Sometimes a purchase looks “small” in the moment, but it adds weight later: in your room, your budget, your brain. The price-per-use rule is one of the easiest ways I know to slow down without turning shopping into a whole project.
It’s not about being strict. It’s about getting one clear number—then checking if that number matches your actual life.
What the price-per-use rule is
Price per use = (total cost) ÷ (how many times you’ll use it)
That’s it.
If something costs €60 and you’ll use it 60 times, that’s €1 per use. If you’ll use it 6 times, that’s €10 per use.
You can keep it rough. You’re not doing accounting—you’re just making the purchase feel more real.
What counts as “total cost” (keep it simple)
Use the price you’ll actually pay:
- Item price (including delivery if it’s unavoidable)
- One essential add-on if you truly need it to use the item (like the right ink for a printer)
Don’t overcomplicate it with every future expense. The goal is clarity, not perfection.
Why it helps (especially with student life)
The biggest trap is buying for an imagined version of your week.
Price-per-use gently asks:
- “Will I actually use this?”
- “How often?”
- “Do I already own something that does 80% of the job?”
It also helps with two common situations:
- “It’s on sale” spending (you save money on things you don’t use)
- “Future me” spending (you buy for a hobby, routine, or style you’re not living yet)
And it’s not only about saying no. Sometimes it gives you permission to buy something that will genuinely make daily life easier.
How to use it (the low-pressure version)
Step 1: Pick an honest time frame
Choose a time frame you can picture.
- For basics you’ll use constantly: think a semester.
- For seasonal stuff: think one season.
- For tech: think a year (or at least “until I’d realistically replace it”).
Step 2: Estimate uses in a normal week
Then multiply it out.
- “I’ll wear this twice a week” → about 8 times a month.
- “I’ll use this for one class” → how many sessions, assignments, or study days?
If you’re unsure, do two numbers:
- Optimistic uses
- Realistic uses
Use the realistic one for the math.
Step 3: Divide, then sanity-check with two questions
After you get your cost-per-use number, ask:
-
Does this fit my day-to-day?
Space, laundry, carrying it around, charging it, cleaning it—whatever “maintenance” looks like. -
Is there a cheaper way to get the same uses?
Borrow, buy secondhand, use what you already have, rent, share with a flatmate, or choose a simpler version.
Example (so it’s not abstract)
Example A: Daily headphones
- Cost: €45
- Realistic use: 5 days/week for commuting + studying
- Time frame: 12 weeks (a semester chunk)
- Uses: 5 × 12 = 60 uses
- Price per use: €45 ÷ 60 = €0.75 per use
Sanity-check:
- Will you actually carry them and charge them?
- Do you already have earphones that are “fine”?
- Is comfort worth it because you’ll use them most days?
Example B: “Nice” outfit for one event
- Cost: €80
- Realistic use: 1 event + maybe 1 more
- Uses: 2
- Price per use: €80 ÷ 2 = €40 per use
Sanity-check:
- Could you re-wear it in everyday life?
- Could you borrow something similar?
- Would a simpler option do the job?
This doesn’t automatically mean “don’t buy.” It just makes the trade-off clear.
Try this in 10 minutes
Pick one item you’re currently tempted to buy (or one you keep saving in tabs). Then do this:
- Write the total cost.
- Write your realistic number of uses in the next semester (or the next month for small items).
- Divide cost by uses.
- Answer: “What might stop me from using it?” in one sentence.
- Decide: buy, wait, or replace with a cheaper option.
If you still want it after seeing the number, that’s useful information too.
Mini-experiments (pick one, anytime)
1) The “three moments” test
Before buying, list three specific moments you’ll use it. Not “I’ll be healthier,” but:
- “I’ll cook pasta on Tuesday after class.”
- “I’ll print readings for seminar on Thursday.”
- “I’ll wear this for the 9am lecture and the library.”
If you can’t name moments, your use estimate is probably fantasy.
2) The “friction check”
Write down the one thing that could make you not use it:
- It needs hand-washing
- It’s annoying to store
- It requires an app or subscription
- It’s heavy to carry
- It clashes with your usual outfits
Then ask: “Am I okay with that friction?”
Sometimes the friction is the real cost.
3) The “substitution round”
For one minute, list substitutes you already have (even imperfect ones).
Then decide if you’re buying:
- a real upgrade you’ll use often, or
- a duplicate because it’s cute / on sale / feels like a new start
4) The “two-number rule”
Do the math twice:
- Best case (if you use it a lot)
- Realistic case (your normal week)
If the realistic number still feels okay, you’re probably on solid ground.
Copy-paste template: Price-per-Use Purchase Check
Use this as a quick note in your phone.
Item:
Total cost:
Time frame I’m using for this (month/semester/year):
Realistic uses in that time frame:
Price per use (cost ÷ uses):
Three specific moments I’ll use it:
1)
2)
3)
What could stop me from using it? (friction):
Cheaper/borrow/secondhand option:
Do I already own something close enough?
Decision for now: Buy / Wait / Replace
If “Wait”: what would make it a yes later?
A small mindset shift that keeps it kind
Price-per-use isn’t a rule to follow perfectly. It’s a way to move from “Do I want it?” to “Will I use it enough to feel good about owning it?”
And if the math says “maybe,” you don’t need guilt. “Maybe” is information. It’s allowed to choose the option that fits your energy, space, and real week.
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