Why convert a price into working hours?
Behavioral psychology has confirmed it for decades: we are poor at evaluating the value of money in absolute terms. However, we instinctively understand the value of our time. Converting a price into real working hours is one of the most effective techniques for making better financial decisions and fighting impulse purchases.
When you see that a €17/month Netflix subscription represents 2.5 hours of work for a minimum-wage earner, or just 45 minutes for a senior executive, the notion of "expensive" and "cheap" changes radically depending on your personal situation.
How does the La Vraie Facture calculator work?
The principle is simple and transparent. You enter the amount of your expense and your monthly net salary. The tool then calculates your real net hourly rate by dividing your salary by the number of hours worked in the month (weekly hours × 4.33 weeks). It then divides the price of your purchase by this hourly rate to get the number of hours — and days — of work that purchase represents.
You can also customize the number of hours worked per week (from 20h to 60h) to perfectly match your reality: part-time, freelance, or regular overtime.
Concrete examples of cost in working hours
For an employee earning €2,000 net per month working 35h/week, the hourly rate is about €13.20/h. An €800 smartphone then represents 60 hours of work — nearly 9 working days. A €180 pair of sneakers? 13.5 hours. A €2.50 coffee every day for a full month? More than 5 hours of your life.
These figures aren't there to make you feel guilty, but to enlighten you. Sometimes a purchase is worth every minute worked. Sometimes you realize you can easily do without — or find a refurbished alternative at half the price.
Taking back control of your personal finances
La Vraie Facture is part of a broader mindful consumption approach. By getting into the habit of converting every price into working hours, you develop a natural filter against unnecessary spending. You become more attentive to product durability, the real value of services, and alternatives like refurbished or second-hand markets.
This tool saves none of your financial data: everything is calculated locally in your browser. It can be used without an account, for free, by anyone who wants to better understand what their purchases truly cost them.