# Skip or Buy: Cost Per Use — Smart Shopping Value Tracker

> Cost per use calculator for smarter shopping decisions. (iPhone/iPad app by JONATHAN DOUGLAS LAI.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skip-or-buy-cost-per-use/id6759465475 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [JONATHAN DOUGLAS LAI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1850818875)
- Category: Utilities, Finance
- Price: Free with in-app purchases (on sale, was $4.99)
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.1 · 38 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-02-25
- Data updated: 2026-08-18
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skip-or-buy-cost-per-use/id6759465475/reviews.md

## What is Skip or Buy?

You're in the store. You're about to buy something. But is it actually worth it?                                                          
Skip Or Buy is a cost per use calculator that gives you the answer in seconds. 

Enter the price, pick a category, and instantly see the real cost per use with a clear Buy, Think Twice, or Skip verdict.

No ads. No data collected. Just a fast, private, offline calculator for smarter purchase decisions.

Try it free for 3 days. Then subscribe to keep unlimited access.

HOW IT WORKS

1. Enter the price of any item
2. Pick a category — clothes, electronics, kitchen, fitness, furniture, or create your own
3. Instantly see the cost per use, a value score from 0 to 100, and a Buy, Think Twice, or Skip verdict

Three steps. One answer. The cost per use calculator does the math so you don't have to.

WHY COST PER USE MATTERS

Most budget apps ask "Can you afford this?" Skip Or Buy asks a better question: "Is this worth what you'll pay per use?"

A £200 jacket worn 3 times a week for 2 years? That's £0.64 per wear — less than a coffee. Buy.

A £50 gadget used twice and forgotten? That's £25 per use. Skip.

The price tag can be misleading. The cost per use tells the truth. Stop impulse buying and start making smart shopping decisions backed by real numbers.

FEATURES
• Cost Per Use Calculator — Enter any price, usage frequency, and lifespan. See the real cost per use instantly. Works for clothing, electronics, kitchen items, fitness gear, 
furniture, and more.

• Usage Logging — Log every time you use an item. Your real cost per use updates automatically so you can see the true value of what you own.

• "Worth It By" Date — See the exact date a purchase pays for itself based on your actual usage rate.

• Hours Worked to Afford — Enter your salary and see how many hours you need to work to pay for any purchase. Puts the real cost into perspective.

• Item Photos — Add photos to saved purchases so you always know what you're tracking.

• Smart Benchmarks — Built-in data for common categories. Knows a winter coat lasts longer than a t-shirt, so you get accurate cost per wear estimates.

• Buy / Think Twice / Skip Verdict — A clear, colour-coded verdict based on the math. No guesswork. Just a smart purchase decision in seconds.

• Value Score — A score from 0 to 100 showing how good (or bad) a purchase is for your budget.

• Side-by-Side Compare — Compare two items head to head to see which gives better value for money.

• Value Diary — Save every purchase. Log uses, add photos, and track how your cost per use changes over time.

• Share Cards — Generate beautiful verdict cards to share with friends or on social media.

• Custom Benchmarks — Edit thresholds for any category. Personalise what counts as a good deal.

• Works Offline — No internet required. No account needed. No data leaves your device.

• Dark & Light Mode — Follows your system theme or set manually.

• 8 Languages — English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese.

WHO IS THIS FOR?

  • Impulse buyers who want to stop and make smarter decisions
  • Budget-conscious shoppers who want real numbers, not feelings
  • Minimalists who only keep things that earn their place
  • Anyone who wants a quick, smart way to decide: buy or skip

SUBSCRIPTION

3-day free trial with full access. Then continue with a weekly or annual plan.

• Weekly: £3.99/week
• Annual: £39.99/year (save 81%)

Cancel anytime. Your data stays on your device even if you cancel.

Pull it out in the store. Get your answer. Buy smart or skip — it's that simple.

Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

## Key features

- Cost Per Use Calculator
- Usage Logging
- Hours Worked to Afford
- Smart Benchmarks
- Buy/Think Twice/Skip Verdict
- Value Score
- Works Offline

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Skip or Buy Premium | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Annual Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| Monthly | $2.99 | per month |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Unlock | $4.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (2 of 2)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skip-or-buy-cost-per-use/id6759465475/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Finally stopped my impulse buying

*2026-02-26, version 1.0.1*

It’s literally my shopping assistant. I take this cool looking calculator out before I buy something to get the cost per use and it makes me think. Perfect for saving money and making better spending decisions.

