About The True Cost Of

What this is

The True Cost Of is a set of free calculators for big purchases. Each one adds up everything the purchase will cost over the years you would own it, compares that with the obvious alternative, and says plainly how it comes out.

It exists because most calculators for these purchases are published by someone with a stake in your answer: the company selling the thing, or a company that charges to get you out of it.

Nobody here is selling it

This is an independent site. It is not owned by, paid by or affiliated with any seller, lender, insurer, resort or broker. There are no affiliate links and no sales commissions. The plan is to pay for the site with ordinary display advertising, which is not chosen by us and does not change any result.

How the calculators work

Every figure can be changed. The starting figures are either cited public numbers or our own assumptions, and each calculator page says which is which.
Where a starting figure is uncertain, it leans in favour of the purchase, so the result is not exaggerated.
The working is shown: the year-by-year figures, what is counted, and what is left out.
The verdict follows the numbers. When owning comes out ahead, the calculator says so.

What it is not

The results are arithmetic on the figures you enter. They are not financial, legal or tax advice, and they cannot know your circumstances. For a decision this size, check the numbers against your own paperwork and, if you need advice, ask someone qualified who is not earning a commission on the sale.

Found a mistake?

If a figure is out of date or a calculation looks wrong, tell us and it will be checked and corrected.