Cost Per Use: Why Investing in Quality Can Save You Money In The Long Run: Cheap Isn't Always Cheerful!
- The Penny Pincher Team
- May 14
- 5 min read
Buy Smart, Not Cheap: How Cost Per Use Can Actually Save You Money
When it comes to spending money, especially on items we use frequently, it's easy to focus solely on the price tag; after all, none of us wants to spend more than we need to, right? However, a more insightful approach is to consider an item's "cost per wear" or "cost per use." This concept can change how you shop and potentially save you money in the long run.
What is the Cost Per Use/Wear?
What Is Cost Per Use?
Cost Per Use (CPU) is a simple calculation that tells you how much something really costs each time you use it:
Cost Per Use = Total Cost ÷ Number of Times Used |
Example: If you buy a coat for £120 and wear it 60 times, your cost per wear is just £2.
Compare that with a £40 coat you only wear 10 times before it falls apart, that’s £4 per wear. It's not such a bargain after all.
Why Spending More Can Be Cheaper
1. Durability Saves You Money
Better materials = longer life. I once bought £30 school shoes for my son, but they fell apart in weeks. The £75 pair I got next lasted the whole school year – a lower cost per wear and less hassle.
2. Versatility Boosts Value
A high-quality coat you can wear to work, on dog walks, or even to dinner? You’ll use it far more often than a niche item. That lowers the cost per wear and saves on buying separate pieces.
3. Timeless Style Wins
Fast fashion fades fast. But well-made, classic pieces stay stylish for years – saving you money on constant replacements.
Real-Life Example: Cheap vs Quality
Item | Upfront Cost | Times Worn | Cost Per Wear |
Fast Fashion Dress | £30 | 5 times | £6.00 |
Quality Dress | £150 | 50 times | £3.00 |
The better-quality dress is cheaper per wear, and often feels nicer too, so its been a wise investment!
It’s Not Just Clothes – Think Bigger
Cost per use applies to more than fashion!
Kitchen Gadgets
That £200 coffee machine might sound pricey, but if it replaces your £3.50 daily takeaway habit, it pays for itself fast. Mine’s saved me hundreds over the year, as I no longer buy takeaway drinks at £4 a go, and I do like a coffee, so having decent coffee-making facilities at home, that I use my thermos flask to take to work/going out, means I bypass those money-pit coffee shops!
Tools
I wasted money replacing flimsy screwdrivers – until I finally bought a decent set. Two years on, they’re still going strong, so it shows that that investment has paid off as I've not had to keep replacing ones where the heads wear out!
Gym Memberships
A cheap gym across town sounds excellent, but you'll skip it if getting there is a hassle. Paying more for a local gym you actually use might be the smarter financial move. My example is that I'm joining a gym shortly, and I've chosen a gym that will cost me twice as much per month as another gym I could go to locally.
So, why is someone whose niche is being money savvy, have I decided to pay twice as much for this gym, rather than just going to the other gym, which is just 5 miles away from the one I've chosen?
Here's why I'm spending more on a gym, even though a cheaper gym is just 5 miles away!
The gym I've chosen is 2 minutes from my workplace, so I can go before work, after work, or even at lunchtime if I want. Although only 5 miles away, the other gym won't offer me that level of convenience. Therefore, I'm likely to use the gym more often, which means that I may well find, that based on the number of visits to the more expensive gym, comapred with fewer visitys to the cheaper gym, I'll actually going to be paying less per visit, (based over the month) than I would be at the cheaper gym!
The gym I've chosen has a free car park right outside, so I can park and be in the gym fast, The cheaper one I'd need to go to and park in a shared car park, which although still free, isnt as close and I'd have to walk for 5 minutes to get to the gym, and thats a hassle.
The facilities at the more expensive gym are better, as it's larger, has more equipment, and is soon adding a swimming pool, sauna, and plunge pool. So I'd likely have better access to the equipment, as with more equipment I may not have to wait as long for a turn to use it, and more equipment to choose from to use, and the option to swim for no extra charge rather than paying to swim elsewhere.
The expensive gym is in a hotel, and as part of the membership, I'd get a discount on hotel stays, food and drink in the restaurant, and a discount at the Starbucks coffee shop located in the lobby. So, I could potentially save money on things I might be buying elsewhere, which is a plus.
I've used this expensive gym before, and I lost 10 stone there. I know how it works, the people are friendly, and it's familiar. Sometimes, I'll happily pay more for a higher level of personal reassurance and familiarity, and when you're a big guy and going to a gym, your anxiety is already pretty high, so feeling happier about the gym you're going to is worth every penny!
5 Tips for Smarter Spending
Think About Use: Will you wear/use it often enough? If you are hardly ever going to use it, spend less. If, however, you can utilise it in different ways, you may well get better value by spending more to increase its usage, which reduces the cost per use!
Check Reviews: What do real people say about durability and value? If reviews aren't great, switch to something different/better, even if it costs you more, as you'll get a more suitable and reliable product.
Look for Versatility: Can it be used in different settings? For example, if it's a dress, can you wear it to go out with friends on a Saturday night, and is it also suitable for work? If so, you'll be able to use it more, making the cost per use less.
Track Usage: Apps or a simple note can help you see how much time you are actually using an item, so you can gauge whether spending more makes sense.
Be Willing to Invest: especially in things you use daily (shoes, coats, tech). It can pay to spend more initially than to keep buying the same thing over and over by purchasing a poorer-quality product! Sometimes, the cheapest item ends up costing the most—in money, time, and frustration. By shifting your mindset from upfront cost to long-term value, you’ll make smarter purchases that last longer, feel better, and even reduce waste.
Even though spending more for something may seem like the incorrect way to be money-savvy, it's actually more cost-effective in the long term!
