Question 1

What is the Spending Reality Check?

Accepted Answer

It's a free tool that helps you evaluate any purchase from 6 different angles: how many work hours it costs, what else the money could buy, what it could grow to if invested, your cost per use, and more. Think of it as a cold shower for your wallet.

Question 2

How is 'work hours' calculated?

Accepted Answer

We divide the price by your hourly wage (monthly income ÷ 22 working days ÷ 8 hours). If you don't enter income, we use the US median of ~$25/hour as a default.

Question 3

How does the verdict system work?

Accepted Answer

Each category has benchmark values for 'cost per use'. If your cost per use is below the 'good' threshold, you get ✅ Worth It. Between good and warn, you get ⚠️ Think Twice. Above the warn threshold, you get ❌ Skip It. These benchmarks are based on community consensus and financial planning guidelines.

Question 4

What is the investment regret calculation?

Accepted Answer

We use compound interest: Future Value = Price × (1 + 0.07)^years. This assumes a 7% annual return, which is the historical average of the S&P 500 after inflation. It's not a guarantee — just a way to make opportunity cost tangible.

Question 5

Is my data stored anywhere?

Accepted Answer

No. All calculations happen in your browser. Nothing is sent to any server. Your inputs are saved locally on your device via localStorage so you can come back to them.

Question 6

What currencies are supported?

Accepted Answer

Spending Reality Check supports multiple currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, CNY, JPY, and more. Exchange rates are approximate and updated regularly. You can select your preferred currency from the dropdown when entering a price.

Question 7

How does the cooling-off timer work?

Accepted Answer

After seeing your reality check results, you can start a 24-hour or 48-hour countdown. The idea is simple: if you still want the item after the timer expires, it may genuinely be worth it. Research shows 60-80% of impulse purchase desires fade within 24 hours.

Question 8

What is the 7% investment return assumption?

Accepted Answer

We use a 7% annual return based on the historical average of the S&P 500 after adjusting for inflation. This is a commonly cited benchmark for long-term investment planning. It is not a guarantee — actual returns vary — but it helps make opportunity cost tangible.

Question 9

Can I share my reality check results?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Use the share card feature to generate a visual summary of your results. You can download it as an image and share it on social media or with friends who are considering the same purchase.

Question 10

How is the verdict system calculated?

Accepted Answer

Each product category has benchmark values for cost per use. If your cost per use is below the 'good' threshold, you get Worth It. Between good and warn thresholds, you get Think Twice. Above the warn threshold, you get Skip It. These benchmarks are based on consumer consensus and financial planning guidelines.

Frequently Asked Questions