Shopping & Decisions
Shopping & Spending Decisions Ireland
Most expensive decisions are not calculations people get wrong; they are calculations nobody does. Whether a €180 repair on an eight-year-old washing machine is worth it, whether a €7,500 roof quote is normal, whether a thing used twice a year is worth owning — these take two minutes to answer and are usually answered on instinct instead.
Most used
Everything else in shopping & decisions
How big is that increase, really?
Any price change in euro and percent, per month and per year — rent, bills or subscriptions.
Price Increase CalculatorNewWhat will this renovation cost?
Benchmark ranges for Irish kitchens, bathrooms, extensions, attics, roofs and more.
Renovation Cost EstimatorNewDo I need the extended warranty?
What a guarantee adds to your statutory rights, and what it usually does not.
Warranty vs GuaranteeNewIs this big purchase worth it?
Cost per use and per year for anything expensive, against the alternative of not owning it.
Is This Worth It?Shopping & Decisions in Ireland — what to know
Most expensive decisions are not calculations people get wrong. They are calculations nobody does. Whether a €180 repair on an eight-year-old washing machine is worth it, whether a €7,500 roof quote is normal, whether something used twice a year is worth owning — each takes two minutes and is usually answered on instinct instead.
Repair or replace
The common rule is not to repair anything costing more than half a replacement. It ignores how long each option lasts, which is the thing that actually decides it — and it happens to be the rule that sells the most appliances. The repair or replace calculator compares on cost per remaining year of service, and flags the factors the arithmetic cannot weigh: repeated breakdowns, warranty, parts availability.
Before paying for any repair, check whether it should be free. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a fault appearing within twelve months of delivery is presumed to have been there at delivery — the consumer rights checker works through what applies.
Checking a quote
There is no published price list for Irish building work, which is why the first quote always feels like a number pulled from the air. The quote checker puts the total beside the range a job like that normally falls into, and checks the quote itself: is it written, itemised, is VAT stated, are there dates, is there a warranty, is the deposit reasonable, is the insurance confirmed, is the contractor on the relevant register. Irish domestic building disputes overwhelmingly come down to those, not to price.
Big purchases
The worth-it calculator gives cost per use and cost per year, net of resale value and running costs, and shows how many uses it would take before owning beats hiring. It is uncomfortable arithmetic, which is exactly why it is worth doing before rather than after.
Price rises
The price increase calculator converts between euro and percentage and shows the annual effect, which is generally the figure that changes behaviour. If the rise is rent, check it against the legal cap with the rent increase checker before agreeing to anything.
Common questions
Is it worth repairing an appliance?
Compare cost per remaining year of service rather than using the rule about repairs over half the replacement price. A €180 repair buying three years costs €60 a year; a €650 replacement lasting ten costs €65. The half-price rule ignores how long each option lasts, which is what decides it.
How do I know if a builder's quote is too high?
You cannot from one quote. Compare the total against a typical range for that job and get at least two more quotes on the same written scope of works. The quote checker does the first part and checks the quote for the eight things a domestic building quote should contain.
How do I work out a percentage increase?
Subtract the old price from the new one, divide by the old price, multiply by 100. The price increase calculator does it both ways and shows the effect over a year, which is usually the persuasive figure.
Is an expensive purchase worth it?
Cost per use is the honest unit. Something used twenty times a year for eight years costs a fraction per use of the same item used twice a year. The worth-it calculator also shows the break-even against hiring or paying somebody instead.
Looking for something else?
Type the question rather than the tool name — the search matches on what each tool answers.