Subscription Cost Calculator
Your $150/month in subscriptions costs $47,000 over 15 years. See the shocking math — and decide what to cut.
How to Use This Calculator
What They REALLY Cost tab
Enter your subscriptions — name and monthly cost. Select your investment market (US, Germany, or UK) for the right benchmark return and tax rate. Set a time horizon. See the shocking opportunity cost: what that money would be worth if invested instead.
Cut & Invest tab
Toggle individual subscriptions on/off. See exactly how much you'd save — and what those savings would grow to if invested over your chosen horizon, after capital gains tax.
The Formula
After-Tax Value = Gross − (Gross − Contributed) × Capital Gains Tax Rate
The multi-market layer makes this more than a simple compound interest calculator. A $150/month subscription portfolio invested for 15 years:
- US (S&P 500, 10%, 15% CGT): $47,000 after tax
- Germany (DAX, 7%, 26.375%): $33,600 after tax
- UK (FTSE, 8%, 20%): $38,200 after tax
Example
Emma — $150/month in subscriptions
Netflix ($15), Spotify ($10), Gym ($40), Cloud Storage ($10), Delivery Apps ($60), Coffee subscription ($15).
Emma switched to Cut & Invest tab. She cancelled the unused gym ($40) and downgraded delivery apps ($60 → $20). Monthly saved: $80. Over 15 years invested: $25,100 after tax. She kept Netflix — $15/month is worth the joy.