Make empowered spending choices by understanding the true cost in time and goal progress with our completely free calculator. Transform restriction into conscious, guilt-free financial decisions that align with your bigger picture.
Why trade-offs beat budgets: Budgets feel restrictive and create guilt. Trade-off analysis shows you the real cost of choices, making you naturally gravitate toward purchases that truly add value to your life.
Divide your monthly take-home by hours worked (e.g., LKR 150,000 ÷ 173 hours = LKR 867/hour)
Enter the total cost of the item you're considering buying
Your main savings goal (emergency fund, house down payment, etc.)
How many months until you want to reach your financial goal
Hourly Wage: LKR 1,500
Purchase: LKR 25,000 (new laptop)
Financial Goal: LKR 500,000 in 36 months
Result: You'd work 16.7 hours and delay your goal by 1.8 weeks. The analysis shows this is a moderate impact purchase that deserves careful consideration.
Before any significant purchase, ask: "Is this worth [X] hours of my life and [Y] delay to my goal? " If yes, buy it guilt-free. If no, you've just saved yourself from future regret.
"I stopped buying things I thought I wanted and started buying things I actually value. This analysis helped me see the difference clearly."
- Financial Blueprint Member