"Skip the Coffee, Invest Instead" — Does It Actually Work?
We've all heard that advice — usually in a bank ad or a self-help book. But what do the numbers actually say?
If you'd invested $5 every single day into the S&P 500 from the start of 2015 through the end of 2024, where would you be today?
The Results
StrategyDaily DCA — S&P 500
PeriodJan 2015 – Dec 2024
Total invested$18,250
Estimated current value~$38,000 – $42,000
Net gain~+$21,000 (+119%)
Why the Gap? Compound Returns
Turning $18,250 into ~$40,000 means your money grew by 119%. The S&P 500 returned roughly 13% per year on average during this period. Critically, that return applies not just to your first deposit — it applies to the entire accumulated balance. Returns on returns.
What If You'd Paused During the Crash?
- Taking a 9-month break in March 2020 would have reduced your final value by ~12%
- A 10-month break: ~15% lower
- Continuing through the dip means you buy more units at lower prices — this pushes you ahead
$5 Not Enough?
At $10/day, the final value approaches ~$80,000. The key variable isn't the amount — it's consistency.