I like to drink beer.  I don’t drink all that much beer, at least in my opinion, but the total cost of alcoholic drinks really adds up!   Much like the coffee cost calculator, this works by assuming a 10% rate of interest and calculating the value over a lifetime.  Some people ask why I use 10%, especially since many people wouldn’t necessarily use the money they would have spent on beer on an investment.  More on that later, but try the calculator now and enjoy.   … and send it to your friends!

Please post comments and let me know what you think.  I know know if this stuff will help you make better financial decisions, but this site is fairly new, and I want to post content that is useful.  So tell me what you want to see, from mortgage decisionmaking tools, to credit card help.   Thanks!

You know you are getting ripped off when you walk into Starbucks and plunk down anwhere between $1.50 and $5.00 for your favorite caffeinated beverage. But how much?

This calculator will compute the total lifetime value of the money you spend on your weekly coffee habit. The value is the amount of money you would have at age 65 if you were to stick the money you spend on coffee into a basic investment account and let it accrue. Remember this, if you carry a credit card balance, the number may significantly underestimate the lifetime cost, because you are financing the purchase and paying interest over time on the balance. Not a pretty picture!