Cost per use, explained with real numbers
Cost per use is the price divided by how many times you use it. Here is how to work it out, with round example numbers, and where the math breaks down.
Hamza Idrissi3 min read
A $30 jacket you wear twice a year costs $15 every time you put it on. A $150 coat you wear 100 times costs $1.50. Same closet, very different math.
That is cost per use. Price divided by uses. It takes ten seconds and it stops a lot of bad purchases.
How to work it out
Take the price. Guess how many times you will use the thing before it wears out or you stop caring. Divide.
Be honest about the guess. Most people overestimate. If you have never used a kitchen gadget, you will not suddenly use it every week.
Examples
These numbers are examples, not quotes. Use your own prices.
| Item | Price | Expected uses | Cost per use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheap boots that fall apart | $20 | 10 | $2.00 |
| Solid boots | $120 | 300 | $0.40 |
| Bread machine used twice | $80 | 2 | $40.00 |
| Chef's knife used daily | $45 | 1,500 | $0.03 |
| Trendy top worn three times | $30 | 3 | $10.00 |
| Basic tee worn weekly for a year | $15 | 50 | $0.30 |
The knife wins by a mile. The bread machine loses by even more.
Where the math breaks down
Cost per use is a tool, not a law.
- It ignores joy. A cheap thing you love using is fine, even if the math is meh.
- It ignores storage. Something you use 20 times a year still takes up a shelf the other 345 days.
- It rewards big guesses. If you invent 500 uses to justify a purchase, you have only fooled yourself.
- It does not cover safety. Helmets and car seats are not a cost-per-use question. Buy ones that meet the standard.
When to use it
Use it when you are stuck between a cheap option and a pricey one. Also use it on anything you are tempted to buy "just in case."
If the pricey option costs twice as much but will last four times as long, buy it. If the cheap option will do the job for as long as you need it, buy that and move on.
For a bigger view of where to put extra money, read what is worth spending more on.
Quick checklist
- What is the price?
- How many times will I honestly use it?
- What is the cost per use?
- Would the next price up have a lower number?
- If I only use it a few times, can I borrow or rent it?
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