### 5/5 — Amazing app!!

*2026-02-25, version 1.0*

This app is actually amazing! I’m notorious for impulse buying and chasing a dopamine hit, but this app has changed how I view these purchases. It’s helping me make thought out and informed decisions about what I buy and if it’s worth it. When you see the cost per use broken down it really makes you think about it and puts it into perspective. For example, a few years ago I impulsively bought a peloton and used it probably around 50 times over a 2 year window. I eventually sold it at a loss. If I had this app at the time I probably wouldn’t have bought. Here’s to having more money in my savings account rather than spending it on impulsive purchases!! :)

## Frequently asked questions about Skip or Buy

### Does Skip or Buy have ads?

No, Skip or Buy is ad-free. The description explicitly states 'No ads. No data collected.' This ensures a private and uninterrupted user experience.

### How does Skip or Buy's free trial work?

Skip or Buy offers a 3-day free trial for its premium features. After the trial, you can subscribe to maintain unlimited access to all functionalities.

### What are the subscription options for Skip or Buy?

Subscription plans include Monthly at $2.99 with a 3-day free trial, Skip or Buy Premium at $3.99 with a 3-day free trial, and an Annual Subscription at $29.99 with a 7-day free trial.

### Can Skip or Buy be used offline?

Yes, Skip or Buy works offline. No internet connection is required, and no data leaves your device, ensuring privacy and accessibility anywhere.

### What kind of items can I track with Skip or Buy?

You can track a wide variety of items including clothes, electronics, kitchenware, fitness gear, and furniture. You can also create custom categories for your specific needs.

### How does Skip or Buy calculate the 'Worth It By' date?

The 'Worth It By' date is calculated based on your logged usage rate. It shows the exact date a purchase will pay for itself according to how often you use it.

### What is the age rating for Skip or Buy?

Skip or Buy has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for users of all ages, with no mature content.

### How often is Skip or Buy updated?

The latest version of Skip or Buy is 1.0.8, which was last updated on March 25, 2026. This suggests regular updates to improve functionality and add features.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.0.8 — 2026-03-25

Now free to download! Try before you buy.                                                                                                 
  What's new:                                                                                                                              
• One-time purchase — unlock everything forever, no subscriptions                                                                      
  • Smarter spending starts here — see the real cost per use of anything                                                                   
• Compare items side by side to find the best value                                                                                    
  • Save calculations to your Value Diary and track your savings
  • Beautiful dark mode and support for 8 languages

### 1.0.7 — 2026-03-04

- Investment growth tracker: see what your money could become in 15 years if invested instead of spent
  - Savings log: track every buy and skip decision with swipe-to-delete
  - Potential investment summary card on the savings dashboard
  - Custom investment return rate setting
  - 30 new benchmark categories for smarter spending decisions
  - Performance and stability improvements

### 1.0.6 — 2026-03-02

- Investment growth tracker: see what your money could become in 15 years if invested instead of spent
  - Savings log: track every buy and skip decision with swipe-to-delete
  - Potential investment summary card on the savings dashboard
  - Custom investment return rate setting
  - 30 new benchmark categories for smarter spending decisions
  - Performance and stability improvements

### 1.0.5 — 2026-03-01

Know Your Worth — See how many hours of work each purchase really costs you.

  - NEW: Add your salary (annual or hourly) in Settings to see hours worked to afford any item
  - NEW: Reality Check insights on every verdict — from "barely a blip" to "over a month of work"
  - NEW: Hours worked displayed on verdict, comparison, and share card screens
  - NEW: Toggle to show or hide work hours on your share card
  - Salary prompt after first launch to get you started quickly
  - Bug fixes and performance improvements

### 1.0.4 — 2026-03-01

Know Your Worth — See how many hours of work each purchase really costs you.

  - NEW: Add your salary (annual or hourly) in Settings to see hours worked to afford any item
  - NEW: Reality Check insights on every verdict — from "barely a blip" to "over a month of work"
  - NEW: Hours worked displayed on verdict, comparison, and share card screens
  - NEW: Toggle to show or hide work hours on your share card
  - Salary prompt after first launch to get you started quickly
  - Bug fixes and performance improvements

## More apps by JONATHAN DOUGLAS LAI

- [Sprout: Smart ADHD Task App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sprout-smart-adhd-task-app/id6754895173)
- [Lapsed: Days Since Tracker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lapsed-days-since-tracker/id6760619087)
- [Payoff: Smart Debt Planner](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/payoff-smart-debt-planner/id6761310986)
- [Tidywell: Daily Chore Tracker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tidywell-daily-chore-tracker/id6761951172)
- [Pebble: Symptom Tracker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pebble-symptom-tracker/id6772501410)

All apps by JONATHAN DOUGLAS LAI: https://appshunter.io/developer/1850818875

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-18.*