The cost of waiting to invest
"I'll start next year" sounds harmless. Here you can see what putting it off is really worth: in euros, in higher monthly amounts or in extra years of work.
Why the first years are worth the most
With compound interest, the euros you invest first are the ones that work longest. Delaying by five years doesn't just lose you five years of contributions: it loses you the last five years of growth, when your capital is largest. That's why the cost of waiting is almost always far higher than the missed contributions.
How to use the result
If the cost looks high, the answer isn't to invest everything at once without a plan: it's to start with a sustainable amount, even a small one, and increase it over time. The conscious spending plan helps you find that amount without giving up what matters. And if you already have savings, the FIRE simulator tells you whether you've reached Coast FIRE.
The calculation uses constant monthly amounts and a constant return, before costs and tax: it's for comparing scenarios, not predicting the future.
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Book a free callEducational simulation based on the stated assumptions and on the tax rules in force in 2026. This is not investment advice or a personal recommendation.