A one-time purchase that replaces a daily cost often pays for itself faster than it looks. Coffee is a simple example.
The numbers
Say a grinder costs 100 EUR and a bag of fresh coffee costs 8 EUR and lasts about three weeks. Buying coffee out at 2 EUR a day costs about 180 EUR over 90 days. At home, the same 90 days cost 100 EUR for the grinder plus about 32 EUR of coffee.
Break-even
The home option saves roughly 1.65 EUR a day after the coffee cost, so the grinder is paid back in about 60 days. After that, each quarter costs about 32 EUR instead of 180 EUR.
The real test
Break-even math assumes the habit sticks. A quick check: will you still use it on day 200? If yes, the one-time purchase wins. If not, it's just another thing in the cupboard.
A useful way to see prices
Converting a price into hours of work makes these decisions clearer. Our free Chrome extension, Price in Work Hours, shows that next to prices while you shop: https://smartbudgetsheets.surge.sh/extensions/price-in-work-hours/?utm_source=mataroa
- Compound interest calculator to see what small daily savings grow to
- Sinking Funds Tracker for planned purchases
General information, not financial advice.