Welcome to the ROI Scoreboard, this is where I compile all the ROI scores from my blog posts. Each scenario is evaluated over a 10-year horizon with the following summary statistics:
- Present value – what is the total value of your investment and expected returns in today’s dollars?
- Return on investment (ROI) – how much of your original investment will you make back? (see: how to use a ROI)
- Payback period – how long will it take you to recoup your original investment?
The list below is organized descending by present value, meaning the items at the top of the list will save you the most money.
All ROI analyses are in REAL DOLLARS, which means that inflation has already been factored in using a 4% real growth rate (versus 7% nominal). In other words, I have set these up so that $5.00 will buy you a loaf of bread today and would also buy you a loaf of bread in 10 years.
Finally, please remember that this isn’t an exact science! I have to make assumptions about people’s preferences, situation, and the way the world works, but I try my best to make these examples as accurate as possible and to let you know what my assumptions are. If you ever think I missed the mark on something, feel free to download the spreadsheet and recalculate for yourself. Thanks for visiting… spend well! – FG ROI
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ROI Scores :: present value | ROI | payback period
- Sell car, buy bike (with exercise $$) :: $260,826| 743% | 0.1 years
- Live abroad for 10 years :: $224,754 | 125% | 0.5 years
- Keep car, use bike half of the time (with exercise $$) :: $116,241| 509% | 0.2 years
- Work from home, get rid of car :: $106,106 | 1,768% | 0.1 years
- Add some moderate exercise to life :: $88,444 | 88,444% | 0.0 years
- Send 1 kid to childcare (instead of staying home) :: $86,806 | 151% | 0.6 years
- Quit smoking :: $78,539 | 78,539% | 0.0 years
- Sell car, buy bike (no exercise $$) :: $71,546 | 144% | 0.5 years
- Buy a smaller house (new) :: $56,707 | 60% | 0.7 years
- Sell car, go public transit :: $51,617 | 74% | 0.6 years
- Work from home, keep car and other driving :: $49,917 | 832% | 0.2 years
- Buy an economy car instead of luxury car :: $47,961 | 61% | 0.6 years
- Buy a smaller house (existing) :: ~$39,955
- Live 10 miles closer to work :: $37,173 | 188% | 0.4 years
- Skip the wedding :: $36,266 | 7,253% | 0.0 years
- Send twins to childcare (instead of staying at home) :: $34,298 | 36% | 1.0 years
- Elope instead of normal wedding :: $31,825 | 909% | 0.1 years
- Keep car, use bike half of the time (no exercise $$) :: $28,881 | 126% | 0.6 years
- Be socially irresponsible investor :: $28,050 | 280,054% | 0.0 years
- Buy sedan instead of SUV :: $24,876 | 32% | 0.7 years
- Go to store for meat instead of hunting :: $20,621 | 129% | 0.4 years
- Don’t start a personal finance blog :: $18,446 | 1,677% | 0.0 years
- Buying existing vs building new home :: $17,565 | 22% | 0.8 years
- Make four extra meals at home per week :: $17,243 | 88% | 0.6 years
- Not getting a dog :: $16,887 | 278% | 0.2 years
- Buy used car instead of new :: $15,350 | 23% | 0.6 years
- Investing in low-cost ETFs :: | $15,284 | 1,243% | 0.1 years
- Investing in low-cost mutual funds :: $13,378 | 468% | 0.2 years
- Drinking at home instead of bars :: $12,986 | 624% | 0.2 years
- Buying eggs at the store instead of raising chickens :: $9,756 | 417% | 0.1 years
- Bring your lunch to work :: $9,584 | 77% | 0.4 years
- Skip rush hour :: $8,969 | 48% | 0.6 years
- Use wifi instead of cell phone data plan :: $8,853 | 265% | 0.4 years
- Make two extra meals at home per week :: $8,632 | 88% | 0.6 years
- Keep car, go public transit 50% of the time :: $8,328 | 20% | 0.9 years
- Buy washing machine with roommates (vs. laundry service) :: $8,318 | 209% | 0.9 years
- Get different kind of wedding ring :: $8,082 | 20,205% | 0.0 years
- Get rid of cable :: $7,403 | 12,338% | 0.1 years
- Switch to 3G cell phone plan :: $7,240 | 157% | 0.6 years
- Buy washing machine (live alone) (vs. laundry service) :: $6,542 | 126% | 2.9 years
- Cut your own hair (gals) :: $6,078 | 1,326% | 0.1 years
- Buy washing machine with roommates (vs. laundromat) :: $5,866 | 219% | 1.5 years
- Cowpooling 1/2 cow per year (vs. whole foods) :: $5,425 | 47% | 0.9 years
- Make your own coffee before work :: $5,230 | 647% | 0.2 years
- Live in Canada :: $5,095 | 22% | 0.9 years
- Switch cell phone plans :: $4,992 | 78% | 0.8 years
- Buy washing machine (live alone) (vs. laundromat) :: $4,090 | 105% | 3.9 years
- Make your own coffee (with milk) before work :: $4,004 | 224% | 0.4 years
- Cut your own hair (guys) :: $3,454 | 512% | 0.3 years
- Hire a bill haggler :: $3,022 | 3022% | 0.0 years
- Eating pot candy instead of drinking beer :: $2,208 | 265% | 0.3 years
- Buy Chromebook instead of Macbook :: $1,776 | 128% | 0.8 years
- Don’t use a tankless water heater :: $1,666 | 39% | 0.4 years
- Growing a 400 sq. ft. garden :: $1,633 | 37% | 0.9 years
- Eating pot candy instead of drinking wine :: $1,376 | 165 | 0.4 years
- Get a smart thermostat :: $1,181 | 454% | 2.6 years
- Not brewing your own beer (4 drinks per week):: $1,071 | 31% | 0.6 years
- Eating pot candy instead of drinking liquor :: $1,039 | 125% | 0.5 years
- Using a push reel mower (vs. gas mower) :: $796 | 41% | 0.6 years
- Borrowing books from the library :: $773 | 94% | 0.6 years
- Not buying an electric toothbrush :: $589 | 982% | 0.1 years
- Carbonate your own soda :: $512 | 64% | 1.9 years
- Not air drying your laundry :: $480 | 41% | 0.5 years
- Water efficiency upgrades for the home ::$452 | 103% | 5.9 years
- Growing a 100 sq. ft. garden :: $435 | 37% | 0.9 years
- Cloth vs. paper towels :: $219 | 117% | 1.3 years
- LED instead of CFL bulbs at home :: $199 | 17% | 6.0 years
- Outsourcing car oil changes :: $37 | 6% | 0.6 years