"Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving."
– Warren Buffett
– Warren Buffett
Measure the potential cost of starting your investment later.
Kavita plans a ₹12,000 monthly SIP for 25 years at 12%. Starting today, the estimate is about ₹2.28 crore. Waiting 5 years cuts it to roughly ₹1.20 crore — a ₹1.08 crore cost for delaying ₹7.2 lakh of contributions. The lost compounding, not the missed installments, is what hurts.
Compares the estimated value of starting today with the estimated value after the selected delay, using the same monthly compounding assumption.
The result is an educational estimate, not a guaranteed return or personal financial recommendation. Review current product documents and consult a qualified advisor before investing.
Time is the most expensive variable in investing. Delaying a ₹10,000 monthly SIP by just 5 years (20 vs 25 year horizon) at 12% costs ~₹65 lakh in final corpus — far more than the ₹6 lakh you "saved" by not investing those 5 years. The cost of delay is not the missed contributions; it is the missed compounding on those contributions. This calculator makes that invisible cost visible.
Waiting for the "right time" to start — the calculator shows there is no right time, only lost time. Investing a lump sum later instead of SIP now — lump sums carry timing risk; SIPs do not. Thinking "I will invest more later to catch up" — later investments have less time to compound; you cannot buy back time.
No. They are educational estimates based on the inputs and assumptions shown on this page.
No. Unless stated otherwise, taxes, fees, charges, and product-specific rules are not included.
Use it to compare scenarios, then verify current product documents and seek qualified advice before making a decision.
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