FINANCIAL FITNESS - Episode 5: The Opportunity Cost of Capital and how a cup of coffee can actually cost you a year of your life

Welcome to our new series: Financial Fitness with Syren and Sasha where we help absolute beginner investors get started on their journey to financial freedom by making investing accessible through digestible, organized and action-oriented content.

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
- What is Opportunity Cost?
- How we can apply this to Investing
- How to apply Opportunity Cost to our Personal Finances
- Why the real cost of *not* investing is your precious time

OPPORTUNITY COST EXAMPLES DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:
1) Putting a down payment on a $500,000 house:

Scenario 1: 20% down
Down payment = $100,000
Total invested = $0
Interest: 3.8%
Monthly payment: $2,147

After 30 years:
Total cost of loan + interest = $772,978
Total stocks $0

Scenario 2: 5% down
Down payment = $25,000
Total invested = $75,000
Interest: 3.8%
Monthly Payment: $2,700
Additional interest needed for mortgage insurance: $18,000

After 30 years:
Total coast of loan + interest = $912,978
Total stocks: $1,300,000

So, if you have $100,000, and you put all of it towards your down payment, you will "save" $140,000 in mortgage payments and interest, but the Opportunity Cost is the $1,300,000 you could have earned in 30 years by putting 5% down and investing the remaining $75,000 instead.

2) Buying a daily cup of coffee

Daily cost: $5
Monthly cost: $100

Money in your portfolio after 20 years: -$24,000 (that's a negative!)
If you invested $100 a month for 20 years instead: +$68,730

Could $68,730 allow you to retire a year early, and have one more YEAR of your life financially free?

YOUR ACTION ITEM:
1) Pick one item in your life that you regularly spend money on - this could be small (like a daily cup of coffee at a cafe) or large (like taking annual vacations).
2) Calculate how much you spend on that item, on average, per month
3) Use the compound interest calculator to figure out how much you would have if you invested that amount of money instead, after 30 years.
4) Make a conscious decision about your spending.  Does spending on this item help you reach your financial goals? Is there any way you can save or earn more money to reach your goals faster?

 
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Blog: ninjanomics.wordpress.com
Seeking Alpha: cryptonomics
Twitter @ninjanomics1

INTRO:
Raghav Bhandari

MUSIC:
Summer of 1984 by RKVC