horizon, different priorities.

These dollar amounts recur in real enlisted budgets. The card shows what the same money compounds to in 25 years at the slider’s rate.

New console at $500

One-time spend: $500

vs. invested
After 25 years~$3670compounded
Inflation-adjusted~$1735at 3% real

The console you didn’t buy would be worth ~$3670 in 25 years.

Phone upgrade at $1,200

One-time spend: $1,200

vs. invested
After 25 years~$8808compounded
Inflation-adjusted~$4165at 3% real

The flagship you skipped turns into ~$8808 in 25 years.

Two-week vacation at $4,000

One-time spend: $4,000

vs. invested
After 25 years~$29kcompounded
Inflation-adjusted~$14kat 3% real

The trip you delayed once becomes ~$29k — every following year.

Truck mod + tires at $5,000

One-time spend: $5,000

vs. invested
After 25 years~$37kcompounded
Inflation-adjusted~$17kat 3% real

That lift kit, bought once and invested instead, is ~$37k after 25 years.

Daily $5 coffee × ~240 workdays

Every year: $1,200

vs. invested
After 25 years~$95kcompounded
Inflation-adjusted~$45kat 3% real

A $5/day habit, invested instead, is ~$95k over 25 years.

Wallet-gym subscription at $480/yr

Every year: $480

vs. invested
After 25 years~$38kcompounded
Inflation-adjusted~$18kat 3% real

The membership refund, invested annually, becomes ~$38k in 25 years.