What does 'waste' mean in this calculator?

We define 'waste' here as recurring discretionary monthly spend (fast food, drinks, subscriptions, impulse buys). It’s a tool to raise awareness and is not a judgement.

How realistic are the investment projections?

Projections use a simple compound formula and assume a constant annual return with monthly contributions. Real investment returns vary and past performance is not a guarantee.

Can this help me save for a car or retirement?

Yes—by showing how redirecting monthly discretionary spend can fund a car payment or retirement contributions over time.

How much money am I wasting per month? — Monthly Waste & Savings Calculator

How much money am I wasting per month? — Monthly Waste & Savings Calculator — Luke’s Picks

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Practical local tools & calculators

Quick estimate: monthly & annual waste, plus investment comparison

Fill in the boxes below for common recurring expenses (fast food, soda, cigarettes, energy drinks, alcohol, streaming, coffee shops, subscriptions, impulse purchases). The tool totals your monthly and yearly "waste" and shows what that money could become if invested regularly.

Monthly Waste

$0

Yearly Waste

$0

Future Value (30 yrs @ 7%)

$0

Top Monthly Item

—

Enter your monthly habits

Fast food / takeout per month ($)

Burgers, fries, delivery fees — total monthly spend.

Coffee shops / cafes per month ($)

Lattes, snacks — total monthly spend.

Soda / canned drinks per month ($)

Energy drinks per month ($)

Alcohol (bars, bottles) per month ($)

Streaming subscriptions (count)

Number of streaming services you pay for (Netflix, Hulu, etc.).

Avg subscription price ($ / month)

Cigarettes — packs per day

Enter 0 if you don't smoke. Packs/day × price/pack × 30 = monthly cost.

Price per pack ($)

In-game / microtransactions per month ($)

Other subscriptions per month ($)

Impulse / misc monthly spend ($)

Small, repeated purchases (snacks, impulse buys).

Comparison & projection options

Invest for (years)

Expected annual return (%)

Default is a conservative long-term stock market return estimate.

Compare: Car price ($)

Car loan APR (%)

Car loan term (months)

Results update the totals, projection, and comparisons below.

Breakdown

Item	Monthly

Invested monthly (equal to waste)

$0

Future value (months × years)

$0

Equivalent car payment

$0

Monthly saved if you cut top item

$0

These are estimates for planning and awareness only—not financial advice. The investment projection assumes monthly contributions at the end of each month and a constant annual rate. Real returns vary.

Quick tips

Identify the single largest recurring monthly item (the tool shows this) and try a 30-day pause to test behavior.
Small monthly savings compound—$100/month at 7% grows to ~ $118,000 in 30 years.
For cigarettes and alcohol, cutting frequency has immediate health and financial benefits beyond the calculator.

Luke’s Picks Editorial

Last updated Oct 11, 2025 • Personal finance & local calculators.

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