$5 Daily Coffee Could Cost You $474,349 in Retirement

How small daily spending compounds into massive opportunity costs over 30 years

The Details

Starting at age 35 instead of 25 cuts your final balance by 66%. The $5 daily habit from 35-65 yields just $158,674 — timing matters more than the amount.

What this means for you

Retirement decisions compound — getting one of these details wrong can cost tens of thousands of dollars over a retirement. The good news: most of these mistakes are completely avoidable if you understand how the rule actually works.

Next step

If you want to see how this applies to your specific situation, take the free Retire Ready Score — a 2-minute assessment that scores your current plan across income, taxes, healthcare, and protection.