What a set actually costs over a year

Short answer: Cost per use decides what something really costs. A more expensive piece that lasts three years is cheaper than a cheap one that lasts one, even though it costs more at the till.

Cost per use

Divide the price by the number of times the piece is worn, and you get a figure that is far more honest than the one in the shop. A pair of socks worn weekly for three years costs very little per wear, even if the price at the till looked high. See bamboo socks for men for a range that holds up to that kind of maths.

What decides the lifespan

Quality sets the ceiling for how long something can last, but washing decides how close you actually get to that ceiling. A good piece treated badly often lasts less than a mediocre piece treated properly.

Several pieces last longer

With ten pairs instead of five, each pair gets washed half as often and therefore lasts longer, statistically speaking. It is a simple relationship, but it is often overlooked when people only count pieces and not how often each one goes through the machine. See bamboo underwear for men for models suited to several matching sets.

Where it does not apply

For seasonal items you only wear a few times a year, cost per use should not drive the choice, but rather what you actually need. See gift ideas for examples of things worn less often that can still be worth owning.

Staples come first

The pieces you wear the most hours give the most back per krone spent, so they should be prioritised first when the budget is tight. See bamboo underwear for women for a solid place to start that priority.

Do not count only the purchase price

Washing costs, electricity and the time you spend on the clothes also count toward the real total, even though they are rarely factored in when comparing prices in a shop.

A set is cheaper than single pieces

Buying several pieces together often brings the price per piece down compared with buying them one at a time over the years, because you avoid repeated small orders with extra shipping each time.

Lifespan depends on use

A piece worn every day wears out faster than one worn once a week, no matter how well it was made to begin with. See washing and care for how to extend the lifespan the most.

Think in years, not purchases

Look at what a piece costs over the next three years rather than what it costs in the shop right now. That gives a more honest picture of what you are actually getting for your money.