01
Use the full first-year cost
Start with the purchase, then include delivery, accessories, subscriptions, care, maintenance, and other predictable ownership costs.
THE COST-PER-USE REALITY CHECK
A good price can still buy an expensive habit.
Cost per use tests the story behind a purchase. Burden combines what you pay, what ownership may cost, and how often the item is likely to leave the shelf.
RUN THE FREE CHECKTHE BURDEN STANDARD
A purchase has to survive the month—not just checkout.
Burden weighs the price against your actual household, how often you will use it, the costs that continue after you buy it, and what happens to your emergency cushion.
02
Estimate ordinary use
Picture a normal month six months from now—not the exciting first week. Honest frequency makes the number useful.
03
Divide cost by expected uses
A $600 item used 100 times carries a very different burden from the same item used five times. Burden runs this calculation inside the full household check.
04
Do not ignore the month
Frequent use can improve value, but it cannot protect rent, groceries, or emergency savings. Cost per use is one test, not permission to overspend.
MONTH-AHEAD IMPACT · NOT A GRADE
Lower is safer. Higher means more strain.
The score measures how hard a purchase presses on your month. It is not a reward score. A lower number means less strain on the household.
- 10–34Lower impact
- 35–61Protect the month
- 62–95High impact
STRAIGHT ANSWERS
Questions people ask before buying
What costs belong in cost per use?
Include the purchase and predictable costs required to own and use it. Financing interest and surprise repairs may need separate consideration.
How many uses should I estimate?
Use the frequency you expect in an ordinary year. If you are unsure, use the more conservative estimate and compare the result.
Does a low cost per use mean I should buy it?
Not by itself. The purchase still needs to fit after must-pay costs and leave an emergency buffer.
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