What $50 a Week Actually Looks Like Over 45 Years (The Numbers Are Brutal)

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Compound interest isn't complicated — but starting late is expensive. Here's exactly what the math looks like.

Saving money is hard when you're young. But the math doesn't care how hard it is.

Compound interest should be taught in every school. It's not. And most people don't figure it out until the damage is already done.

At 6% compounded annually, here's what 15 years actually costs you:

(Not a financial expert, I just know how to use a calculator.)

A 20-year-old saves $50/week for 45 years.

- Out of pocket: $117,000.

- Final retirement balance: $553,133.

The 35-year-old saves $50/week for 30 years.

- Out of pocket: $78,000.

- Final balance: $205,551.

Waiting 15 years cost $347,582 in gains. That's over $23,000 for every year they delayed.

If you're young, start now. Not next month. Now.

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