FinPulse

What things really cost to own

The sticker price is just the first payment. These guides show how to add up consumables, electricity and lifespan so you can compare products by cost per year, with formulas you can reuse.

Guides

Total cost of ownership: compare products by cost per year, not sticker price

How to add up purchase price, running costs and expected lifespan into a cost-per-year figure, with a worked example where the cheaper product loses.

How to estimate what an appliance costs to run: watts x hours x rate

A simple formula for turning an appliance wattage and daily usage into a monthly electricity cost, with worked examples and caveats about tiered rates.

Standby power: what devices cost while switched "off"

What standby (vampire) power is, how to convert it into a monthly cost with a worked example, and practical ways to reduce it.

Water filter cost per gallon: how to compare pitchers and under-sink systems

How to convert filter price and capacity into cost per gallon and per year, with a worked example comparing two kinds of filtration.

FAQ

What does total cost of ownership mean?

It is the purchase price plus running costs such as consumables, electricity and repairs, divided by how many years you use the product. A cheaper product can cost more per year.

Do you publish product reviews?

No. These are specification and cost based guides, not hands-on reviews. If we have used something ourselves we say so.

Do you use affiliate links?

Some guides may include affiliate links. Where they appear we disclose it next to the links and mark them as sponsored.