The math behind every smart purchase

How long until this
pays for itself?

We calculate the exact breakeven point for everyday purchases — so you can stop wondering and start knowing.

5 wks Instant Pot · 1.8 mo Espresso machine · 4.5 mo Safety razor · 7 mo Bidet

Latest Payoff Analyses

Updated weekly
Kitchen 🍲

A $99 Instant Pot Pays for Itself in 5 Weeks — If You Actually Cook With It

Two delivery nights a week costs $183/month. Cooking those same meals at home costs $97/month.

1.2mo

to break even

$1032

saved / year

Kitchen

Espresso Machine vs. Coffee Shop: Payoff in Under 2 Months

One weekday latte habit = $137/month at a coffee shop. Home espresso: $25/month. The gap is enormous.

1.8mo

to break even

$1350

saved / year

Kitchen 🫧

SodaStream vs. Sparkling Water: The $80 That Saves $300/Year

Store-bought sparkling water costs $0.54/can. SodaStream costs $0.13/can. At 2 cans/day that's $300 saved.

3.2mo

to break even

$300

saved / year

Home 🚿

Does a Bidet Really Save Money? We Did the Math (Payoff: 7 Months)

The average household spends $182/year on toilet paper. A $79 bidet attachment cuts that by 75%.

7mo

to break even

$135

saved / year

Home 💧

Water Filter Pitcher vs. Bottled Water: Payoff in 6 Weeks

The average household spends $216/year on bottled water. A $25 pitcher pays for itself in about 6 weeks.

1.6mo

to break even

$192

saved / year

Personal Care 🪒

A $35 Safety Razor Pays for Itself in 2.3 Months

Cartridge razors cost $16/month in refills. A safety razor ends that for $35 upfront — forever.

2.3mo

to break even

$186

saved / year

Personal-care 💈

A $50 Clipper Set Pays for Itself in Under 2 Months — $354/yr

A $50 clipper set breaks even in 1.7 months and saves $354/year over barbershop haircuts. The math is almost too clean to argue with.

1.7mo

to break even

$354

saved / year

Tech 📡

Stop Renting Your WiFi Router: Payoff in Under 7 Months

ISPs charge $10-15/month to rent a router you can own outright for $80. Payoff: under 7 months — then free forever.

6.7mo

to break even

$144

saved / year

Tech 📚

Does a Kindle Pay for Itself vs. Buying Physical Books? (Payoff: 8 Months)

At 2 books a month, a $100 Kindle pays for itself in 8 months and saves $144/year vs. buying paperbacks.

8.3mo

to break even

$144

saved / year

Fitness 🏋️

Adjustable Dumbbells vs. Gym Membership: Payoff in Under 3 Months

A $90 adjustable dumbbell set pays for itself in under 3 months vs. a $40/month gym membership. Then it's $480/year, free.

2.3mo

to break even

$480

saved / year

Fitness 🧘

Yoga Mat vs. Studio Membership: Payoff in 3 Weeks

A $55 yoga mat setup pays for itself in 3 weeks vs. an $80/month studio membership. Then saves $960/year, forever.

0.7mo

to break even

$960

saved / year

Home 🔋

$15 Rechargeable Batteries Pay Off in 3.3 Months | PayoffTime

A $15 rechargeable battery starter kit pays for itself in under 4 months — then saves you $54 a year. Disposable batteries are a quiet subscription you never signed up for.

3.3mo

to break even

$54

saved / year

The Math is the Product

Every article follows the same formula: product cost, alternative cost, monthly burn rate, and one clear answer — the payoff date. No opinions. Just arithmetic.

01

We define the alternative

What does this product replace? Takeout? Store-bought razors? We find the ongoing cost of the status quo.

02

We run the numbers

Upfront cost ÷ monthly savings = breakeven. Then we stress-test it with different usage scenarios.

03

You get a single number

X months. That's your answer. Everything after that is pure savings — and we show you the chart to prove it.

Read our full methodology →