How much do your subscriptions cost over 30 years?
Calculate how much money you could accumulate long-term if you invested, instead of spending on monthly subscriptions, that same amount every month.
Results
Final capital
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Total contributed
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Interest generated
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The final capital is calculated compounding monthly: initial capital — (1 + r)^n, plus the future value of monthly contributions [(1+r)^n - 1] / r, where r is the monthly interest rate and n the number of months.
Capital evolution
Contributions vs. Interest
Year-by-year evolution
| year | Final capital | Total contributed | Interest generated |
|---|
How much do your subscriptions cost over 30 years?
Streaming, music, gym, cloud storage... monthly subscriptions add up to more than they seem when viewed one by one. The fields are pre-filled with an example (€40 a month in subscriptions, over 30 years at 7% annually); add up the real total of your current subscriptions to see your own result.
Spending €40 a month on subscriptions over 30 years means a direct outlay of €14,400. If that same amount had been invested every month at 7% annually, the final result would be €48,798.84: €34,398.84 more than the accumulated spend, from compound interest over three decades of steady contributions.
It's not about canceling every subscription, but about periodically reviewing which ones you actually use and which you don't, and being aware that this recurring monthly expense has, long-term, a much bigger opportunity cost than its face value.
Automatic billing means many subscriptions go unnoticed: it's common to find 2 or 3 forgotten services (a free trial that was never cancelled, a plan you no longer use) when calmly reviewing your card statement. Spend 10 minutes every 6-12 months reviewing recurring charges from the past few months; there's usually some expense you didn't even remember having active.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add up my real subscription total?
Add up the monthly amount of each active subscription (streaming, music, gym, software, storage) and enter that total in the monthly contribution field.
Why is the final result more than three times the accumulated spend?
Because each monthly contribution earns interest for the rest of the period, and that interest earns further interest - the cumulative effect of compound interest long-term.
Does this calculator assume subscription prices don't rise?
Yes, it assumes a constant monthly contribution. To approximate future price increases, you can raise the example's monthly contribution figure.
How do I spot subscriptions I no longer use or have forgotten about?
Review your card or bank statement from the last 2-3 months and identify every recurring charge; it's common to find free trials that turned into paid plans without you noticing, or services you no longer use but never cancelled.